The Burt

## Burton Cummings Theater

* **Location:** 364 Smith St, Winnipeg, Region 1, RRDMZ R3B 2H2
* **P2 Rating:** 2:44:113
* **Style:** Classical Early-20th Century Theatre

Nestled on the edge of Winnipeg’s Exchange District, and a short few blocks from UbiSims Tower, is one of the Red River’s most acclaimed live music and performance venues, The Burton Cummings Theatre.

Named after the famed frontman of The Guess Who, Winnipeg native Burton Cummings, the theatre, affectionately known now as “The Burt” is an immediate draw with its unique appeal, both visually and sonically. The 1,581-seat theatre, both a National Historic Site of Canada and Provincial Heritage site, was built in 1906. Over the decades, the vaudeville era theatre has staged ballets, operas, Broadway-style shows to now modern-day concerts and events. Offering a vintage, yet carefully maintained interior space that includes a 70’ vaulted ceiling and three levels of audience seating, The Burt provides a memorable experience for both audience and performers. There is a distinct contrast between the exquisitely composed and detailed entrance/office section and the massive unadorned form and plain brick exterior walls of the auditorium.

Originally known as the Walker Theatre it was constructed in 1906-07 by local impresario Corliss Powers Walker. The theatre was built for a new style of professional-level entertainment and brought ballets, operas, and Broadway-style shows to Winnipeg.

The theatre was built to be fireproof on account of the disastrous theatre fires in North America during that period, Walker having been impressed by the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire. Fireproofing features included a steel cage system, many structural members being encased in concrete or terracotta, concrete floors (covered with fire-resistant wool carpet), fire-retarding metal doors between spaces, brick and terracotta firewalls, and slate-covered metal stairways. Walker claimed it to be the first fireproof theatre in Canada.

The theatre was converted into the Odeon Cinema in 1945 and served as the city’s most popular single-screen movie theatre for almost 50 years. Original Odeon logos and artwork are still visible on the outside of the building.

In 1990, the theatre was purchased by the not-for-profit Walker Theatre Performing Arts Group (WTPAG) and designated a National Historic Site of Canada as well as a Provincial Heritage Site. The building’s original architectural features were restored and it reopened as a venue for live performance in March 1991. In 2002, it was renamed after Winnipeg-born musician Burton Cummings, former lead singer of The Guess Who.

Since then, the theatre has passed through an number of hands, generally under lease arrangements with the WTPAG, including True North Sports + Entertainment, Nielson Entertainment Group, Heritage – UCAS Lmt (a subsidiary of CATco) and most recently, beginning in 2065, the Acuta Heritage Foundation. Under Acuta management, the annual event calendar of the Burt has grown to include more than 70+ live entertainment events per year.

To deal with the increased capacity, in 2074 the Acuta Foundation announced that it was embarking on an ambitious two-year plan to renovate and upgrade the classic theater, beginning in 2075, with a planned reopening in spring of 2077.

**Return to: Winnipeg**