After an intense year of ups and downs for arts organizations everywhere and the world, the Highland Arts Theatre has relied on (and blossomed with) the support of hundreds of one time and monthly donors from across North America coming together to fund the Radical Access Program.

The first of its kind in Canada, the program calls upon community action through grass roots organizing to raise money to put on professional theatre productions at the Highland Arts Theatre.

In exchange? All mainstage productions at the downtown Sydney venue are FREE OF CHARGE to anyone and everyone.

There are a plethora of other benefits including 100 scholarships for their education program (the HAT Academy), free web-streamed performances of each of the mainstage shows, funding workshops of BIPOC writers, producing works from Mi’kmaq performing artists, and that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Over the past year, after immense support from the community and abroad, the theatre company has delivered on all this and more. Despite the pandemic, in the past year they have been able to produce radio plays, video content, live streams, new play workshops, theatre classes, movie nights, 16 Live Theatre Productions, over 300 performances in multiple venues, and over 13,000 free tickets (valued at $325,000) all thanks to Radical Access.

Now the HAT is ready to double down on what they believe is the future of regional theatre. Artistic and executive director Wesley J. Colford spoke to the unique opportunity before them.

“We want to prove that this model is more than just a way to survive the pandemic, but is in fact the future of live theatre across North America," said Colford. "This year has proven that when hundreds of people come together to make a small contribution every month, miraculous things can happen. And we can’t wait to prove it again.”

On September 19th the local theatre will air online (on their Facebook and YouTube) the Radical Access Year 2 Telethon Spectacular. Featuring music, dancing, theatre, and a wide slate of special guests and surprises. If they reach their goal, a whole new slew of commitments will be made in addition to continued programming of the tent poles of the program like free admission to all mainstage shows.

To help them reach their goal Cape Breton’s angel Annette Verschuren, and her husband Stan Shibinsky, have pledged to match all new donations and upgraded existing pledges between now and the end of the telethon. 

To pledge today and/or read about the commitments Radical Access Year 2 has in store, interested parties can visit www.highlandartstheatre.com/RAY2 for more information.

And tune into the live telethon at 6:00PM AST on September 19, 2021.