Setting the stage for great performances: Theatre thrives in Fredericton

On any given weekend in Fredericton you will likely have the opportunity to take in live theatre somewhere in the city. Be entertained by musical comedy or challenged by contemporary drama, relive an old favourite or discover emerging playwrights.

The cornerstone of the city’s theatre scene is Theatre New Brunswick (TNB). Founded during the heyday of Canadian regional theatre in the 1960s, today the company is forging new ground producing contemporary Canadian works and developing new New Brunswick plays in its new 100-seat Open Space Theatre. In addition to these more intimate performances, TNB’s large-scale holiday show at the Fredericton Playhouse is a must-see of the season.

In the summer months experience Shakespeare as you’ve never seen it. Bard in the Barracks (named for the company’s original performance space) brings Shakespeare to Fredericton’s sprawling Odell Park for an immersive experience that brings new life to these old favourites. See brand new work at the NotaBle Acts Summer Theatre Festival. Since its first season in 2002, the festival has showcased 87 emerging and established New Brunswick playwrights, in the form of full productions, workshopped productions, and readings.

Explore both classics and cutting edge contemporary work while discovering emerging artists at Theatre UNB and Theatre St. Thomas. The schools have been responsible for cultivating a strong core of theatre artists in the capital while others have gone off to tread the boards across Canada, Europe and on Broadway.

Be among the first to experience new plays and creative collaborations with Next Folding Theatre Company. Be amazed by the coop as they bring New Brunswick stories to life through physical theatre. Laugh out loud at the monthly performances by Hot Garbage Players, a talented troupe specializing in long-form improv.

All the world’s a stage… or at least all the city is!