THRIVING TOGETHER

March 27th, 2021

The Association of Professional Theatre of Newfoundland and Labrador announces new Thriving Together Program Animateur on World Theatre Day

Created in 1961 by UNESCO, World Theatre Day is celebrated annually on March 27 by theatre communities around the globe. The impetus behind World Theatre Day is to honour and further the goal of UNESCO’s International Theatre Institute (ITI) to celebrate the power of theatre to serve as an indispensable bridge-builder for mutual international understanding and peace as well as to promote and protect cultural diversity and identity in communities throughout the world.

Here in Newfoundland and Labrador, APTNL marks World Theatre Day 2021 by announcing the launch of our Thriving Together initiative and our new Program Animateur, Bernardine Ann Teraz Stapleton.  Ms. Stapleton has dazzled audiences in our province as an actor, playwright and director for the past four decades. She brings a wealth of experience and passion for live theatre to this new position. 

​APTNL was formed by the guiding principles of connecting Newfoundland & Labrador theatre artists from across the province to each other; developing programs for professional development, sharing resources and creating opportunities that will help our Province's theatre artists succeed and thrive. “Thriving Together” will seek to bring those new ideas together, develop new partnerships and broaden those relationships between independent creators, companies and the broader community that can have a beneficial outcome for all.

“We are thrilled to have Bernardine leading the Thriving Together program, helping us to build new partnerships and forge new connections in our theatre. As we return to Alert Level 2 theatre artists across the province are filled with hope about getting back on stage this summer. On behalf of the Board of APTNL and all our members we wish everyone a Happy World Theatre Day!”  

-Patrick Foran, Chair, APTNL

“Thriving Together is an invitation to a conversation about connection, and partnerships. Our province is vast and unique, a well of potential for collaborations both geographical and creative. I think the most valuable thing we have to offer each other is the essence of ourselves."

-Bernardine Ann Teraz Stapleton
Thriving Together Program Animateur, APTNL

The Thriving Together initiative has been made possible through support from the Canada Council for the Arts. ​