Eastern Front Theatre Company

When you think of renewable resources, what comes to mind?

Maybe your mind jumps to renewable energy, like hydropower, solar energy, or wind power. Perhaps you think of agricultural products like lumber, biofuels or food. Or maybe your mind wanders all the way back to that omnipresent water cycle your grade five teacher etched into your brain.

When Nancy Morgan, administrative director of Eastern Front Theatre Company, thinks of renewable resources, visions of people dance in her head. More specifically, she thinks of the artistic and creative talent that exists – and can be harnessed for use – in people. Even more specifically, she thinks of the talent that exists in Nova Scotia’s people.

The Eastern Front Theatre Company is a theatre dedicated to the development, production and promotion of Atlantic Canadian theatre artists. The Company has commissioned, developed, and presented dozens of Atlantic Canadian artists’ dramatic works for the stage. It provides opportunities and a public platform for Nova Scotian playwrights to showcase their work.

“Eastern Front Theatre Company, and the artistic community in general, drive Nova Scotia’s economy,” says Morgan. “There’s a ripple effect of people – Nova Scotians and tourists alike – getting out to see and enjoy a live theatrical performance.

“What an amazing economic resource our artistic community creates,” she adds. “It’s renewable, it doesn’t create environmental strains, and it’s stable – people will always need entertainment.”

The unique aspect of Eastern Front Theatre Company is its commitment to new Canadian (especially Atlantic Canadian) plays. The company focuses on Atlantic Canadian actors, playwrights, directors and designers.

It also presents an annual festival in Halifax featuring plays from across Canada. It’s an opportunity for Nova Scotians to view new and innovative theatre programming to which they probably wouldn’t otherwise have exposure.

Eastern Front Theatre’s modus operandi is a selling point and a major challenge.

“Because we focus on up-and-coming Atlantic Canadian plays, our performances are not as recognizable as the Romeo and Juliets and the Peter Pans,” says Morgan.

“But that’s the niche we cater to,” she explains. “We want to promote new, local plays and we want to target the population (albeit a small one) of people interested in seeing the new talent that exists right here in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.”

But that’s not to say that Nova Scotians will discount a theatre production just because it’s not a famous title. “I don’t underestimate our population,” says Morgan. “They’re very interested in the arts, and we know from experience that the talent that exists here is very strong.

“If not for local support, where would the Nova Scotian greats like Ashley MacIsaac, Anne Murray or Rita MacNeil be today?”

Title recognition is not the only mountain Eastern Front Theatre Company has to climb.

They also don’t have a physical location; a tangible building to call home. And that presents a difficulty in developing a persona and identity.

“We recently made the choice to leave our location in Alderney Landing that we have been renting for the last 10 years,” Morgan says. “The space was too large for us. We’re trying to embrace our small – or rather, niche – target audience.”

Fair enough: Eastern Front Theatre Company would rather fill out a humbly-sized theatre than have empty chairs in a 300-seater.

But the problem is, the theatre company is currently juggling three separate locations and asking customers to attend shows at various venues.

It’s a commitment many customers are willing to make. Those who enjoy new local talent will go to great lengths to lap it up. But when it comes to attracting a new following, a stationary physical presence would certainly make things easier for the Eastern Front Theatre Company.

Theatre size and seating issues are not new for the Company; they’ve been a thorn in Eastern Front Theatre Company’s side since the get-go.

“Seventeen years ago when we first opened our doors, Eastern Front’s offering was based on the same need we fill today,” says Morgan. “That need, simply put, is a modest venue for showcasing new Canadian plays, and catering to the small audience that’s interested in access to such material.

“Back then, and still today, Eastern Front Theatre Company provides a venue to ensure our independent playwrights can be produced.”

Currently, the Eastern Front Theatre Company has a few local projects in the works. This year, the company produced a play called Extinction Song, which was written and directed by Cape Breton playwright Ron Jenkins. Next up, Eastern Front will produce Lauchie, Liza and Rory, which was written by famous Nova Scotian writer and St. Francis Xavier University professor Sheldon Currie.

“Sometimes name recognition attracts new customers to our shows,” explains Morgan – which will undoubtedly be the case for Lauchie, Liza and Rory. Whether you’ve sat in his English class at St. FX or read one of his published short stories, including The Glace Bay Miner’s Museum, you’ve likely been exposed to some of Sheldon Currie’s award-winning work. And that, according to Nancy Morgan, will bring in some new blood to their niche audience.

Attracting new customers is just one of many goals Morgan has in mind for the Eastern Front Theatre Company.

“We would love to have a strong, loyal following,” says Morgan. “Of course, we have our regular, dedicated customers. But the goal is to expand that group. Often times, people choose their theatre based on the event. But we’d like them to be interested in our theatre and what we stand for, not just the plays we offer.

“In the long term, we’d like to find a permanent home – one that fits our size.” They don’t want to be swimming in an oversized shirt, you could say.

But that should come in due time. As Morgan is well aware, it’s not hard to find a permanent home in Nova Scotia.

Morgan originally came to Nova Scotia from Ontario to be a part of the Eastern Front Theatre Company. She has a music degree from Queen’s University and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University.

“I’m not a Maritimer by birth, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” says Morgan. “I love it here. I chose, and make the choice each and every day, to be here.”

She also knows first-hand that Nova Scotia is a place that’s well-renowned for its artistic talent.

“From the outside, people view Nova Scotia as a spot of great talent, especially on the musical scene,” says Morgan. “And once you get here, you realize the magnitude of the vast network of support behind our rich talent. There’s a great deal of knowledge and support in Nova Scotia’s entertainment industry and theatre community.”

Indeed, Nova Scotia has a lot of talent and a lot of support for that talent.

And there’s much more where that came from. Eastern Front Theatre Company will continue to nurture to its fullest all the talent we, as Nova Scotians, will continue to produce generation after generation.

After all, as Morgan so wisely puts it, our creativity and artistic flare are renewable resources.