The Empress Theatre, also known as the Cinema V (Cinema Five), is located on Sherbrooke Street in the neighbourhood of N.D.G. in Montreal. Damaged by a fire in 1992, the Egyptian-style theatre it is currently slated for restoration.
Constructed in 1927 and designed by Joseph-Alcide Chaussé, with interiors by Emmanuel Briffa, it was the only theatre in Canada designed in the Egyptian style, and was inspired by the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922. The building first served as a Vaudeville theatre for burlesque and first-run films. In 1962, it was home to a dinner theatre called the Royal Follies. In 1968, it became the Hermes/Cinema V, an art-movie house, then a repertory cinema from the 1970s to 1992. It has been closed since 1992 after a fire damaged the theatre.
In 1968, the theatre was divided to become the two-tiered Cinema V. In 1974, it briefly changed its name to The Home of Blue Movies. It became a repertory cinema in 1975, gaining notability as the Montreal home of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was taken over by the Famous Players chain in 1988.
Geordie Theatre, Black Theatre Workshop, McGill Music Conservatory and the City of Montreal are collaborating to restore the building. It is estimated that the project will cost $11.8 million dollars.
The completed theatre will be used for performance and visual arts. The final plans include a café/art gallery and a 246-person concert hall.
The restored theatre will be home to two resident professional theatre companies: Geordie Productions and Black Theatre Workshop. The McGill Conservatory plans to use the theatre for its music education program.
