Victoria Playhouse Petrolia

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About the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia

Victoria Playhouse is a gem of a theatre located in the Victoria Hall in Petrolia, just 3 hours from Toronto, 1 hour from London, 1 1/2 hours from Detroit and 20 minutes from Sarnia in Ontario or Port Huron right across the border in Michigan, USA. The Playhouse, just like the legendary Phoenix, has literally risen from its own ashes after the devastating fire of January 1989. Situated in Ontario's first oil town and after having provided a venue for theatre productions for over 100 years, Victoria Playhouse is now a modern, fully equipped, state-of-the-art, 425 seats, air-conditioned facility.

Victoria Playhouse Petrolia
Echoing the oil “boom” that started in this town at the turn of the century, we “boomed” from 1996 to 2002 with exciting, original and fun summer playbills! Our first season was a phenomenal success and we kept growing until our fourth season not only met but also exceeded all our expectations. The ticket sales doubled in 1999 compared to the previous year and by 2002 we reached a count of almost 40,000 patrons. In the fall of 2002 we added a holiday show to our playbill and its success has now made a holiday production part of the annual playbill. Our goal is to further expand the length of the season and to continue growing with the community and reach even further into the Ontario and U.S. tourism market. The community support as well as the good reviews and increased attendance contributed to this success but we also found that “word of mouth” has now become one of our best advertising tools and that the quality of the productions and the welcoming atmosphere have contributed greatly to our increasing attendance and good reputation.

The Venue: Victoria Hall
In 2002 we celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the re-opening of our beautiful Victoria Hall after its destruction in the 1989 fire, with a big Gala Fundraiser (Click here for 10-Year Anniversary Gala details!). This architectural work of art that is Victoria Hall, was completed in 1889 at an initial cost of $35,000. It housed municipal offices, police and fire stations, a jail and an opera house - the acoustics of which were said to be second to none.
The beautiful building, with its stained glass windows and clock towers, was tragically destroyed by the fire just before its 100th anniversary. Restoration of the hall was completed and re-opened with a gala event on September 20, 1992. The town’s administrative offices are housed in the building along with a 425 seat, professional state-of-the-art climate-controlled theatre.

The Town of Petrolia
The town of Petrolia is proud of its rich heritage and it is now eager to go back to the tradition of producing professional summer theatre as it has done in the past at its Victoria Playhouse Summer Festival. A Golf course, The Petrolia Discovery Museum - one of the most fascinating sites about the start and the establishing of the cradle of the oil industry in North-America - a town swimming pool, nature trails, beautiful Victorian homes and mansions and many, many other points of interest, compliment the experience of visiting the area. With Canada’s Victorian Oil Town hospitality, helpful merchants, the best B & B’s in Ontario, the splendour of its own Victoria Hall and only a short drive from Sarnia, London, or from across the border, we feel that this is a winning combination for a full day, evening or weekend for you and your family at Victoria Playhouse. All this at some of the lowest prices for professional theatre in Ontario!
Town website: town.petrolia.on.ca