Fonds MS-3-4 - Theatre Arts Guild fonds

Photograph of the case of The Queen's Husband Photograph of the cast of Tons of Money Photograph of the cast of She Stoops to Conquer

Title and statement of responsibility area

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Theatre Arts Guild fonds

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  • Textual record

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Fonds

Reference code

MS-3-4

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

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Physical description

2.49 m of textual records

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1931)

Administrative history

The Theatre Arts Guild is a community (amateur) theatre company Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was formed from by the amalgamation of two local groups, the Halifax Dramatic and Musical Club and the Little Theatre Movement in March 1931. Its first performance space was located in a building on the corner of Coburg Road and LeMarchant Street. In 1935, the Theatre Arts Guild rented space from the Navy League on the corner of Barrington and South Streets until Theatre Arts Guild suspended productions in 1939, when the Royal Canadian Air Force seconded the TAG Playhouse for its own use. The activities of the Guild continued throughout World War II, with the presentation of concert parties and entertainment for the troops passing through Halifax on their way to Europe. Dramatic presentations resumed after the War, and the Theatre Arts Guild subsequently obtained new premises on College Street (the former College Street School). Performances were staged there until a fire on January 25, 1959 destroyed the building. In 1966, the Guild moved to a former church hall in Jollimore (renamed the Pond Playhouse), which remains its permanent home.

The Theatre Arts Guild mounts five productions a season, and over they years has taken several on tour to theatre festivals in Canada and abroad. The Guild has also regularly participated in the Liverpool International Festival and Provincial One-Act Play Festival. Two workshops, a Poetry Reading and Variety Night fill out the regular schedule. The Theatre Arts Guild Young Company, which ceased operations in the fall of 1987 with the departure of Ken Schwartz (co-founder of Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Comany), took its productions to schools, hospitals, and day camps during the summer in the Halifax-Dartmouth area.

Custodial history

This fonds was created by and in the custody of Theatre Arts Guild until it was donated to the Dalhousie University Archives. A formal agreement between Theatre Arts Guild and Dalhousie made the Dalhousie University Archives the official repository in 1981.

Scope and content

This collection consists of records regarding Theatre Arts Guild's management and productions from the establishment of the guild in 1931 to 1999. Materials include administrative documents and some financial records, programs, posters, newsletters, histories of Theatre Arts Guild and information about amateur theatre in Halifax, correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, and scrapbooks.

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  • English

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Restrictions on access

There are no access restrictions on these materials. All materials are open for research.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Materials do not circulate and must be used in the Archives and Special Collections Reading Room. Materials may be under copyright. Contact departmental staff for guidance on reproduction.

Finding aids

Associated materials

See also the Richard Perkyns fonds (MS-3-27) and Neptune Theatre fonds (MS-3-1) held at the Dalhousie University Archives.

Related materials

Accruals

Further accruals are not expected.

General note

Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Theatre Arts Guild fonds, MS-3-4, Box [box number], Folder [folder number]

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