MAGIC & MADNESS
This house in Victoria re-defines the concept of home theatre
Houses today have media rooms, or boast flashy, high-tech home theatres that often amount to little more than rows of lounge chairs lined up in front of massive television screens. But this Victoria B.C., house actually has a real home theatre — with a stage, tiny wings, curtains and seating for more than 50 people in chairs that were formerly used by patrons of the area’s Langham Court Theatre.
The mini-theatre takes up most of the ground floor, and yet the modest residence is definitely not a monster house, or even particularly handsome from the street — there is a giant hand standing on a cardboard wrist by the front door and a matching one inside, ready to begin the applause.
“There was a kind of bonding thing that happened when we first performed in this space,” says owner Tim Gosley, who bought the home three years ago with his wife, Petra Kixmoeller. The two are both actors. She was born and educated in Germany, while Gosley was born in Canada.
“It’s a huge dream, living in a house with a theatre and also being so connected to where I used to live,” says Gosley, who grew up in the Victoria area. He left to study drama in Alberta and spent most of his career in Eastern Canada, where he became a renowned puppeteer, playwright, producer, director and teacher. As a puppeteer for about 30 years, he worked with the Muppets as a character on Fraggle Rock for nine years, was part of the Canadian Sesame Street movie and Muppets specials, and did lots of television and writing for animation.
“It’s a great career for a generalist because you’ve got to learn everything from directing to acting to writing.”
His work in Montreal was drying up and he was looking for other opportunities when he decided to resurrect an old puppet show, derelict for 25 years and languishing in a Victoria basement. Through his efforts, he discovered this tiny theatre.
“The proportion of this performing space, the ceiling height, the relationship between the performers and audience is just perfect. Something about it makes it a jewel, a really special place, a magical and flexible space.”
The community in Victoria was supportive, too. “I was lucky because I was born here, and people seemed to like what I was doing.” Then he learned the owner wanted to sell.
“I thought, holy smokes! Because I really wanted to come back to my ’ hood.”
The timing was perfect as his mother still lives nearby.
“The whole thing was unbelievably connected and we were able to swing the down payment, which was a challenge as we’re underwaged artists. Financially, it would probably have been better to turn the theatre into an apartment, but I wanted to preserve it. It’s so cool.
“When artists come here, I see a lot of jealous faces,” he says with a grin, adding he and his wife named it Merlin’s Sun Home Theatre.
“I used to be obsessed with Merlin and those old Celtic myths where he is a kind of fulcrum between different worlds.
“The neighbours who we have met seem to love it and it is a great place for workshops, kids starting out. A lot of musicians have found out about it and asked to perform here, too.”
The owners also partner with small theatre groups and, of course, host puppet events, such as the recent visit of some “fabulous” Beijing shadow puppeteers who gave a demonstration of their art.
The two actors also perform outside their home, at private events, but love their own theatre best.
“It’s quite miraculous, actually. People enjoy the salon feel, the sense of intimacy,” Gosley says.
“In this little theatre, everyone has a good view and it feels really warm.”
They have done little to the space except move the back wall to enlarge the stage and bring in new chairs, purchased from Langham Court for $400. After the metal parts were removed, the chairs were attached to what were previously carpeted step seats.
“The old steps had Persian-style cushions and a wonderful Moroccan feel. It was very cool, but this is a little more comfortable,” he says.
The house’s previous owner, actor and storyteller Romany Miller, is thrilled Gosley treasures the 2,000-square-foot residence that she built in the late 1990s, complete with a large upstairs studio lined with mirrors and ballet barres. It was a lifelong dream for her. “Once upon a time, when I was very young, I read a book by Rumer Godden called A Candle for St. Jude about this wonderful old Russian lady dancer who decided to build a theatre just for herself, her programmer and students.
“All my life, I thought, when I get old and have some money I will build a theatre for storytelling. When my uncle died and left me some money, I was finally able to do it,” says Miller, 79.
“I phoned the city for approvals, got a sort of permission as long as none of the neighbours objected, and gave any money I made to charity. It was used for a lot of receptions and small performances. ”
She is happy the theatre will continue with Gosley. “He is doing very well, and he’s young so he has the energy, and (he has) a wife who supports him. People adore his shows and love him. He is very professional, very clever.”
She recalls it was an amusing home to build.
“My builder thought the whole thing was total, utter madness.”