Please see below for all the events this summer.
EVENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER (July 12 – 27!)
(Please note – unless otherwise noted, shows and workshops will be at the Marshlight Theatre space at 3 Fairfield Rd in Sackville NB)
SATURDAY, JULY 12
10 am – Play for young audiences – Final workshop performance of Theatre Intensive workshop for grades 5 to 8, presenting the original play, “Bands of a Feather Rock Together”, by Eva Lucas. Everyone welcome, by donation.
2 pm – “Creative Writing Workshop: Unleash Your Inner Storyteller!” with Maika Branch
Scan to register or click here
7:30 pm “I’m Not What I Seem: Songs and Stories of Rita MacNeil” by Charlie Rhindress
For tickets click here.
10:00 pm – Staged reading of an untitled work in progress by Michael Warren at 3 Fairfield Rd. By donation, light refreshments provided.
Sunday, July 13
3 pm – reading of “The Next Day” by Festival Artist-in-Residence Alora Simon.
Artist-in-Residence Alora Simon
A harrowing one act play that challenges the concept of pregnancy. Teetering between the familiar and the horrid truths as told through fears, anxiety, strained communication, and uncomfortable conversations.
WARNING – this play deals with adult content and is not suitable for all. Viewer discretion is advised.
Free and light refreshments will be served.
Wednesday, July 16
7 pm – author Rhonda Bulmer reading from The Widow & The Will
In “The Widow & the Will”, Lindy Hall’s career and life plans are disrupted when her beloved Grandma passes and leaves her an old inn on the Fundy shores in New Brunswick. She leaves Toronto to visit and learns that locals say the inn is haunted by the grieving widow of its first owner.
Lindy meets the proprietors who, facing bankruptcy, prove secretive and contentious. To add to her emotional turmoil, Lindy encounters the widow’s ghost stalking the halls of the inn in the dead of night.
When a handsome tour operator catches Lindy’s attention and introduces her to the wonders of the Fundy’s tides, her life turns upside down. Drama, romance and spectral encounters abound, making The Widow & The Will a book readers cannot put down.
Rhonda Bulmer lives in Moncton, New Brunswick. She has published three fiction books independently, and in 2023, her short fiction appeared in the anthology, Monsters in the Fog. She is currently the executive director of the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick. The Widow & The Will is her first novel.
This event is presented in association with Merlin Star Press. Visit Merlin Star Press’s website here.
At Café Tintamarre, 34 Mallard Dr. A free event!
Thursday, July 17
5pm – the Spirit Project presents “Magic Beans: The Musical” – a play for families. At the Motyer-Fancy Theatre. By donation at the door.
“Magic Beans: The Musical”, presented by the Spirit Project. The play takes place in the magical land of Beanopia, a land full of selfish princesses, cowardly pirates (and their backwards speaking duck Oreo Jr.) and of course, rude ballroom dancing dogs. Magic Beans is a creation directly from the minds of the Spirit Project members and brought to life by an amazing creative team!
WHAT IS THE SPIRIT PROJECT?
Launched in 2019 in partnership with L’Arche Fredericton and The Charlotte Street Arts Centre, The Spirit Project is a group of
artists with and without intellectual and/or physical disabilites, Autism and/or dual diagnosis who have been playing, creating,
and performing together for the past six years. The creative goal of The Spirit Project is to make beautiful art that celebrates
the artistic impulses of the artists and highlights the creative and community benefits of inclusion and access.
Thursday, July 17 to Sunday, July 20
“Whimsy State: or the Principality of Outer Baldonia!” by A.J. Demers – playing Thursday, Friday and Saturday July 17 (SOLD OUT), 18, 19 at 7:30 pm, and also Saturday and Sunday July 19 and 20 at 2 pm.
With a few drinks and some “Ayes!” three fishermen on a small island off the coast of Nova Scotia declare independence from Canada: henceforth, they shall be known as the Princes of the Principality of Outer Baldonia!
Based on an absolutely true story, this hilarious play about friendship shows that when ordinary people set out to do extraordinary things, the possibilities are endless.
Tickets available by clicking here.
Also Friday, July 18
9 pm – Portfolio Open House with Festival Artist-in-Residence Alora Simon at 3 Fairfield Rd.
Alora Simon is a theatre practitioner based out of Tantramar ( Mi’kma’ki), and has been curating theatre projects since 2015. She has worked closely with the Motyer Fancy Theatre, Marshlight Theatre, Festival By the Marsh, Live Bait Theatre, and Playwrights Atlantic Resource Center. After graduating from the Mount Allison University Drama program in 2024, Alora has since gone on to establish a budding career as a scenic designer. She has designed and constructed many projects in her time. Her recent credits include designing both set and costumes for George F. Walkers’ Problem Child (MFT. 2023), Ruby Rae Speagels’ Dry Land (MFT. 2023), acting production designer (set, costume, & makeup) for the short film The Yellow Wallpaper (MFT 2024), and most recently designed the set for Playing With Food (FBTM 2024). Plus many other projects along the way. This year, we are celebrating her visual artistry through a Portfolio Open House on July 18th, following a performance of Whimsey State. Come chat with Alora about her work, enjoy refreshments, and admire her years of work through a collection of photos, miniature models, and more.
