ABOUT US

Festival Antigonish has established an inspiring legacy as a premier summer theatre experience in Atlantic Canada. With a history that spans three decades; a patron base that includes thousands of Nova Scotians as well as regional, national, and international tourists; an acclaimed reputation as a local economic and cultural anchor; and an artistic commitment to excellence, we are proud of our successes and we are committed to growth. Each summer, we bring together the best artists from across Nova Scotia and beyond to create an award-winning Main Stage series, a Family Stage show, and other innovative artistic presentations. We are housed in the intimate Bauer Theatre on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS.

Our Artsitic Mission

Festival Antigonish produces contemporary professional theatre that dramatizes our cultural moment in order to promote self-reflection on Canada’s place in the world and what it means to be Canadian.  

Our commitment to gender parity, feminist issues, diversity, and inclusion are especially important as a reflection of the type of Canadian theatre that we create. Our theatre is a safe, joyful, vibrant space where artists and arts workers from Nova Scotia and beyond can create, collaborate, develop new work and expand their artistic range.

Our work is shaped by our deep roots in our community and our strong local connections. We encourage empathy as an act of belonging through programming choices that value inclusion, transformation, imagination, friendship, and human connection. This is the foundation for our theatre to be a cultural catalyst for our community and provoke social change.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

In 2017, Festival Antigonish celebrated 30 years of high-quality, professional, and entertaining summer theatre. This is an incredible milestone and one that couldn’t happen without the generous support of our donors. Sustaining a theatre, especially in rural Nova Scotia, does not come without its fair share of challenges but our donors have helped us stay strong and build for the future.

Your gift will help ensure that we can open our doors to as many people as possible, sharing the joy and adventure of theatre with audiences of all ages through accessible ticket prices and flexible programming.

As a theatre-goer, you know that what you are really supporting when you walk into our theatre is not just the arts but in fact the health, vibrancy, and prosperity of our entire community. Festival Antigonish enriches the social and economic fabric of our region, and we are proud of the legacy we have built with your support over the years.

Thank you for your support!