The Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat is positioning itself as more than a movie house after summer renovations that included backstage upgrades, a new sound booth and refreshed drapery and paint. Theatre leadership says the work is part of a deliberate effort to broaden the venue’s live-performance roster while preserving its long-standing role as a cinema.
Renovations and a historic discovery
Renovations focused on technical and cosmetic upgrades to support a wider variety of events. In addition to stage improvements, crews installed a dedicated sound booth and replaced curtains and wall finishes throughout the building. The upgrades are intended to make the facility more adaptable to concerts, comedy and community productions.
During the restoration, staff uncovered a long-forgotten section of the theatre’s original silver screen hidden behind panelling. The discovery surprised the team; according to theatre staff, the screen was not expected to be there and has been preserved as a historical element of the building.
“When that silver screen was uncovered, it was under the panelling. We did not even know that that silver screen was there.”
Movies remain the core; live shows expand programming
Theatre management has been careful to stress that film programming will remain the Monarch’s foundation even as the venue leans into more live events. “Movies are first and foremost; we will forever show movies, but live performances just help us expand on what we can do,” a representative said, framing live programming as a complement rather than a replacement.
To mark the shift toward a mixed-use schedule, the Monarch is preparing to host a lineup of live acts, beginning with a comedy show on Oct. 3 titled Broadly Speaking Comedy. The event features Medicine Hat-area comedians Charlie Wilson and Deb Balmer and is billed as the final run of the show in its current format before the duo pursue other collaborations.
“It’s kind of full circle because we started here. We’re going to wrap it up here. It’s going to be lots of fun. There’s going to be a ton of energy.”
- Venue: Monarch Theatre, Medicine Hat
- New facilities: Sound booth, stage upgrades, new drapes and paint
- Upcoming event: Broadly Speaking Comedy — Oct. 3, featuring Charlie Wilson and Deb Balmer
Community role and sustainability
The Monarch operates entirely with volunteers. That staffing model, combined with revenue from screenings and live events, is being used to support ongoing maintenance and restoration of the historic facility. Management describes the venue’s evolving programming strategy as a way to better serve local audiences and provide a hub for community arts.
Expanding into live performances may offer several benefits for Medicine Hat: it diversifies local entertainment options, creates more reasons for repeat visits to downtown, and helps the Monarch generate funds for preservation work without abandoning its cinematic roots.
What comes next
Tickets for the initial slate of shows, including the Oct. 3 comedy event, are available through local ticketing platforms. Theatre officials say more dates and types of performances will be scheduled as the space is put through its paces and volunteer capacity allows.
For now, the Monarch’s summer upgrades and the uncovering of a historic silver screen are a reminder of the building’s layered past even as it charts a modest, community-focused future — one that aims to keep films at its heart while providing more live entertainment for Medicine Hat audiences.
