Venue’s next spot to be determined, but there are ideas

This is not the end of The Effie Arts Collective, but it is the end of this space, at least this version of it. With a move-out date in early May, April is shaping up to be a full and final run in the room that started it all.

The Effie itself came together through a mix of timing, instinct and community support. Effie owners Aaron Shufletoski, Kayly Erno and the late Drew McLean had previously been involved in a comedy show in the space and saw its potential. When McLean brought up the idea of The Effie to Shufletoski and Erno during the pandemic, the decision came quickly.

“We thought about it for 30 seconds,” Shufletoski said. “It’s a yes.”

From the beginning, the intention was to create a space for performers, particularly local artists. But the foundation of the project was just as important as the vision. The building itself is part of a housing co-op development, and the theatre component was always part of that plan.

“I think it’s important that we acknowledge that the only reason we were in the space to start with is Propolis, the housing cooperative that’s going up,” said Erno. “They wanted a theater in that space, and they were looking for someone to run a theater out of that space… they’ve given us awesome rent and they’ve been great landlords, and they’re the reason we were able to make it happen.”

That support allowed The Effie to operate in ways that aren’t always possible for small venues. It was never designed to be profit-driven. Instead, it has always been a shared effort.

“No one was going to get rich out of this,” laughed Shufletoski. “The landlords are taking a hit, we take a hit, the artists take a hit, everybody… nobody can be greedy. And we all just were like, you know what, we’re in this to make the space happen, not to show shareholders giant profits.”

Over time, that approach has shaped the experience audiences have come to expect.

“I think what’s been cool is nobody has come to a bad show at the Effie,” Shufletoski continued. “They may not be the show that people expected, but we’ve just been continually amazed by people’s talents and their energy, their skill. I think the shows at the Effie have been honest shows as well. When there’s such an intimate little space — you’re there, and the fourth wall has really been removed.”

What began as a venue focused on local performers has also expanded well beyond Kamloops. Touring artists, including international acts, have increasingly included The Effie in their routes, adding to the diversity of performances while maintaining its local initiative.

“We’ve got performers from Australia calling us up looking to book with us,” said Shufletoski.

Now, as the current space reaches its planned end, April will serve as a final showcase of what the venue has become.

Programming is packed throughout the month of April.  The highlight will be a Hydra-style variety show on April 24 and 25, featuring a wide range of performers presenting short sets across multiple disciplines. The festival will include a mix of music, comedy, burlesque, drag, improv and experimental work. The event is designed as both a celebration of the venue and a preview of a future full Hydra festival in the fall, once the Effie gets settled into their new space, wherever that may be.

While this chapter is closing, The Effie itself is not.

“Nothing is 100 percent written in stone, but we have a space that we are actively working towards that would be really good for the North Shore,” Erno teased. And though the location may be changing, “The vision is still the same.”

The future brings change, growth and, of course, more amazing talent. In the immediate future, however, support remains straightforward.

“Come to shows,” Erno said.

As the final performances approach in the current space, the focus is on filling the room and celebrating all of the wonderful connections and sense of community that The Effie Arts Collective has been built.