The Theatre Arts Guild facts for kids

The Theatre Arts Guild (TAG) is a special theatre group in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It's super old! In fact, it's Canada's oldest community theatre that has been running non-stop. This means people from the community, often volunteers, put on plays and shows for everyone to enjoy.

The Story of TAG: How It Began

In 1931, two theatre groups in Halifax decided to join forces. They were the Little Theatre Movement and the Halifax Dramatic and Musical Club. Together, they created the Theatre Arts Guild, or TAG! Their very first director was a person named Sidney Culverwell Oland.

TAG's first play was called The Dover Road by A.A. Milne. This play was shown in May 1931 at a place called the Garrick Theatre. Today, that theatre is known as the Neptune Theatre.

During World War II, things changed a bit. Instead of full plays, TAG focused on putting on "concert parties." These were fun shows for soldiers before they went overseas to fight. It was a way to entertain and cheer them up.

Over the years, TAG has had many different homes. These included the Capitol Theatre and the old College Street School. They also used the gyms at HMCS Scotian and St. Patrick's High School. In 1966, TAG found a permanent home. They bought and fixed up a former church hall at 6 Parkhill Road. They named this new home "The Pond Playhouse." In 2005, they started a big expansion project. The Pond Playhouse can now hold up to 90 people in its audience.

What TAG Does: Fun for Everyone

TAG's main goal is to help people learn about and enjoy theatre and music. They want to promote acting, singing, and all kinds of dramatic arts in Halifax. The amazing thing is that this entire theatre company is run by volunteers! People who love theatre give their time to make the shows happen.

TAG's theatre season runs from September all the way through July. They put on five different shows each year. These shows can be anything from exciting musicals to funny comedies. They also do thrilling mysteries and serious dramas. A very popular event is their Christmas pantomime, which is a fun, musical play for the holidays. Besides shows, TAG also hosts workshops where you can learn about theatre. They have poetry readings and a special "Variety Night" for members each year.

Past Shows You Might Know

TAG has put on many different plays and musicals over the years. Some of their recent productions include:

• Marion Bridge (shown in the 2022-2023 season)
• Dracula - the Bloody Truth (from the 2021-2022 season, it was delayed because of the pandemic)
• Thought, Word, and Deed (from the 2020‐2021 season)
• The Ladies Foursome (from the 2019‐2020 season)
• The Full Monty (from the 2013-2014 season)

See also

• Culture of the Halifax Regional Municipality