By Afraa Kori
GEMCO, a community theatre in Emerald, is facing a severe roof leak due to the deterioration of its aged canvas-and-bitumen roofing, which was last covered 20–25 years ago.
The leak has caused significant internal rot, making restoration efforts more difficult and costly over time.
Last winter, vice president of GEMCO, Matt Greenway couldn’t do much work due to the weather.
Before that, he had started working on the roof in summer and managed to cover it temporarily. However, he realized it needed deeper repairs rather than just a quick fix.
“It’s been a lot of time and elbow grease. I’ll stop at the end to help clean up.“
“But I had most of it under control, you know—kind of like putting a Band-Aid over a festering sore. So it’s inflamed, and you’ve got to take it back and really treat the wound before you stitch it up, if that makes sense.“
“The leak is causing us to have to spend a lot more money on materials and time and labour in getting it to where it needs to be, particularly structurally.”
“It’s got a steel skeleton but a lot of the timber is in disrepair and in a very poor state. It’s going to take a lot of time, labour as well as the cost of materials.”
“You look around and open that can of worms and go, ‘where do we start?’ So it’s really trying to bring it back and going for the roof. Roof is the main thing.”
GEMCO members and volunteers have been working tirelessly to maintain and repair the theatre, but the expenses for materials, labour, and structural repairs continue to grow.
GEMCO has recently invested $42,000 to replace the deck and around $8,000 on roofing and other structural repairs, but urgent roof leaks still need fixing to prevent further damage.
The volunteers have put in endless hours, from rebuilding the stage to fixing the roof, all while juggling the challenges of limited funds and unexpected setbacks.
“It becomes a costly exercise. The list just keeps getting longer and longer. We have been fundraising and there’s only so many tickets you can sell,” Matt said.
“We’re trying to keep ticket prices reasonable for people in the community, especially with the cost of living going up.”
“It would be nice if the council helped. It’s always ‘apply for a grant, apply for a grant. We keep hearing ‘apply for a grant, apply for a grant,’ but the need is immediate. We’ve already spent about $8,000 of GEMCO’s money—community money—on materials alone.”
It’s been tough for the members and volunteers, but the passion for keeping this theatre alive drives them forward.
GEMCO is calling on everyone to rally behind this vital community asset, recognizing its impact and the importance of preserving it for future generations.
The theatre plays a vital role in the community, providing a space for performing arts, meetings, and various activities.
GEMCO president, Mandy McGarrigle warns that we can’t afford to lose a community asset like this.
“Without support, we risk losing a place that means so much to so many,” she said.
“We’re desperate, we got a huge leak in the roof that makes a puddle on stage. We got the energy, we got the people, we just need funds to keep this going.”
“GEMCO is not just a theatre group; it’s a community group that provides a space for creativity, connection, and expression.“
As the head of GEMCO’s Building and Maintenance Subcommittee, Matt Greenaway is dedicated to ensuring the theatre’s restoration remains a priority. While there were previous discussions about demolishing the structure due to its poor condition, preserving its rich history and multipurpose space is essential.
