MainLine Theatre closed after water damage from downpour

The MainLine Theatre was forced to cancel its shows for the foreseeable future after rain flooded the theatre on Wednesday.

“The water started gushing in. Through the roof. It poured through projection equipment and lighting fixtures, flooding the space at a very rapid rate,” said Amy Blackmore, executive and artistic director of the theatre and the Montreal Fringe Festival in a statement.

All programming and activities have been stopped, and the company is unsure when they can reopen.

The flooding comes almost a month after the Fringe festival, which is produced by the MainLine theatre. According to the statement, the festival saw record-breaking ticket sales and revenue earned by artists.

For Kenny Streule, the artistic producer of the theatre, it leaves him with mixed feelings.

“I’m feeling very shocked with how to feel with this all because we finished on such a great run of the festival, and now we’re dealing with this monstrous situation,” said Streule.

Blackmore told CTV News that she learned about the theatre flooding while on a train out of the city.

“The Fringe festival just ended, so we’re all going on vacation, and I get a call from my staff that there’s water leaking out of the ceiling and they need some buckets,” she said. “I think it’s a little trickle, but as soon as I saw the videos, I could not believe [it].”

She said the theatre had never seen water damage from rain before.

“I think this was a combination of roofing structure or pipes gone wrong and the storm altogether,” said Blackmore. “Just to see the amount of water was surreal and surprising.”

Streule was in the theatre when it was flooding, he described it as “three points of showers dropping from the light fixtures.”

“It was disastrous. I’d never seen the space like that before,” he said.

According to the statement, there is “extensive damage” in their smaller space, called the MiniMain Studio, as well as the lobby, their offices, and hallway. The ceilings, walls, furniture and fixtures, theatre and festival equipment/technology and administrative paperwork are also damaged.

In the statement, the company noted that the MainSpace, their larger theatre space, was not touched from the flooding “from what we can tell.”

The landlord and insurance companies will assess the situation. The reason for the flooding is still unknown.

The theatre had planned to launch a campaign to raise $50,000 on World Fringe Day (July 11) to compensate for losses due to the impacts of the pandemic, according to the company. MainLine had originally held off until the end of the festival to kickstart the campaign and keep a focus on the Fringe festival.

“Now, here we are. And we need your help more than ever,” wrote Blackmore.

So far, they have raised $15,000 since launching the campaign.

Blackmore said donations are being accepted through their Zeffy campaign, as well as by dropping off cash or a cheque at the theatre.

Streule emphasized the importance of the MainLine theatre as a vital part of the theatre ecosystem.

“This is where artists come to develop their work, develop new things that they wouldn’t necessarily try in a bigger theater,” said Streule. “Losing a space like MainLine means artists can’t take the risks and explore things they’ve never explored before.”

Blackmore echoed his feelings.

“The truth is, the MainLine and the Fringe are really at the heart of the Montreal independent arts community and its really helped so many artists over the years,” she said. “If we were to lose MainLine, we’d really lose the soul of the community.”

And now, it’s on this community they rely on.

“I am asking anyone who loves the MainLine and the Fringe to support us today to ensure we’re here tomorrow,” wrote Blackmore.