Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Company

Having a prepared picnic with fresh vegetables grown in a garden just metres away, then taking a glass of wine across a meadow to watch award-winning outdoor theatre seems like a pleasant way to spend a summer evening.

The founders of Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Company think so too.

Nova Scotia actress and playwright Chris O’Neill started the theatre company with her director/playwright husband Ken Schwartz 18 years ago. At the time, they established a non-profit organization called CoastArts, with a Board of Directors to oversee the theatre company.

“Having a charitable organization run Two Planks meant we could raise funds to operate the theatre company and make it viable. It broadened our options and enabled us to benefit from the expertise of our board members. It’s been a successful model for us ever since.”

They started by producing touring theatre productions, with the goal of bringing contemporary Atlantic Canadian stories to the rest of world. Two Planks and a Passion was one of the first theatre companies of its kind to bring high-end productions to rural communities, and one of the first to cast women in strong, central roles, explains O’Neill.

“There were areas that just didn’t get to see live theatre, let alone stories about Atlantic Canada. We wanted to bring those stories to the smaller communities and we also made a point of representing strong, interesting female characters.”

At first, the company was primarily focused on touring, but as more companies started travelling with their productions, Two Planks broadened its mandate to include a physical location for productions.

In 2000, CoastArts acquired a 186-acre farm with surrounding forest land in Canning, on which O’Neill and Schwartz established Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.

Two Planks and a Passion began producing plays at the Centre and introduced its Theatre Off the Grid series, which focuses on reinterpretations of classics and newer stories. The plays are acted during daylight hours and without electronic amplification. For all the productions, O’Neill says most actors are from Nova Scotia or have a strong connection to the province.

In recent years, outdoor productions have included The Odyssey, Our Town, and more recently, Parker Day’s novel Rockbound.

“By taking it outside we make unexpected magic. The experience is completely different every time we present the play. One day you’ll have the sun setting on the actors and the next day you’ll have eagles flying overhead while the actors are talking. It’s truly my favourite format for theatre,” explains O’Neill.

O’Neill says people come to the area specifically for the theatre and there are many spin off effects in the area, which includes Port Williams and Wolfville.

She says once they’re here, they visit the restaurants and wineries, as well as the shops and tourism destinations. Two Planks and a Passion has seen audiences from four different continents. They even had visitors from Newfoundland who booked their family reunion around the production of Rockbound.

“Based on the popularity of the theatre series, we’ve introduced packages where audiences can stay in a beautiful local bed and breakfast and order a picnic to eat on the grounds before the play starts. It’s a delightful experience to eat local foods while watching a play outdoors. People travel to the region just to experience this cultural environment,” O’Neill enthuses.

Two Planks and a Passion is continually evolving as O’Neill and Schwartz run new programs to introduce theatre to more people.

The company offers theatre-based workshops to promote team building for professionals, as well as educational sessions for schools focusing on topics like homelessness, anti-bullying and youth violence.

“Theatre is a catalyst for learning, empowerment, and building better communities. Our company designs programs that help us communicate, collaborate, and collectively visualize a better tomorrow.”