Sackville New Brunswick’s Festival by the Marsh

Sackville New Brunswick’s Festival by the Marsh is back after a hiatus of ten years. The Festival, which features programming in theatre, music and fine arts, returns with a full slate of events. Shows will be presented in Sackville and at nearby Fort Beausejour National Historic Site in Aulac. Some events are outside, and almost all programming is pay what you can.

“We are very excited to be back this year”, said Artistic Director Ron Kelly Spurles. “We were thinking of projects we might be able to do this summer with the limitations that we might be facing because of COVID. And we thought of the great experiences we had doing the outdoor Shakespeare productions with the Festival all those years ago. And so we talked to some people about it, and there was great enthusiasm for reviving the Festival.”

Theatre programming for this year’s Festival includes a fully mounted production of Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Fort Beausejour, and in Sackville the family comedy “A Banishment of Poets” by Sue Rose presented by The Performers Theatre Company, “The Good, the Bard and the Ugly” presented by Live Bait Theatre, and “Life Goes On” and “MAD About Van Horne” presented by the NotaBle Acts Theatre Company.

Music (also in Sackville) includes: a Songwriters’ Circle with Kenny James, Alex Madsen and Jason Haywood; a blues concert with The Lockdown Trio presented by the Tantramar Blues Society; and a “Celebrating Acadian Heritage . . . En bilingual” concert with Frantically Atlantic.

There’s also an eco-story writing workshop for young people. And Janet Crawford, a well known Sackville artist, will also be on-site at Fort Beausejour during the Festival creating a mosaic inspired by her surroundings.

“We’ve got a tremendous lineup for shows this edition of the Festival”, continued Kelly Spurles. “We are hoping that people will come out and enjoy the wide variety of programs in this beautiful part of New Brunswick.”