Main entrance of the theatre

The Court House Theatre was originally a Court House that has since been turned into a theatre that hosts events and workshops. The Court House Theatre stopped running performances in 2018 as the building was not able to meet accessibility standards as well as being difficult to construct and deconstruct sets inside. The space will continue to be used as a rehearsal space and will open up opportunities for educational programs and workshops. The shows that used to be run at the Court House Theatre were moved to the Studio Theatre. Since this change from productions to education, the Festival has increased the amount of education and outreach work by 50%.

There are still a few select productions that will be done at the Court House Theatre, such as a one-hour interactive show called "Creating the Magician's Nephew" and the Shaw's annual symposium "Shaw at the Shaw". There are still discussions taking place about the future of the Court House Theatre and that there may be ways to make it more accessible in the future.

Back stairwell leading into the Court House

This theatre was where the Shaw Festival began performing in 1962. The building dates back to 1847 where it was a Court House for the counties of Lincoln, Welland, and Haldimand.

Inside it had a courtroom, town hall chambers, offices and jail cells. The courts moved to St. Catharines in 1863 so the Court House served as a town hall and then a jail before becoming home to the Shaw Festival.

The theatre houses 327 seats in the upper level of the building.

Home to the Shaw Festival theatre and Parks Canada headquarters of Niagara National Historic Sites

There is a large parking lot behind the Court House Theatre. You pay by the hour and then can leave your car there as you tour the Court House Theatre and explore the rest of downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake.

cNiagara Website

Niagara Now Article

Court House Theatre Wiki