County Stage Company announces

the appointment of Heather Braaten

as their new Artistic Director

Prince Edward County, ON – Leading into its 18th season of theatre, music and comedy, County Stage Company is excited to announce Heather Braaten as the new Artistic Director, taking over from Graham Abbey, who stepped down as Artistic Director at the end of last season, after 6 successful seasons with the company.

Heather is an accomplished professional theatre director and playwright with special interests in musical theatre, new play development, large ensemble physical performance, theatre for young audiences and devised theatre. With a portfolio boasting over 50 productions across North America, Heather brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her new role at County Stage.

She has held key upper management roles in the performing arts sector from artistic director and company manager, to tour coordinator and producer. Most notably, Heather has served as the Artistic Director of The Stephenville Theatre Festival since 2017

“In our search for artistic leadership, the hiring committee had a mandate to uphold the artistic excellence that County Stage has cultivated over the last several years, as well as a need for someone who was dedicated to and embedded in the local community," said Anna Hardwick, County Stage Company’s outgoing Board Chair.  

“We found our dream candidate in Heather Braaten, who quite literally blew us away in the interview process. Her track record of excellent community engagement, astounding fundraising success and critically acclaimed work as Artistic Director of Stephenville Festival Theatre was impressive, to say the least. Her passion for nurturing emerging theatre artists, for diversity and inclusion, and her ability to plan and envision not only an artistically exciting season but a fiscally innovative one, means that County Stage Company’'s future is in great hands.” 

County Stage Players will be announcing its 2024 season in early spring.

About County Stage Company

County Stage (formerly Festival Players) is a thriving performing arts organization located in the scenic region of Prince Edward County. For 17 seasons, we have been bringing together prominent Canadian artists to showcase their talents against the backdrop of The County's beautiful rural landscapes. We continue to produce innovative and imaginative theatre and shows for audiences seeking engaging and creative live performances and experiences. 

Since 2006, County Stage has presented over a hundred performances in unique venues, serving both local residents and cultural tourists. With values of responsibility, inclusivity, and respect, we aim to establish Prince Edward County as a nationally recognized centre for artistic excellence.