WELCOME TO
THE HIGHLAND ARTS THEATRE

HERE YOU’ll find information about our team, organization, history, achievements, and our vision for our community

  • To inspire artists, audiences and youth by creating meaningful opportunities that educate, entertain, and encourage.

  • The HAT will be a leader of artistic excellence for the performing arts in Atlantic Canada, enriching the lives of artists, audiences, and the broader community through accessible professional theatre.

  • To fortify the professional theatre community in Cape Breton, to drive the local creative economy, to produce first-class, home-grown productions, and champion the education of the next generation of theatre artists.

  • To provide a year-round, professional theatrical presence in downtown Sydney, producing and presenting quality productions with a special emphasis on Cape Breton artists, stories, and songs.

  • Highland Arts Theatre, or "The HAT" as it's affectionately called, is the name of a performance venue in downtown Sydney, Nova Scotia, formerly the home of St. Andrew's Church. When the church was decommissioned in 2013, a team led by local businessman Kevin Colford stepped up to transform the beloved historical building into a state-of-the-art centre for arts and culture. The venue officially re-opened in June 2014 with an original musical comedy: "The Wakowski Brothers". 

    While the venue is available for rent and has hosted many of Cape Breton's finest in the fields of music, comedy, dance and literature (such as Ron James, The CBC Massey Lecture, Port Cities), it is our mandate to create a year-round, professional theatrical presence in downtown Sydney, producing and presenting quality productions with a special emphasis on Cape Breton artists, stories, and songs.

    The Highland Arts Theatre Association is a non-profit organization registered under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia (3285136) and a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency (82383 3181 RR0001.) We are a Professional Member of Theatre Nova Scotia and have memberships with the Sydney & Area Chamber of Commerce, the Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC), and the Playwrights Guild of Canada.

    In 2020, we piloted our brand new operating model: Radical Access - a crowd-sourcing model that allows us to offer all Mainstage Productions free of charge (inquire today for bookings or donations at info@highlandartstheatre.com).

    Our productions have toured to Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and mainland Nova Scotia and we have conducted partnerships and co-productions with Neptune Theatre, the Savoy Theatre, Sacred Heart Downtown, Eastern Front Theatre, Theatre New Brunswick, Festival Antigonish, The Confederation Centre for the Arts, the 2023 Canada Games, and the Chester Playhouse.

  • Built by the Sydney and Mira Presbyterian congregation, originating in 1852, construction for St. Andrew's United Church started in 1910 and was completed in 1911. It was the third church built by the congregation, and was built to contain 1,000 people for services.

    Designed by architects Curry and Sparling, and built by Rhodes and Curry Company, the building was constructed using red brick from Mira, and the cost was $62,945. The church was fit with a 3,000 pipe pipe-organ made by the famous Casavant Frères in Quebec, as well as 10 engraved bell chimes that are still in use today.

    Architecturally, the end result was a beautiful house of worship, with impressive towers, bells chiming on Sundays and the steadfast permanence of the Gothic Revival style, rare within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

    In 2014, local business man Kevin Colford renovated the former church into its current form, a state of the art theatre venue in Downtown Sydney.

  • After several years of courses being offered through the Highland Arts Theatre, the HAT Academy was officially launched in 2019 to meet the growing demand for more education opportunities. Courses and training programs are offered for recreational, emerging, and professional artists aged 5 to 105, covering topics including acting, music, dance, triple threat performance, writing, directing, stage craft, improv, Shakespeare, and more! Our first Academy production, Seussical the Musical, hit the stage in March 2019.

    The Academy's current home is 295 Charlotte Street, just behind the main theatre building.

    Many students (youth and adult) have made the leap from the Academy to the Mainstage, being hired as performers and stage craft artists in our season of professional productions. Some have had their writing developed for full length productions, and members of our current faculty began as students of the Academy. Whether you're looking for artistic growth or something to do, we pride the HAT Academy as a jumping off point for those looking to get more involved in our community.

    Thanks to our Radical Access program 100 scholarships are awarded annually to students in need of financial support. For more information, you can email us at academy@highlandartstheatre.com !

  • 2024

    • 6 Robert Merritt Theatre Award nominations.

    2023

    • 14 Robert Merritt Theatre Award nominations, winning 3 for:
      Outstanding Independent Production (Samqwan), Outstanding Choreography (Sarah Prosper - Samqwan), and Outstanding Costumes (Kayla Cormier - The Happy Prince).

    2022

    • 5 Robert Merritt Theatre Award nominations.

    2020

    • Our Artistic & Executive Director, Wesley Colford, was named one of the Globe & Mail’s “Canadian Arts Heroes of 2020”.

    • Recipient of the “Creative Community Impact Award” from Arts Nova Scotia.

    • 1 Robert Merritt Theatre Award nomination.

