Atlantic Repertory Company

Possibility engine

A permanent home for ARC

If you aspire to a career in theatre, on stage or backstage, you’ll have to leave our area. ARC is changing that.

The Atlantic Repertory Company is a made-in-New Brunswick response to the gig economy in the arts. It places SJTC at the forefront of efforts to create sustained employment in theatre.

ARC employs emerging artists connected to Atlantic Canada who have completed post-secondary theatre training. Paid residencies offer opportunities across all disciplines while supporting the creation of original work.

Without ARC, many local artists must leave to build careers. ARC provides a pathway to remain, develop, and succeed professionally.

The repurposed Courthouse will become ARC’s permanent home and a central space for artistic development and community use.

“Vision and Resourcefulness”

To re-purpose the Courthouse as a theatre for New Brunswick and the City of Saint John is an amazing opportunity.

The vision and the resourcefulness of the SJTC that created ARC will have an even greater impact with a Courthouse arts centre, both as a home for ARC and as a new theatre venue in the region.

The historic fabric of the Courthouse is already rich with stories from the past. Once it becomes a theatre it will be even richer with stories of Saint John’s future.
Huge congratulations to everyone who is helping make this happen.”

R.H. THOMSON,
Renowned Canadian actor, guest artist and ARC academy instructor

ARC is already delivering

Paid roles for recent theatre graduates

New work created in Saint John and shared internationally

Early career pathways for young professionals

Opportunities to work with leading Canadian artists

Increased national and regional engagement

More artists choosing to stay in the region

Greater diversity on stage

Strengthened regional theatre capacity

Expanded education and outreach

Development of the ARC Academy

“Artistic possibilities close to home”

Working with the Atlantic Repertory Company as a professional actor and theatre creator helped shape my early career in beautiful ways.

The established theatre artists I was able to learn from and create with gave me such confidence in my work, and the company has connected me with many talented peers from across the Maritimes who I hope to continue to work with for the rest of my career.

The ARC Residency created a space where I felt safe to take risks and push myself as an artist across wide-ranging roles and types of text. The ARC process allowed me to offer my best self and gave me room to grow within my practice. The experience of performing and creating such varied works with ARC is reflected on my resume and has helped me to continue to pursue my passion here on the East Coast.

The addition of the Courthouse stage and a home for the ARC means much needed rehearsal space for the artists in this community, as well as the opportunity to put on even more varied types of theatrical performance.

Its existence as a hub for emerging and established artists means creatives like me have the opportunity to stay close to home with artistic possibilities around the corner.

CAROLINE BELL
Local theatre artist and former ARC resident