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THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE PANEL for LIF(e) @ THE NEST

We are happy to invite you to our Theatre For Young People panel as part of DaPoPo Theatre’s LIF(e) @ The Nest live-in! The panel will feature other professionals and theatres working within the TYA community in Nova Scotia.
The panel will include Laura Stinson, Ellie Weise, Laura Caswell, Natasha Thomas, and Jeighk Koyote, and will be moderated by Tessa Mendel.

When: October 22nd, 2024 5:30PM-7:30PM

Where: The Nest (6068 Quinpool Rd. Halifax, NS)

For more information on events happening throughout LIF(e) @ The Nest, click the link here!

LIF(e) @ The Nest

MI’KMAQ STORIES through PERFORM!

Halifax Theatre For Young People is proud to offer our production of Mi’kmaq Stories: Past and Present in digital format to schools across Nova Scotia through PERFORM! Mi’kmaq Stories will be available starting September 30th for Truth and Reconciliation Day, and throughout October as part of Indigenous History Month!

Grade Levels: Appropriate for all ages, recommended for ages 8-12.

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: $50/class or $300 for whole school

Show Dates: Digital Production available through Mi’kmaq History Month October 1 – October 31 

To book please go to: Perform – Mi’kmaq Stories: Past and Present

Mi’kmaq Stories: Past & Present weaves stories from the past with glimpses into current realities and dreams for the future. This blend of Indigenous voices and stories, with an all-Mi’kmaq cast, will be an enlightening experience for young audiences at this pivotal time in our history. These are new and traditional stories, written & created by Mi’kmaq artists Trevor Gould and Catherine Anne Martin with additional writing by Rita Joe, Shalan Joudry, and Rebecca Thomas.

Featuring: Brady Googoo, Laura Fleet, Noel Julian, Anna Nibby-Woods, Shelly Woods

Additional material (interviews, archival photos, images and music): Dozay Christmas, Gerald Gloade, Loretta Gould, Seth Doucette, Samqwan Boyz, Richard Poulette, Dr. Bernie Francis and Alan Syliboy.

Learning outcomes: Mi’kmaq Stories Learning Outcomes

Feedback from Teachers: 
Wow……in 40 minutes we gained so much important information… The power of it was very important…This presentation should be part of the grade 6 curriculum from here on out. –Sackville Heights Junior High

The students were all focused on it. It also fit in with what we were working on in the Curriculum… Bringing the Arts into Social Studies is fantastic. –Leslie Thomas Junior High

We watched & absolutely loved it, and had a lengthy discussion afterwards…I found it to be a great launching point to talk about Mi’Kmaq ways of knowing and being. –Sackville Heights Junior High 

My class watched it and were engaged the whole time. It created new conversations around the culture and our (modern day) abuse of the environment and resources… It was also awesome to see local Mi’kmaq Peoples portraying the roles! –Sackville Heights Junior High

MI’KMAQ STORIES AT DREAMERS’ GALA

Halifax Theatre For Young People is excited to be presenting one of the short plays from Mi’kmaq Stories: Past & Present at this year’s Ulnooweg’s Dreamers’ Gala on December 12. The Dreamers’ Gala is a celebration of Indigenous arts and culture. This year’s focus is on Indigenous-led initiatives in land-based learning and the efforts being made to heal the hemlocks at Asitu’lisk. The evening will also feature performances by Alan Syliboy & The Thunder Makers, Samaqani Cocahq, and Eastern Owl. 

For more information on Dreamers’ Gala 2024 visit: 

2024 Dreamers’ Gala – Ulnooweg Education

YOUTH ACTS! X YMCA Centre for Immigrant Programs 

This summer HTYP brought the Youth Acts! Program to Halifax YMCA Centre for Immigrant Programs specifically aimed towards newcomer and refugee girls! The program was hosted by Beth Lachance and Abbey Frias. The program’s main goal was to create a safe and inclusive space for girls who have newly immigrated from their home country to Halifax, and help them build brand new communities and friendships! Together, the girls played group games, worked on improvisation skits, and shared music and dance from their own cultures.

Youth Acts! Participants playing group game “Statues”

Youth Acts! Will continue again in the new year with some brand new youth communities in the Halifax area, stay tuned for more news!

Halifax Theatre For Young People at The Nest!

We are excited to be sharing a brand new office space with other indie theatre companies at The Nest! The Nest is a shared space on 6068 Quinpool Rd and is run by our friends DaPoPo Theatre Company. We are glad to share the space and create a community with many other great theatre companies! 

Tessa, Abbey and Riley at the HTYP office in The Nest

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The Book of Ashes

Halifax Theatre for Young People is proud to announce our new project now in the works, The Book of Ashes, written by Emil Sher. Set in 2003 during the US invasion of Iraq, Amir, a young lover of books, learns about his country’s past, his roots and community as he helps to save their library during a time of war.

Five people standing in front of a darkened stage with blue lights and velvet curtains. Tessa Mendel is standing farther to the left, she has curly blonde hair and is looking directly at the camera with a smile. She is wearing a black scarf with golden accents, on top of a black short sleeve button up top, and a flowy black skirt. She has her arm around Ateka who has medium brown shoulder length hair in loose curls. She is looking to the left of the camera and is smiling. She is wearing a simple fitted black t-shirt and grey skinny jeans. She has her arm around Laith to the left of her and is standing with top of his head landing just above her shoulder. Laith is smiling and looking to the side of the camera. He iis wearing khaki pants and a black collard shirt with a Polo logo on the left side of his chest. He is standing next to Pasha who is about a foot taller than Laith. He has dark hair and a salt and pepper beard. He is looking to the side of the camera and is also smiling. He is wearing a black button up top that is open and a plain black t shirt under, and khaki pants. He has his arm stretch around Natalie. She has short curly dark hair and is looking to the side of the camera while smiling. She is wearing a long flowing teal linen dress with ¾ sleeves.

 HTYP had the opportunity to showcase a staged reading of the play at Eastern Front Theatre’s STAGES Festival this past June with actors Laith Abadi, Ateka Yaghoubi, Natalie Abdou, and Pasha Ebrahimi. This show is filled with magical moments brought to life with puppetry by Laura Stinson and design by Katrin Whitehead. 

STAGES Festival Book of Ashes staged reading review by Amanda Campbell:

HTYP Assembles Excellent Cast for Reading at Stages Fest

We will be putting on the full production next season – stay tuned for more news and updates on The Book of Ashes!

Written By Emil Sher
Directed By Tessa Mendell

Halifax Theatre for Young People occupies a unique place within the theatre ecology of both our local and regional communities as the only full-time Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) Company in Halifax Regional Municipality. We have had the opportunity to create, share and produce numerous productions, and meaningfully engage young audiences across Nova Scotia.For more information or to book a show email: info@halifaxtheatreforyoungpeople.com