In a media release, Theatre Nova Scotia has announced the winners of the 2025 Robert Merritt Awards, which celebrate the best in professional theatre in Nova Scotia. The awards were handed out in a ceremony on March 31.
With twenty productions nominated, over half came away with trophies, with Halifax’s Matchstick Theatre Company taking home awards for Best Direction (Jake Planinc) and Best Production for Leaving Home. Halifax’s Neptune Theatre took home five awards, split between A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Dear Rita.
Other Halifax winners include Keep Good (Theatre) Company in association with Heist (Dance Nation), Shakespeare by the Sea (Alice In Wonderland), The Villains Theatre (Deepwater), The Unnatural Disaster Theatre Co. (Deeper) and Think of The Worst Theatre with support from The Villains Theatre (Lifespan of a Mattress).
A complete listing of winners follows:
Outstanding Performances in a Leading Role
Stephanie MacDonald – Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B
Amaka Umeh – Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
James MacLean – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Outstanding Performances in a Supporting Role
Mary Fay Coady – The Mountain and the Valley
Patrick Jeffrey – Alice in Wonderland
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
Dear Rita – Neptune Theatre
Outstanding New Nova Scotia Play
Dan Bray – Deepwater
Outstanding New Nova Scotia Adaptation
Catherine Banks – The Mountain and the Valley
Outstanding Direction
Jake Planinc – Leaving Home
Outstanding Fight Direction
Dylan Brentwood – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Outstanding Choreography
Sarah Prosper – Mimikej
Outstanding Costume Design
Kaelen MacDonald – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Outstanding Musical Direction
Avery-Jean Brennan – Dear Rita
Outstanding Original Score or Composition
Allen Cole & Ken Schwartz – Chased by the Bear
Outstanding Sound Design
Paul Morgan Donald – Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B
Outstanding Lighting Design
Holly Meyer-Dymny – Dance Nation
Outstanding Projection Design
Aaron Collier – Dance Nation
Outstanding Scenic Design
Vickie Marston – Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt 2B
Outstanding Independent Production
Deepwater – The Villains Theatre
Outstanding Production
Leaving Home – Matchstick Theatre Company
Outstanding Emerging Productions
Deeper – The Unnatural Disaster Theatre Co.
Lifespan of a Mattress – Think of the Worst Theatre with support from The Villains Theatre
Outstanding Technician
Cassie Seaboyer
Outstanding Stage Manager
Chelsea Dickie
Outstanding Volunteer
Karen Bassett
Theatre Nova Scotia Professional Development Scholarship
Lee-Anne Poole
Outstanding Emerging Artist Award
Jessie Walker
Theatre Nova Scotia Legacy Award
Hugo Dann
April Hubbard Creative Access Award
Maeghan Taverner