For the 23rd year, Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador presents the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, a four month long celebration of stories, songs and culture nestled in one of the island’s most pristine locations.
Community Effort
Featuring exciting new additions and returning favourites (with a modern twist), the festival lineup is the combination of the combined efforts of dozens of actors, directors, designers, stage mangers and volunteers, to name a few.
“It’s an amazing effort,” shares Gaylene Buckle, General Manger of Theatre of Newfoundland and Labrador. “While we’re doing this year’s season, we’re talking about next season. We’re always in planning for the year ahead. It takes an awful lot of people to make the festival happen.
New this year is a docu-drama that is truly a community effort for the town of Cow Head. 17 Men, helmed by artistic director Jeff Pitcher, is an exploration of the lives of 17 men who fought in World War I from the Great Northern Peninsula.
“17 Men truly is a product of community inspiring our art,” Pitcher said in a release. “The play will truly be a celebration of community and professional theatre coming together to tell the story of life in the community,” Pitcher said. “From church service to war memorial to play – the entire community has been a part of the process. It truly resonates with the arts and community working hand in hand.”
With seven plays, set in two venues, 165 performances and over 35 artists, working from June 2 to September 22, the Gros Morne Theatre Festival is a professional 16-week summer repertory season along with a visiting artist series.
Stacked Lineup
The lineup includes the comedy Ed & Ed, which is set in Cow Head and deals with the demise of the cod fishery in 1992, the romantic comedy Outside Mullinger, which brings a taste of rural Ireland to Newfoundland, the famous dinner theater S.S. Ethie, musical Neddy Norris Night, the popular Newfoundland Vinyl and the Berni Stapleton creation Our Frances, which chronicles the life of VAD Nurse Frances Cluett.
For complete lineup and to purchase tickets, visit www.theatrenewfoundland.com or phone 1-877-243-2899.