Theatre Tillsonburg received a major investment from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to replace its aging lights.
The lights are getting brighter at Theatre Tillsonburg thanks to a major investment from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The community theatre received a $125,100 Capital Grant to replace its aging lighting system at the Otter Valley Playhouse. The funding has allowed the theatre to purchase 62 modern LED lights ahead of its 2026-27 season.
Joe Sheik, a member of Theatre Tillsonburg’s lighting and grant writing committees, said the old incandescent equipment was becoming obsolete.
The upgrade is about more than replacing old bulbs. Sheik said the new equipment will give volunteers far more creative freedom and reduce the need to rent specialized lighting.
That could mean everything from colourful sunsets to floating clouds appearing on stage, while more subtle lighting can help create different moods for audiences.
Sheik said securing the grant was a community effort, with volunteers helping with research, proofreading and number crunching. Mayor Deb Gilvesy and Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman also provided letters of support.
The new equipment will make its debut when Theatre Tillsonburg opens its 2026-27 season with The Numbers Game on November 12.
The theatre, which has operated at the Otter Valley Playhouse since 1990, says the investment will help its volunteers keep creating bigger and more ambitious productions for years to come.
