Sanderson Centre for Performing Arts is kicking off its 2026-2027 season with a special open house celebrating the 40th anniversary of the historic theatre’s reopening on Friday, October 2, 2026.
Opened as the Temple Theatre on December 22, 1919, the now Sanderson Centre has been a staple destination for entertainment in downtown Brantford for over a century.
The building was designed by world-famous Scottish architect Thomas W. Lamb and erected at the cost of $350,000.
Originally designed as a vaudeville and silent movie house, according to the theatre’s website, the Temple Theatre had to adapt to changing audience tastes by the late 1920s.
“Feature film presentations had eclipsed vaudeville as the entertainment rage and the Temple Theatre was swept along with the popular tide,” the website states. “In 1929, Famous Players purchased the Temple Theatre and it was renamed the Capitol in 1930.”
Operating as a movie theatre for the next several decades, the City of Brantford eventually purchased the building for $425,000 in 1986 in an effort to preserve Brantford’s heritage and create a cultural centre for the community.
“A group of dedicated volunteers spearheaded a highly successful fundraising campaign with support from the community and local businesses to restore the Capitol Theatre,” the website goes on to state. “Over several years, the theatre was reborn with an authentically restored auditorium and improved services for guests and performers.”
During the restoration, Hannivan and Company was brought in to carry out renovations, while specialized teams combed through historical photographs, original documents and other materials to help determine the original colours, patterns and designs of the Temple Theatre.
Eventually, the theatre was renamed the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts in tribute to the memory of the Sanderson family, who were well-known supporters of the Sanderson Centre restoration and other local causes.
On October 2, 1986, the Sanderson Centre officially opened with a performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s play Evita.
According to a post made on social media by the theatre on August 21, the performance sold out, and “What began as a test of the community’s interest became the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the theatre.”
Now 40 years later, the Sanderson Centre is offering an open house celebrating the re-opening of the theatre.
During the event, visitors can expect free behind-the-scenes tours, light refreshments and a chance to explore the history of the theatre.
In a press release from June 15 this year, Theatre Manager Glenn Brown said he and his team were looking forward to the event.
“Forty years ago, our community came together to help bring this historic theatre back to life,” said Brown. “We’re proud to celebrate that milestone with an anniversary open house and an exciting new season, and we look forward to welcoming audiences through our doors for many years to come.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
