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The NAC English Theatre has a dual national and regional mandate. We develop, produce, and present an English language theatre programme in the National Capital Region. We also coproduce plays with theatre companies in other Canadian centres. Our work strives to reflect the highest standards and diversity of stage artistry from across the country.

Our season consists of a 5-play Mainstage series, a 4-play alternative Studio series, special presentations, family, youth and education activities, and a new play development programme. The plays that make up our season range from the classics to new Canadian work.

History of The National Arts Centre English Theatre

The first Director of NAC Theatre was the highly respected Jean Roberts. She served from 1970 through 1977. To achieve the national mandate, the NAC presented plays in both English and French from theatres across Canada. We also produced plays in-house. From 1977 through 1984, NAC Theatre under Jean Gascon had resident theatre companies for adult and young audience programming which performed at the NAC and on tour throughout Canada. The Artistic Director of English Theatre at that time was John Wood. From 1984 to 1996, the NAC Theatre was led by Producer Andis Celms (who programmed the English Theatre season) and by French Artistic Directors André Brassard, Robert Lepage, and Jean-Claude Marcus. As the NAC adapted to funding reductions, coproduction became a primary means for the NAC to work in artistic partnership on a national level. This period also saw a greater commitment to the development and presentation of new Canadian plays, many at the off-site warehouse space known as the Atelier.

With a change in strategic direction at the NAC during the mid-1990s, the position of Artistic Director of English Theatre was reintroduced. The much-respected director and actor, Marti Maraden, was hired in 1997. Ms Maraden has renewed the NAC English Theatre's role as a producer of world-class theatre. She has managed to increase our in-house creation and production, while continuing our partnerships with theatre companies from across Canada. She has also revitalized our commitment to developing the talent of professional theatre artists from the National Capital Region and across the country.