Southam Hall

Capacity 1881 - 2065 guests

Named after the National Art Centre’s founding general director, G. Hamilton Southam, it is the largest and most majestic of our four performance halls. Home to the NAC Orchestra, it’s an ideal venue to support large-scale productions for a variety of performances and events, including Broadway musicals, ballet, opera, concerts, comedy, lectures, ceremonies and films.

View from the stage of Southam Hall, showcasing rows of red seats in the empty audience area.
View from the stage of Southam Hall, showcasing rows of red seats in the empty audience area.
Empty Southam Hall with vacant red seats, featuring a view showcasing the right side of the balcony area.
Rows of empty red seats in Southam Hall.
Rows of empty red seats in Southam Hall.
Rows of empty red seats in Southam Hall.

Seating

Seating chart
  • Front Orchestra 159
  • Orchestra 783
  • Parterre 148
  • Boxes 186
  • Mezzanine 263
  • Amphitheatre 263
  • Balcony 263

Technical overview

Max. stage width: 15.8 m (52’-0”)
Max. proscenium height: 10.5 m (34’-4”)
Stage depth: 19.2 m (63’-0”)
Double purchase fly system with 83 linesets
Maximum trim: 26.5m (87’-7”)
Seats in Front Orchestra are removable to create orchestra pit or thrust stage

Red velour main curtain
77 traps on stage
d&b line array loudspeakers and amplication
4 Robert Juliat Cyrano 2.5kW followspots

Ticketing information

Rental clients must use the services of the NAC’s Box Office and online ticketing system for all performances.  Ticketmaster is the exclusive online ticketing provider. The NAC acts as a liaison between the client and Ticketmaster.

Rental rates and insurance

The base rental fee includes use of the venue for one day, use of technical equipment, box office and ushers services.

Other applicable charges include, but are not exclusive of:

  • Stage technical labour
  • SOCAN and Re:Sound tariffs for use of music
  • Credit card commissions

Rental:

1 day / 1 performance: $8,000 + 4% of box office receipts (minimum $2,100)

1 day / 2 performances: $14,400 + 4% of box office receipts (minimum $4,200)

Rental client must have a third party bodily injury and property damage legal liability insurance for an amount of no less than two (2) million dollars.

Labour overview

All technical work on stage must be done by NAC employees under the jurisdiction of the collective agreement with IATSE Local 471.  Workers are separated in multiple departments: Carpentry, Props, Electrics, Sound, Projection, Wardrobe, and Hair & Makeup. Labour costs often surpass the rental fee.

If you are interested in renting a performance hall, please complete the reservation request form.

Start a request form