Atlantic Theatre Festival


The Atlantic Theatre Festival was a professional theatre company located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Theatre Festival presented a "broad range of critically acclaimed theatre classics" during the summer in Wolfville's Festival Theatre, the former town hockey arena that was converted into a 504 seat, thrust stage theatre and professional production facility by the Atlantic Theatre Festival Society.

History

Over two million dollars was contributed by the local, Nova Scotian, and Canadian governments to create the Festival Theatre. Stratford Festival veteran Michael Langham was among the directors who brought national acclaim to the festival during the Founder's Season of 1995. The reputation of the festival grew over the following seasons as it attracted the likes of Megan Follows, Christopher Plummer, and area native Peter Donat to join its company. In later years, despite originally being conceived as a classical repertory, the festival maintained its critical success as it began to include works by Canadian playwrights as well as family-friendly musicals.
Despite a strong critical reputation, mounting debts over the first five years forced the Atlantic Theatre Festival to reduce cast sizes, lay-off crew, and cancel productions. The construction of the Festival Theatre initially came as a result of a twenty-year lease from Acadia University. In 2002, this agreement was terminated and a new lease was offered that reduced the professional theatre company to a seasonal tenant. This arrangement threatened the Atlantic Theatre Festival's existence, causing the cancellation of the 2004 season. The festival theatre stage remained dark in 2005, but had a successful renewal in 2006. With one main stage production and comedic readings to form the "Summer of Laughter" season both audiences and tourists returned. The financial success did not continue the following season as the festival returned to a multi-play format. In August 2007, artistic director Nigel Bennett was forced to resign mid-season after the Board of Directors informed him that sufficient funds were not available to continue. One production completed its run while two others, one on stage and the other in rehearsal, were cancelled. A lack of funding from both provincial and federal levels was named as the main cause of the closure.
Currently, the Festival Theatre is used for the Acadia University Performing Arts Series, which are held throughout the University school year, and for conferences.

Artistic Directors

Production history

2007Shirley Valentine by Willy RussellThe Drawer Boy by Michael HealeyA Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
2006Noises Off by Michael Frayn
2003Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James LapineBlithe Spirit by Noël CowardThree Sisters by Anton Chekhov
2002Charley's Aunt by Brandon ThomasThe Taming of the Shrew by William ShakespeareThe Miracle Worker by William Gibson
2001The Hobbit adapted by Kim SelodyA Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee WilliamsBilly Bishop Goes to War by John Gray and Eric Peterson
2000Amadeus by Peter ShafferHigh Notes: A Musical Revue by Jerry EtiennePrivate Lives by Noël CowardMacbeth by William ShakespeareBilly Bishop Goes to War by John Gray and Eric Peterson
1999Hedda Gabler by Henrik IbsenThe Constant Wife by W. Somerset MaughamThe Boar Hog and The Pregnant Pause by Georges Feydeau
1998Othello by William ShakespearePygmalion by George Bernard ShawThe Matchmaker by Thornton WilderSam Slick Goes Ahead by Andrew Gillis
1997Tartuffe by MolièreThe Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar WildeUncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov
1996Twelfth Night by William ShakespeareShe Stoops to Conquer by Oliver GoldsmithA Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
1995The Tempest by William ShakespeareThe Cherry Orchard by Anton ChekhovA Flea in Her Ear by Georges Feydeau