Commemorating Nova Scotia’s Role in the Great War through Music and Theatre
March 17, 2015 – Halifax, NS – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
From 1914 until 1918, nearly 30,000 men and untold numbers of women left Nova Scotia’s shores to join the Allies on the Western front of the First World War. The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo and the Neptune Theatre are each developing youth-focused projects to honour the important role Nova Scotians played in the war efforts and to create opportunities to share the province’s story on a world stage.
Neptune Theatre is developing a play that tells the story of a chance wartime encounter on Nova Scotian soil. Heroes of Nova Scotia will tell the story of Garrett, a soldier and new recruit to the 85th Highlanders, who is heading to join the war efforts in Belgium, and Victoria, a young woman from Britain who is fleeing the conflict as part of the British Home Children Program. The touring show will be performed in schools across Nova Scotia throughout 2016 and work is underway to see the story told independently nationally and internationally.
The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo (the Tattoo) will commemorate the playing of the Last Post at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium by recreating the ceremony in Halifax as well as at the 2015 Tattoo. During the War, the Last Post was played on the bugle in the British Army to mark the end of the day. Every evening since 1928, the Last Post has been played under the Menin Gate Memorial to represent a final farewell to the fallen. The Tattoo will train fifteen local cadets to play the piece on traditional bugles. Each evening from June 30th until July 9th, 2015, the cadets will perform at the war memorial at the Grand Parade in Halifax. The endeavour, which includes production, marketing, development of content, and training, represents an important component of the 2015 Tattoo designed to commemorate the role of Canada in WWI. Once trained, the bugle performance will be marketed nationally and internationally.
The Government of Canada is investing a total of $130,847 in these projects through ACOA’s Business Development Program (BDP). These investments will enable both clients to attract tourists to Nova Scotia and educate a wider audience on the region’s role in the First World War. Neptune Theatre is receiving a $70,922 contribution for their project and the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is receiving a $59,925 contribution for theirs.
Quick Facts:
- Since opening their doors on July 1st, 1963, the Neptune Theatre has welcomed over 4 million people and staged more than 600 productions.
- The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo was first held in 1979 to mark the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The event was granted Royal Status by her Majesty The Queen in 2006 on the occasion of her 80th birthday.
- Approximately 40% of the Tattoo’s surveyed audience are visitors to the province every year and these tourists contribute almost $40 Million to the economy of Nova Scotia annually.
- Great Britain declared war on August 4th, 1914. As a Dominion of the British Empire, Canada was immediately involved. The resulting mobilization saw 30,000 Nova Scotia men out of a total population of 550,000 volunteered for service with the Canadian Corps.
- The 30,000th sounding of the Last Post at the Menin Gate is scheduled for July 9th, 2015.
- The Army Museum tells the story of Atlantic Canada's soldiers from pre-confederation until today. The oldest artifact is a 2000 year old Roman Gladius retrieved from the battlefield at Amiens during the First World War.
Quotes:
“These youth-focused initiatives inspire us to remember the sacrifices of the thousands of men and women who left the shores of Nova Scotia to fight with valour and honour on the Western Front during WWI. Leaving behind friends and families, the courageous efforts of these heroes helped form the bedrock on which our great country is built today. Through these projects, the Neptune Theatre and the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo are using forms of expression that stir vivid memories and sentiments for their audiences and are creating unique experiences that will draw visitors to our area as well as the means to share Nova Scotia’s story with the world.”
- The Honourable Peter MacKay, Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
“ACOA’s pivotal support for the 2016 school tour production of Heroes of Nova Scotia has opened the door for Neptune to do one of the things it does best – to partner with creative, innovative Nova Scotia theatre companies to produce a “made in Nova Scotia” production that our young people can be fully immersed in. We’re proud that as result of ACOA’s involvement in this production that we can develop an exciting new work that will be of relevance and importance to students throughout the province.”
- Rob Batherson, President, Neptune Theatre
“We are delighted with the support from ACOA for the Menin Gate project which will be a significant item in the 2015 Tattoo as we remember the loss of Canadians in France and Flanders during the First World War.”
- Ann Montague, CEO/Executive Producer, Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
Associated Links:
Contacts:
Kelsie Corey
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
613-941-7241
Clarissa Lamb
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621
Alex Smith
Director, Communications and Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-426-9417 / 902-448-2748 (cell)
Email: Alex.Smith@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Ann Montague
CEO/Executive Producer
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
902-420-4624
Jenna Smith
Communications Coordinator
Neptune Theatre
902-494-8465