Free and refreshments will be provided.
Saturday, July 19
10 am – Theatre for your audiences show staged reading of “Angela’s Airplane” by Robert Munsch. At 3 Fairfield Rd, by donation.
10:00 pm – Staged reading of a new play in progress – “Games We Play” by Morgan Grant. At 3 Fairfield Rd., by donation, light refreshments will be served.
Sunday, July 20
7 pm – Author Zev Bagel reading from “The Romanian Cleaning Lady”
“The Romanian Cleaning Lady” is the first in the series of Bright and Breasy Mysteries. Lizzy Bright begins her second career as a private investigator specializing in finding missing persons. Her first case takes her into the murky world of prostitution and human smuggling. Lizzy is in over her head until retired Detective Inspector William Breasy comes on the scene. But Breasy has his own mysteries including the fact that he was friends with Lizzy’s father, who vanished when she was a child. The dark shadows of her past and the nefarious characters she encounters in the present, pull Lizzy into a dangerous web of lies and secrets. This cozy mystery is set in the historic and scenic city of Canterbury, England.
Zev began writing fiction in 2009. He is the two-time winner of the David Adams Richards Award and he was short-listed for the Atlantic Book Award. He lives in Shediac, New Brunswick. “The Romanian Cleaning Lady” is his fifth book. It was praised as “a rollicking good read” in the summer edition of Edit magazine by James Mullinger, editor. It was featured as an Editor’s Pick in the fall 2024 edition of Atlantic Books Today.
This event is presented in association with Merlin Star Press. Visit Merlin Star Press’s website here
At Café Tintamarre, 34 Mallard Dr.
Monday, July 21 to Friday, July 25
“Theatre is Fun” half-day workshop for elementary aged students. For more information or to register for the camp click here.
Tuesday, July 22
At 7 pm. Author Bob Stutt reading from “Puppet”
The arcane world of puppeteering is funny, and sometimes profane. It’s just another day at the Toronto studio where Jim Tait works with Benny the Beaver – until the police swoop in and confiscate the puppet.
From slinging dead cow heads at the lion park, to juggling with Russian killers, Jim’s career has been varied rather than profitable. Now his contented family life, about to be swallowed whole by scandal, blackmail and murder, takes on shades of film noir. But who is pulling the strings? And is Jim a hero or a patsy?
Robert (Bob) Stutt has worked in children’s television for over 40 years, puppeteering on such shows as Fraggle Rock, The Jim Henson Hour, The Friendly Giant, The Big Comfy Couch, Sesame Park, and as Iggy Iguana on Under the Umbrella Tree. He’s also written over 300 scripts produced for CBC, CTV, PBS, and Disney, and has performed live everywhere from the street corners of Toronto to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington. Bob lives in Fredericton, NB, with his wife, Joanne, dog, Teddy, and ginger cat, Conan O’Brien.
This event is presented in association with Merlin Star Press. Visit Merlin Star Press’s website here
At Café Tintamarre, 34 Mallard Dr.
Wednesday, July 23 to Sunday, July 27 (but not July 24)
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – July 23, 25, 26 and 27 at 7:30 pm, and also Saturday July 26 at 2 pm
An irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard’s plays, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)was London’s longest-running comedy having clocked a very palpable nine years in London’s West End at the Criterion Theatre! Join these madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories and Tragedies in one wild ride that will leave you breathless and helpless with laughter.
For tickets click here.
Thursday, July 24
8 pm – Tulua – traditional Irish bandin concert at the Sackville Legion – tickets are $40
TULUA are a traditional Irish fusion band hailing from the southeast of Ireland. TULUA have been deeply exploring and sharing their music which has achieved them national and international success. Since their EP release in 2020 they have played around the world, at festivals such as Milwaukee Irish Fest, La Crosse Irish Fest, Temple Bar Tradfest, Kilkenny Tradfest, Phil Murphy Weekend, and supporting renown acts such as Atlantic Arc, Fergal Scahill & Ryan Molloy, Cormac Begley, and many more, whilst also exclusively performing to their sold out concerts in the National Opera House. They have been on shows such as the internatinally successful ‘Ireland with Michael’ which premiers on PBS and also appear regulary on radio stations across the country and have been shortlisted in Hot Press’ ‘Irish Music of the Month’ in 2021.
For tickets click here:
Saturday, July 26
“Beyond the Pages” – an original all ages play by Panopticonned Theatre – at Cranewood on Main at 11 am and 3 pm. By donation.
Vast shelves of potential magic, delightful worlds stacked on top of each other – and the smell of freshly opened books. Join two kids, who couldn’t be less alike, and a sour librarian as they discover the joy of reading. This tapestry of stories festooned with puppetry, mask, and music, will warm anyone’s heart
For more information visit www.panopticonned.co
10:00 pm – Staged reading of HYSTERIA! by Eva Lucas at 3 Fairfield Rd, by donation, light refreshments provided. PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS RESTRICTED TO 18 YEARS AND OVER.
