Ship’s Company Theatre to begin 38th season

This summer the Ship’s Company Theatre is helping showcase the diverse array of voices in the Atlantic Canada theatrical community.

Entering its 38th season, starting July 9, Ship’s Company Theatre is soon ready for another slate of live performances to thrill its Parrsboro audience.

Ship’s artistic director Richie Wilcox tells Cumberland

Wire he wanted to bring a variety of different voices to the stage this year.

“The programming is showing how diverse Atlantic Canada is and how diverse the art forms can be,” he explains. “We’re really pushing what theatre is in Atlantic Canada. We’re really highlighting all the different ways we can tell stories.”

The theatre’s mission, per a news release from Ship’s, is “to be a cultural leader and prime centre for the production and development of Canadian and Atlantic theatre.”

This season, the release continues, will be no different, with “world premieres, emerging works, critically acclaimed touring shows, innovative pieces and a concert series.”

Wilcox explains they wanted to tell “hidden stories” as part of that mandate.

“I was looking at that within the programming and trying to highlight stories that might not have been told on the stage before,” he says.

For instance, he cites The Princess Show, scheduled for July 14 and 15.

“It’s a person tackling depression and trying to find self-love, but it’s told through a drag aesthetic with projections and anime multimedia,” he explains. “So, it looks quite different. it might be a hidden story because people don't talk about these things a lot. It actually becomes quite a fun and joyful piece to watch.”

Or Dayboil, a play written by Sharon King Campbell that the theatre is premiering July 27, tackles the subject of suicide within rural areas.

“I think it’s important to bring this stuff to light,” says Wilcox.

Wilcox also hopes people have come to appreciate the value of the arts more in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Throughout the pandemic, I definitely relied on the arts to lift me up and get me through,” he says. “I think this season has lots to offer through joy and music and humour and storytelling that will lift people up.”

With COVID-19 restrictions loosened across the province, there will be more space for people to enjoy the performances.

Audience capacity has been increased from 64 to 92 seats, although they have chosen not to go to full capacity again quite yet.

Wilcox, who is in his final year as artistic director, is looking forward to the season.

“I’m really quite excited to get into this season and see these plays, get to meet everyone on the deck and talk about them,” he says.

For more about the Ship’s Company Theatre and this year’s offerings, visit shipscompanytheatre.com.