Current Productions
Stay tuned! Essential Collective Theatre (ECT) will be launching a community engagement program called “The Salon Series”. It will develop a series of one/two person 30-minute plays that can be performed in homes of St. Catharines residents to audiences of 10 to 20 people. We’re bringing the theatre to you, Niagara! Thank-you Dramatic Arts Department for providing us space to workshop the first of our plays. We can’t wait to show them to audiences.
Past Productions
ECT is proud to have produced and entertained thousands of theatre goers over the last 25+ years with both new plays and plays by Canadian playwrights that resonate with those of us living in the Niagara region.
Welland Canal Readings
By Kevin Hobbs
Directed by Kevin Hobbs
2023/2024
Drag Me Outside
A drag performance by students hired under the Canada Student Summer Jobs program
2023/2024
Fundraiser with a reading of Howling Winds
By Juan Carlos Velas
Reading directed by Colin Bruce Anthes
2023/2024
John School
By Stephanie Jones
Directed by xxxx
2021/2022
Pandemic Stories
A performance by students under the Canada Student Summer Jobs program
2021/2022
Women of Resilience
(IMDb info for the documentary we produced) Canada, 2021. Directed by Roselyn Kelada-Sedra. 44 min. NR
2020/2021
East of Berlin
By Hannah Moscovitch
Directed by Jocelyn Adema
2019/2020
Blood Lightning
Story by Joseph Recinos
Directed by Colin Bruce Anthes
2018/2019
THE TEAM
By Michael Kras
Directed by Colin Bruce Anthes
2018/2019
The Welland Canal Play
Written by Kevin Hobbs and The Company
Directed by Monica Dufault
2017/2018
Our Lady of Delicias
Written by David Fancy
Directed by Monica Dufault
2017/2018
Around the World and Home Again
By Tenja Hagenberg
Directed by Monica Dufault
2017/2018
The Fighting Days
Directed by Monica Dufault
2016/2017
The Drawer Boy
By Micheal Healey
Directed by Monica Dufault
2016/2017
Falling: A Wake
Written by Gary Kirkham
Directed by Monica Dufault
2015/2016
POOR
Written by Suzanne Ristic
Starring Monica Dufault
2015/2016
The Valley
Written by Joan MacLeod
Directed by Monica Dufault
2014/2015
Wings of Wax
Written by Lindsay Price
Directed by Monica Dufault
2014/2015
Scenic View
Written by & Starring Stephanie Jones and Jason Cadieux
Directed by Wes Berger
2013/2014
An Evening with Lucky Jim Lacroix
Written & Directed by Sky Gilbert
2013/2014
White Crow
Written by Dawn E. Crysler
Directed by Monica Dufault
2012/2013
My Pregnant Brother
Written & Performed by/Texte, traduction et interprétation Johanna Nutter
Directed & Dramaturged by/Mise en Scène et
2012/2013
Somnambulists in Love
Written by Jason Cadieux
Directed & Dramaturged by Gyllian Raby
2012/2013
Hard Ways
Written by Jason Cadieux
Directed by Sarah Garton Stanley
2011/2012
Luck
Written by Stephanie Jones
Adapted from the novel by Joan Barfoot
Dramaturgy by Cole Lewis
Directed by Monica Dufault
2010/2011
17.5
Written by Jason Cadieux
Directed by Sarah Garton Stanley
2010/2011
She’s Mine
Written by Stephanie Jones
Directed by Monica Dufault
2009/2010
CRACK
Written & Directed by Sky Gilbert
Starring Stephanie Jones and Jason Cadieux
2009/2010
Possible Worlds
Written by John Mighton
Directed by Peter Feldman
2008/2009
Road to Hell
Written by Michael Healey and Kate Lynch
Directed by Renee Baillargeon
Featuring: Stephanie Jones and Bruce Davies
2007/2008
Play Development
Over the years, ECT has been dedicated to supporting and developing local playwrights. For many years we held a fundraiser at Hernder Estates called Wine and Reading, which featured live readings of selections from works in progress. Plays were chosen from those received after a call for submissions, and a committee would choose 2 – 3 plays and playwrights to work with a dramaturg and actors to hone their work as it came to life for a live audience.
ECT is excited to be in development with various partners (the drama department at Brock and funding from the City of St. Catharines to start) to launch a unique and intimate “Salon Series”. ECT invites submissions and will workshop two chosen plays – one from a Brock student and one from the region – in 2025, presenting them in various stages along the way. These plays will be performed in homes and small venues around Niagara once they have been workshopped. We are excited about this new play development direction and are always looking for supporting partners and new playwrights.