Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre

Festivals & Events in the The Northumberland Shore

Festival Antigonish has established an inspiring legacy as a premier summer repertory theatre 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.

Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre is committed to developing an understanding and appreciation for theatre within the community through the production of high quality professional work. Within this mandate we strive to create a supportive environment for Nova Scotia artists to hone their talents and present, produce and develop new work. The repertory nature of Festival Antigonish supports a balanced selection of Canadian and International works, providing an opportunity for established and emerging theatre artists to take on new challenges. The Festival’s artistic choices emphasize the legitimacy and unique character of Nova Scotian Theatre, and provide all age groups in the community with access to a range of theatre.

Established in 1987, Festival Antigonish is located at the Bauer Theatre on the campus of St Francis Xavier University. We have an air-conditioned 220-seat auditorium and an atmospheric bar.

We are committed to developing the considerable theatrical talents of Nova Scotians and each year we bring together some of the best writers, actors and directors to produce a Main Stage Series and a Family Series. We sell 11,000 tickets annually and we enjoy a well-deserved reputation for high-quality work.

Festival Antigonish has grown strong roots in the community and serves as an anchor attraction for regional tourism.

We are a registered charity supported by the federal and provincial governments through the Canada Council for the Arts and the Nova Scotia Culture Division and by the respective Councils of the Town and County of Antigonish.