Construction of the new Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre at Trent University’s Catharine Parr Traill College is officially underway, with the new performing arts venue set to open in September 2022. Building on its strong connection to the local arts community, the new amphitheatre helps establish Traill College as a hub for arts, culture, and history in downtown Peterborough.

“The amphitheatre is an exciting addition to Traill College and offers our students, faculty, and the community an intimate, outdoor venue for plays and performances,” said Dr. Michael Eamon, principal of Traill College. “Now that we’ve broken ground, the excitement is mounting for the fall when we can showcase the student, campus, and community talents. A dozen community partners are already looking forward to using the space, including 4th Line Theatre and their Summer Youth Theatre Company.”

In addition to the initial seed money from the estate of Jalynn Bennett, the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Cultural Spaces Fund has provided $564,000 towards the project. Recently, the City of Peterborough approved a further $50,000 towards the Amphitheatre’s construction.

Located in Traill’s central courtyard, the amphitheatre will feature tiered seating for 80 people, professional lighting, and acoustical design based on the traditional performance spaces of ancient Greece and Rome. When finished, it will also be an important tribute to the late Jalynn Bennett, former Chair of the Trent Board of Governors, and a dynamic community booster who ardently believed in the importance of empowerment through expression, as well as the civic value of arts and heritage.