    2019

    • Recipient of the “Community Impact Award” and the People’s Choice Award for “Favourite Thing to Do/Experience in the CBRM” at the 30th Annual Excellence in Business Awards

    2018

    • Nominated for “Venue of the Year” at the 2018 Music Nova Scotia Industry Awards

    • Nominated for “Business of the Year” at the Sydney Chamber of Commerce Excellence Award

    • 5 Robert Merritt Theatre Award nominations.

    2017

    • 1 Robert Merritt Theatre Award nomination.

    2016

    • Recipients of the "Arts & Entertainment Award", the "People's Choice for Favourite Arts and Culture Experience", and Artistic Director Wesley J. Colford was awarded the "Jack Yazer Young Entrepreneur of the Year", at the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards.

  • 1852
    The Mira Presbyterian congregation is formed.

    1910
    Construction of St. Andrew’s Church begins.

    1911
    Construction of St. Andrew's Church is completed.

    2013
    St. Andrew’s congregation amalgamates with other nearby churches and the building is put up for sale.

    2014
    Local businessman Kevin Colford purchases building and begins renovations to transform the former St. Andrew’s Church into the Highland Arts Theatre.

    2016
    The HAT becomes a professional member of Theatre Nova Scotia.

    2018
    The HAT becomes a member of the Sydney & Area Chamber of Commerce.

    The HAT is granted Charity Status.

    2019
    The HAT Academy officially launches as a training program for recreational, emerging, and professional artists aged 5 to 105.

    2020
    Radical Access is launched.

    2024
    The HAT celebrates its 10th Anniversary Season!

Circa 1928, scanned from the St. Andrew's Church Annual Report

MEET THE TEAM

  • Wesley j. colford

    ARTISTIC & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    (they/them)

    Wesley J. Colford is a Dora and Merritt Nominated playwright and theatre artist from Cape Breton who currently resides in Sydney, NS where they operate as the inaugural Artistic & Executive Director of the Highland Arts Theatre (or HAT). They studied theatre performance at Sheridan and George Brown College and spent eight years working in Toronto’s independent theatre scene, working as a writer, director, actor, and producer for multiple companies, as well as box office manager for Tarragon Theatre. Their plays have been produced in three provinces and have won national awards, been published, and adapted for film. Under their leadership, the Highland Arts Theatre has produced more than 100 mainstage theatrical productions in the past ten years and been nominated for Dora, Merritt, Excellence in Business, and Nova Scotia Music Industry Awards. They are a recipient of a 2015 Vital Award, the 2016 Jack Yazer Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal, and have been nominated for “Business Person of the Year” from the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards. They were recently honoured as one of the Globe & Mail’s “Canadian Arts Heroes of 2020” for their work developing the HAT’s bold new funding model, Radical Access.

  • adriana dimitri

    GENERAL MANAGER
    (she/her)

    Adriana is the General Manager of the HAT. She spends most of her time making sure the theatre is running smoothly and finding ways to improve our processes and systems. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with honors in Production from York University and has worked in theatre across Canada and abroad at companies such as The Canadian Opera Company, Mirvish Productions, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Centre for Opera studies in Italy. She is passionate about exploring alternate ways of working and different ways of leading, having worked for global companies in Defence and in the professional service industry. When she is not at the theatre, you can find her cuddling her two kitties, Burke and Arlo.

  • KAYLA CORMIER

    TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
    (she/her)

    Kayla is the Technical Director and Resident Designer at the Highland Arts Theatre. She has designed and constructed the set, costume, and/or props for over 50 productions e.g. She Loves Me (Set), Mary’s Wedding (Set and Costume), West Moon (Set and Costume), and Little Shop of Horrors (Set). Kayla received a Vital Award (2020) for her work at the Highland Arts Theatre and was the recipient of a Robert Merritt Award (2023) for outstanding costume design for the HAT's production of The Happy Prince.

  • Kiersten Penny

    PATRON SERVICES MANAGER
    (she/her)

  • Tom Colford

    COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
    (he/him)

    Tom has been informally involved with the Highland Arts Theatre since it began in 2014, as a frequent consultant. Over the years he has performed, directed, choreographed, written, filmed and produced at the HAT (not to mention painted hallways, moved pianos, been a bouncer and pulled all nighters setting lights with Ken). At the end of 2019 Tom took over as social media manager at the HAT and in 2021 expanded that role to Communications Director for the organization. The HAT is near and dear to his heart, as the place he wished he had downtown when he was growing up in Cape Breton.

