The Stage That Defines Northern Ontario: Magnus Theatre
Amanda Bay
April 20, 2026
Tucked inside one of Thunder Bay’s most historic buildings, is one of the most important cultural hubs in Northern Ontario. Filled with live music, dramatic monologues, and full-scale productions, Magnus Theatre is THE region’s professional theatre company, and in fact, the only one between Barrie and Winnipeg. It’s been a cornerstone of the local arts scene for decades, putting on everything from big, bold musicals to intimate dramas and brand new plays you literally can’t see anywhere else. As Executive Director Alexis Rowlinson puts it, Magnus is all about “engagement and excellence in live theatre and arts education,” in other words, there’s always something interesting happening at Magnus!
The origin story alone, is legendary. Back in 1971, Magnus Theatre was conceived when British director Burton Lancaster (not to be confused with actor Burt Lancaster, btw) had the idea to create a new theatre company in Canada. “Legend has it that he closed his eyes, randomly placed his finger on a map, and landed on Thunder Bay. Just like that, a theatre company was born,” Alexis shared.
What started as a small touring group that performed in schools grew into something much bigger. Lancaster eventually stumbled upon an old Slovak Hall and transformed it into a tiny 181 seat theatre. The name “Magnus” itself? Inspired by a real guy Lancaster met in Sweden.
By the early 1990s, Magnus had outgrown its original space in that East End. After major fundraising efforts and a partnership with the Coalition for Waverley Park, the company moved into its current home.
A brand new 250 seat theatre auditorium was constructed, complete with a fly tower. It was attached to the historic Central Schoolhouse, considered one of the oldest buildings in the city still standing. We’re talking 1800s, when students were carving their names into the walls (literally; some of that graffiti is still there, making it also the oldest graffiti in TBAY). So yeah, the building itself has stories. Magnus isn’t just about what happens on stage; the space itself is basically a character of its own.
Actors sign the inside of dressing room drawers, and there are some recognizable names in there, including Kim Coates from Sons of Anarchy. “He worked at Magnus fairly frequently early on in his career”. There’s also signatures from Keith Parker, a really well-known Canadian playwright from Kenora, and Thompson Highway, a Canadian Indigenous playwright, who was the Playwright in Residence at Magnus.
So, what’s it actually like to go to a show? No two experiences are the same. You could see a musical one month, come back for a drama the next, and then end up at a quirky, experimental production after that. Magnus now offers three different stage experiences as well:
“Sometimes something is happening on all three at once,” says Alexis.
The Studio Theatre, finished in 2024, is where things get extra fun. It’s a fully flexible “black box” space, which means the stage setup can change from show to show. You might be sitting in a traditional layout, or around the stage, or even on cushions on the floor (mainly for the kids workshops).
Magnus Theatre reaches over 40,000 people every year, and not just through performances. Their regional school tours bring live theatre to communities where many kids are seeing it for the first time. Alexis points out that when students, especially in remote communities, see themselves reflected on stage, “it can open doors they didn’t even know existed”.
Here’s something you might not think about when you’re watching a show, for every actor on stage, there’s about seven people working behind the scenes. From Lighting designers, costume designers, set builders, to prop masters, directors, and playwrights, they all collaborate to create a production.
Another fun little flex, Thunder Bay loyalty is real. There’s one patron who has seen every single Magnus production since 1972. Every. Single. One. We love that commitment.
Magnus typically produces six shows in a season. What’s coming up next? If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to finally check it out, No Man’s Land by Harold Pinter is hitting the Studio Theatre from May 7th to 23rd. For a full listing of performances and ticket information, visit magnustheatre.com
