Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia was co-founded in 1972 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia
, by the late Evelyn Garbary, Tom Miller, and Sara Lee Lewis who continues to serve as Managing Director. The Theatre moved to Windsor, Nova Scotia
in 1987, purchasing a large commercial building in the town’s center, which now houses its workshops, administration, rehearsal and performance facilities. The company was registered under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia, and received charitable status with Revenue Canada in March 1973.
, the company has established a touring circuit encompassing rural Nova Scotia as well as national and international venues.
The company draws its scripts from children’s literature and has performed for more than 4.5 million spectators on four continents. It has appeared regularly in the US since 1979. The company tours year-round, generally presenting more than 400 performances for close to 200,000 spectators annually. In recognition of its contributions to local economy and cultural life, Mermaid has earned export awards from Nova Scotia (2001) and Canada’s Department of International Trade (2001, 2005), and has been recognized by the Canadian Arts Presenting Association with an award for Best Performing Group.
The company regularly crosses Canada and the United States and has represented Canada in numerous other countries. Since they began touring internationally, they have performed in Japan, Mexico, Australia, England, Northern Ireland, Holland, Scotland, Wales, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Ireland.
Mermaid Theatre’s focus is twofold. On the one hand Mermaid’s professional touring theatre provides international showcase opportunities for Atlantic Region talent; on the other, the aim of its Youtheatre program, now in its sixteenth season, is to encourage creative self-expression among the region’s adolescents.
Puppetry is central to Mermaid’s philosophy of theatre. Through its Institute of Puppetry Arts, Mermaid offers puppet theatre residencies and internships, as well as apprenticeship training in both production and performance that is not otherwise available in Anglophone
Canada.
Award for Excellence in Artist Management - Atlantic Presenters Association 2009
Crystal Tourism Ambassador Award - Tourism Industry of Nova Scotia 2008
Cultural Industries Export Award 2005
Nova Scotia Export Award 2001
Canada Export Award 2001
Citation of Excellence for Puppetry by UNIMA-USA 1986,1989
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Wolfville is a small town in the Annapolis Valley, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada, located about northwest of the provincial capital, Halifax. As of 2006, the population was 3,772....
, by the late Evelyn Garbary, Tom Miller, and Sara Lee Lewis who continues to serve as Managing Director. The Theatre moved to Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...
in 1987, purchasing a large commercial building in the town’s center, which now houses its workshops, administration, rehearsal and performance facilities. The company was registered under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia, and received charitable status with Revenue Canada in March 1973.
Aims
With a mandate to introduce young audiences to the joys of reading and the excitement of puppetryPuppetry
Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance which involves the manipulation of puppets. It is very ancient, and is believed to have originated 30,000 years BC. Puppetry takes many forms but they all share the process of animating inanimate performing objects...
, the company has established a touring circuit encompassing rural Nova Scotia as well as national and international venues.
The company draws its scripts from children’s literature and has performed for more than 4.5 million spectators on four continents. It has appeared regularly in the US since 1979. The company tours year-round, generally presenting more than 400 performances for close to 200,000 spectators annually. In recognition of its contributions to local economy and cultural life, Mermaid has earned export awards from Nova Scotia (2001) and Canada’s Department of International Trade (2001, 2005), and has been recognized by the Canadian Arts Presenting Association with an award for Best Performing Group.
The company regularly crosses Canada and the United States and has represented Canada in numerous other countries. Since they began touring internationally, they have performed in Japan, Mexico, Australia, England, Northern Ireland, Holland, Scotland, Wales, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Ireland.
Mermaid Theatre’s focus is twofold. On the one hand Mermaid’s professional touring theatre provides international showcase opportunities for Atlantic Region talent; on the other, the aim of its Youtheatre program, now in its sixteenth season, is to encourage creative self-expression among the region’s adolescents.
Puppetry is central to Mermaid’s philosophy of theatre. Through its Institute of Puppetry Arts, Mermaid offers puppet theatre residencies and internships, as well as apprenticeship training in both production and performance that is not otherwise available in Anglophone
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Canada.
Awards
Two Citations of Excellence for Puppetry by UNIMA-USA 2010Award for Excellence in Artist Management - Atlantic Presenters Association 2009
Crystal Tourism Ambassador Award - Tourism Industry of Nova Scotia 2008
Cultural Industries Export Award 2005
Nova Scotia Export Award 2001
Canada Export Award 2001
Citation of Excellence for Puppetry by UNIMA-USA 1986,1989