  • ANJU VIRICK

    INTERIM EDUCATION DIRECTOR
    (she/her)

    Anju has had a passion for teaching forever, forcing her 3 siblings to play school from an early age. Was she always the teacher? Yes. She’d say it was because it was her calling. They’d say it’s because she was bossy. Of course she’s right. After having 2 amazing kids Anju completed her Bachelor of Community Studies and then her Bachelor of Education at Cape Breton University. She spent 10 years in elementary classrooms learning how to build relationships, develop meaningful curriculum and learning experiences, and helping students find their own passions. During a particularly bleak winter she stumbled into a Resident Company class at the HAT Academy and finally claimed her Leo birthright and fell in love with showing off. This led to an unlikely mid-life stage turn with Tell your Story, Comedy of Errors, Christmas Carol and Cheers to 10 Years. These wonderful stage experiences were underpinned by further HAT Academy classes, including Creative Writing, where she wrote her own play which will debut in October 2024. And now, with this new position as Interim Education Director of the HAT Academy, her twin passions of education and showing off have merged perfectly. Anju must stress that her family, Randy, Ivy and Wyatt, have never wavered in their love and support of every adventure she has dragged them on and everyone deserves a team like this in their corner.

  • HILARY SCOTT

    PROMOTIONS & GRAPHIC DESIGNER
    (she/her)

    Hilary is a co-founder of the Highland Arts Theatre, and served as Assistant Artistic Director from 2014 to 2017. She continues of be a close collaborator at the HAT. A graduate of George Brown’s Theatre Conservatory Program, and a Certificate Holder in Art & Design Studio Skills from OCAD U. She has worn nearly every hat at the HAT, onstage and off; from season programming, patron services, and 4 AM set painting, to lighting, directing, and performing. Currently she operates out of Toronto as the HAT's Lead Graphic Designer. The posters you see pouring up the stairwells are nearly all her designs! You can find Hilary’s artwork for the HAT as well as other personal works/commissions on Instagram @hilhob !

  • KEN HEATON

    HEAD ELECTRICS
    (he/him)

  • Jonathan Kanary

    SOUND
    (he/him)

    Jonathan Kanary is a seasoned audio engineer with a skill for conjuring art from the very essence of sound. Jonathan is product of Nova Scotia Community College, Berklee School of Music, and the Nashville Audio Engineering Society with formal training in Applied Communication Arts, Sound Design/Engineering, Live Audio & Recording Engineering, and Broadcast Engineering. For over a decade, Jonathan has been weaving sonic magic in broadcasting and live event production, both on the road and at home. His journey has taken him through the bustling corridors of concert arenas, through intricate and dynamic broadcast studios, to the unique and creative concepts of live theatre design. Jonathan's eclectic experience and unwavering passion for audio excellence make him a true asset in any collaboration. His creative and intuitive approach brings a unique touch to every project. That along with an undeniable dedication to his craft, positive attitude, consummate professionalism, and ability to blend technical precision with creativity is why we keep him around!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Russell Coleman

    BOARD PRESIDENT
    (he/him)

    Board Member since 2021. He served for 22 years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, then enjoyed a second career as a university and not-for-profit strategic planner.

  • HEATHER GRANT

    BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
    (she/her)

    Board Member since 2024. Heather brings over 20 years of sales experience, she is a Realestate Agent for Remax Park Place.

  • Erika Shea

    BOARD SECRETARY
    (she/her)

    Board Member since 2019. Erika is the CEO/President of New Dawn Enterprises.

  • Michael Cormier

    BOARD MEMBER
    (he/him)

    Board Member since 2021.

  • Marybeth MacDonald

    BOARD MEMBER
    (she/her)

    Board Member since 2021. Works as Manager of Financial Compliance and Special Projects at Cape Breton University.

  • ANJU VIRICK

    BOARD MEMBER
    (she/her)

    Board Member since 2021. Anju comes from the world of Education and was recently appointed the Interim Education Director at the HAT Academy.

  • SANDI VIRICK

    BOARD MEMBER
    (she/her)

    Board Member since 2021.

  • Aaron Prosper

    BOARD MEMBER
    (he/him)

    Board Member since 2024. Aaron is graduate of Dalhousie's Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience) program, Aaron currently works as the Indigenous Health Consultant for Nova Scotia Health. Aaron is also a member of the multimedia band Alan Sylliboy and the Thundermakers, and the Eastern Eagle Singers.

  • Shauna Giggey

    BOARD MEMBER
    (she/her)

    Board Member since 2024. Shauna recently started working for the Centre for Education but spent over 15 years in the financial industry.

  • PETER STEELE

    BOARD MEMBER
    (he/him)

    Board Member since 2020. Peter is a visual artist based in the CBRM.

  • Anna Manley

    BOARD MEMBER
    (she/her)

    Board Member since 2019. Past president (2021-2023). Legal industry. Principal lawyer at Manley Law Inc. Founder and CEO of Advocate Cognitive Technologies.

The final verse of Silent Night during our first ever Christmas Eve Sing-Along Service on December 24th, 2017. It has since become our favourite holiday tradition at the HAT and one of our favourite community events.


Video by Tom Colford