OneLight Theatre is a professional theatre company, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia whose primary function is to develop and produce new plays. In addition to its artistic work, OneLight Theatre also hosts conferences related to theatre arts, participates actively in professional organizations, and mentors emerging professional artists through the Firestarter program. OneLight Theatre's primary work is to develop and stage original theatrical productions, derived from a variety of international classic and modern source materials, through a disciplined collaborative process. In doing so, the company engages with a variety of artistic and academic professionals thereby developing an ever-widening dialogue about theatre in Canada. Through their work it strives to explore and broaden the understanding of theatre and its role in the cultural framework of Nova Scotia and Canada, and to facilitate national discussions about developments in the theatrical profession.
Structure of the organization
Structure of the Company
The structure of the organization is intended to permit the effective management of the company and its artistic projects. The OneLight staff has been working together since 1999 and consists of Artistic Director Shahin Sayadi; Managing Director Maggie Stewart; and Technical Director and Administrator Jake Dambergs. The company engages, on a contract basis, artists, musicians, designers and publicists, as required, for projects, and also has an accountant for ongoing support with budgeting and accounting. OneLight Theatre Society has a Board of Directors, which has five member, and standing committees for recruiting and fundraising which are chaired by Board members.
Brief History
1999
The core members of the company begin working together
Shahin Sayadi attends the Playwrights Workshop Montreal retreat at Tadoussac
Firestarter program launched
Operating support from the province
2007
Canada Council Capacity Building Grant / Stand Firm program
Shahin Sayadi attends Banff Playwrights Colony
Firestarter mentoring participant, Shauntay Grant, selected and will begin work in Fall 2007
Productions
From 2002 to 2005, OneLight Theatre had its own performance space, The Crib, on Gottingen Street, and developed and presented five plays there. In 2006 the theatre moved to a downtown office space at 1590 Argyle Street. In 2005 it produced Death of Yazdgerd at the Neptune Studio Stage, and later toured this play to the Firehall Arts Centre in Vancouver. In 2006, Onelight was one of five organizations in Canada to be granted a Canada Council for the Artsextended project grant to develop a new play. In the subsequent 18 months, Onelight along with Neptune Theatre and the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia developed this new play, The Veil. The Veil was scheduled to debut at Neptune’s Studio and then tour to the Harbourfront Studio Theatre in Toronto.
