A Local Treasure with a National Reputation 

Now in its 27th season, Eastern Front Theatre is a Halifax theatre company dedicated to the development, production and promotion of Atlantic Canadian theatre artists. 

Committed to the pursuit of artistic excellence, the company engages and presents the work of Atlantic Canada’s most established Artists as well as fostering the successes of tomorrow. Featured in our wide range of programming are the works of both acclaimed writers and the experimental creations of emerging East Coast talents. 

With three Governor’s General Award nominations, Eastern Front Theatre has proven itself as a leader in the development of new Canadian plays.

Situated in Nova Scotia’s capital, Eastern Front Theatre has a strong record of community involvement; our partnerships with diverse community groups have built an inclusive atmosphere surrounding our operations. 

Unfortunate News


On Sunday, February 2nd, Sam Rosenthal resigned from his post as Artistic Producer of Eastern Front Theatre. In a Facebook post, he stated, "I believe fervently that this company has an important role to play in providing fertile ground for new Atlantic stories to flourish from established and emerging playwrights and artists alike. I also believe that EFT will make even greater gains by engaging an Artistic Producer who brings new energy and determination, and who can implement the necessary structural changes that I have been so proud to help carve out. With that in mind I have tendered my resignation as Artistic Producer." 

We gratefully acknowledge Sam’s creativity, dedication, and hard work as Artistic Producer, and as director on our Merritt award winning production of Kamp. We wish him all the best in his future pursuits, including his role in The Musical Stage Co. and Obsidian Theatre’s production of Caroline, or Change running until February 15th at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. 

We are also announcing that Cheryl Bell has resigned as Board Chair. "I do not have the time available to be an effective Chair as the organization implements the necessary changes to remain a viable and valued part of the Atlantic theatre scene. As a small business owner, I must prioritize my resources. The existing and any future staff will need an engaged and committed board. I am not able to make that commitment, and that is not fair to staff or the Board. Please know that I will remain an enthusiastic patron and ambassador for Eastern Front Theatre."
We want to thank Cheryl for her contributions to EFT. She has been a strong leader, fundraiser, relationship builder, and dedicated volunteer. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. 

We are currently in the midst of a strategic planning process. We are looking carefully at structural issues prior to putting out a call for new artistic leadership. 

It is important to us to be transparent with our community. The recent cancellation of Boom Baby and these two resignations are significant losses for the organization. Eastern Front Theatre has experienced ongoing financial and organizational challenges, and we are now at a critical moment. We believe that painful changes create opportunities for new growth. We remain firmly dedicated to the development, production, and promotion of Atlantic Canadian theatre artists. We hope for your patience as we take stock of our mission, mandate, and community responsibilities and as we carve out a new way forward. We are sincerely excited about the future. 

Our annual STAGES Theatre Festival will go ahead as planned, as festival-specific funding is in place and programming was largely in place prior to Rosenthal’s departure. The STAGES Theatre Festival is a two-week festival of theatre, presenting shows at different stages of development, by artists at various stages of their careers, through a variety of productions, workshops, and play-readings. This year's Festival will take place from May 18 - 31, 2020, with the majority of shows and events happening at Neptune Theatre's Scotiabank Stage.
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Board of Directors, Eastern Front Theatre

Introducing a new way to help.... The Patron Program

Interested in the work of Emerging Playwrights? This program will give you the opportunity to get closer to one playwright's work in progress. When you donate $100 or more, you will become an official Patron to a specific playwright and your money will go directly to the production costs associated with that playwright's final presentation at STAGES.

Our goal is to ensure each Playwright has five Patrons to help supplement the small budget already in place from RBC, EFT and PARC.

Benefits of being a Patron include:
  • A monthly email from your Playwright discussing what they worked on during the month and where they are in their process
  • Invitations to a Patron-Only Salon/Concert/Reading which will take place in March. Come meet your Playwright and the other members of the Program and hear what they and their colleagues have accomplished so far. A question and answer period will follow while you enjoy some wine and cheese. 
  • A special invitation to your playwright's final presentation at STAGES 
Being a Patron is a unique opportunity for you to see the direct impact that your giving dollars make on young artists.

Please join us with your tax-deductible gift of $100 or more.

For more details on this exciting program please contact: Elsa Pihl, Administrator at 902-466-2769.