The History of UTSC Project
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The Spaces & Places guided walking tour explores the history of locations on and around the UTSC campus by sharing the personal recollections of members of our campus community — reflecting a variety of perspectives, positions, and points in time.
The Leigha Lee Browne Theatre, or LLBT, is an important hub of artistic activity at UTSC. It was not, however, part of the original campus plan, and was instead developed following what might be understood as a series of compromises. By 1985, the Meeting Place was the only location on campus with enough space to stage large-scale artistic productions, but lacked the appropriate acoustics to host such productions properly, leading to the development of a plan for a multipurpose public arts facility named “Scarborough Hall”. Within a few years, $400,000 were raised for Scarborough Hall; however, the plan never materialized, and the money was instead used to transform the campus’ old television studio into the LLBT, which opened in 1993 and continues to be a cornerstone of artistic development on campus. Tucked away in the Science Wing, the theatre uses an open-concept, minimalist design, featuring a central stage platform surrounded by seating that brings audiences close to the action and thereby creates an immersive experience that is cherished by performers and spectators alike. The space hosts a wide range of productions year-round, from student-led musicals to professional performances, showcasing a diverse array of talent and storytelling. In this way, the Leigha Lee Browne Theatre is not just a venue; it’s a creative hub that nurtures the arts at UTSC.
Kevin Wright, former Production Manager of the Leigha Leigh Browne Theatre on campus, talks about the challenges associated with the original television studio in the 1970s and its eventual evolution into the theatre we know today.
Credits: Conceived and produced by Christine Berkowitz. All images courtesy of the UTSC Library, Archives and Special Collections, Memory Collection and the UTSC Commons Magazine.
Doug, a UTSC alum who was a part of second incoming class of Scarborough College in 1966, speaks about his experience working with the television studio on campus as a student and the types of facilities available therein.
Credits: Conceived by Inyoung Choi and produced by Amena Ahmed. All images courtesy of Ahmed Allahwala and the Memories of UTSC Collection.
UTSC Professor Paula Sperdakos, who spearheaded the establishment of the Leigha Lee Browne Theatre, recalls the informal meeting in 1990 in which — much to her own surprise — she secured substantial for the theatre.
Credits: Conceived and produced by Amena Ahmed. All images courtesy of Concordia University Records Management and Archives, Monklands Drama via The Lost Schools of English Montreal, and the Memory Collection.
Barry Freeman, a UTSC alum who currently works at the university as an Associate Professor of Theatre and Performance, recalls how the commitment of UTSC Professor Michal Schonberg allowed him to have an extraordinary experience abroad as an undergrad in 1998.
Credits: Conceived and produced by Amena Ahmed. All images courtesy of University of Toronto Scarborough News and the Memory Collection.
