Founded in 2011, KAZAN CO-OP is a registered not for profit theatre cooperative, dedicated to producing compelling contemporary narrative theatre that often relates to the challenges of mid-life and its enduring possibility for change. The company has produced 110 performances over the last five years, as well as developing The Waiting Room as a black box space for contemporary theatre in Halifax.
Its work regularly receives critical and audience acclaim both locally and on national stages. While the playwrights, directors and actors, designers and technical staff are primarily drawn from the pool of well established and highly regarded professionals, the company also builds opportunities for talented younger personnel . The co-operative nature of this company extends to producing values that include a focus on working with Nova Scotian professionals in more collaborative creation and production processes. KAZAN’s founder and Artistic Director/Producer, Kathryn MacLellan, is a Halifax theatre artist who has worked in the performing arts for over 35 years. Her partner in this endeavor is her sister Janet MacLellan, an award winning designer of costumes and sets for the theatre. The co-op additionally includes an eight person Board of Directors drawn from the artistic and business communities. KAZAN’s productions allow Nova Scotian theatre artists to enjoy the advantages of smaller stages and more intimate venues, with a goal of developing opportunities for further performance through touring or festival engagements. Company highlights have included:
2012 Daniel MacIvor’s “Communion” directed by Linda Moore and starring Jenny Munday, Kathryn MacLellan and Stephanie MacDonald, presented as part of the Neptune Studio Series.
2013: “Communion” is programmed by Peter Hinton at the National Arts Centre English Theatre Studio Series.
2013: Daniel MacIvor’s “l’Animal” - directed by Richie Wilcox and starring Antonio Cayonne, Stewart Legere and Kathryn MacLellan premiered at Eastern Front’s Supernova Theatre festival, resulting in an invitation to Toronto’s Summerworks Festival, where it was named one of the top 10 shows and a “not to be missed” play.
2013: Sherry Lee Hunter’s solo performance “Alone” showcases at the Atlantic Fringe Festival, the first appearance of the founder of Jest In Time theatre, after a 10 year absence.
2013: “Up Close and Personal with Kim Coates” was KAZAN’s first fundraising event, where fans of the hit show “Sons of Anarchy” piled in to The Spatz theatre to hear about Kim`s roots and start at Neptune Theatre.
2014: Daniel MacIvor’s “His Greatness” directed by Linda Moore and starring Richard Donat, Daniel MacIvor and Ryan Doucette, (Neptune S
tudio)
2014: The Waiting Room is born when the cancellation of a suitable venue for a new production forced Kathryn to explore other options. She eventually negotiated a favourable lease for the old Acadian Lines waiting room on Almon Street, and together with a team of energetic and knowledgeable volunteers created a gem of a black box theatre with a 50 seat house.
2014: “Heaven Above, Heaven Below”: written by Linda Griffiths, directed by Daniel MacIvor , starring Kathryn MacLellan and Matthew Lumley. (2 week, sold out run)
2015: The Waiting Room becomes available for other organizations to rent when it was not in use by the company. In one year work was developed or performed in The Waiting Room by the following artists: The Doppler Effect, Zuppa Theatre, Cathy Jones, LeeAnne Poole, LAPPRO, Filmmaker Marc Almon, Daniel MacIvor, visual artist Rhonda Barrett, DaPopo Theatre, Liz Richardson, The Atlantic Fringe Festival, Off The Leash, LoHi Fi, Keep Good Theatre, 2b Theatre, LunaSea Theatre, Forerunners Theatre, and Eastern Front.
2015: The Best Brothers” by Daniel MacIvor Directed by Dean Gabourie, starring Daniel MacIvor and John Beale.
2015: “Stacey and Liz” was an evening of two one acts. The first being the Canadian Premiere of “Frida” an operetta by Robert Xavier Rodriguez starring New Glasgow native Stacey Fraser. The second presented Halifax actress Liz Richardson in her solo work “Going On”. Directed by Linda Moore.
2016 -Valentine to Cassavettes- A Screening Event of Five Films
2016 - “The Weekend Healer “ by Bryden MacDonald directed by Dean Gabourie, starring Stephanie MacDonald, Kathryn MacLellan and Allie MacDonald. (May 6-22)
2016: “Miss Conception Does Broadway and The Movies” with Canadian drag artist Kevin Levesque. (July 14-16 )
Kathryn continues to attend contact and performance events such as Alberta Theatre Projects’ new play festival and Magnetic North. She meets with artistic directors from across the county and uses this time to see new Canadian work, engage at the national level, and pitch KAZAN shows. KAZAN is celebrating its Sixth Anniversary this year and going into its third year in The Waiting Room. In six years the company has produced ten plays and four events. The work and the artists have been nominated for nineteen Robert Merritt Awards and taken home five. The nominations for 2017 have just been announced and “The Weekend Healer” has three nominations. Kathryn received the 2015 Mayors Award for her Outstanding Contribution to the Theatre. The company has additionally developed an ongoing donor relationship with BMO, Zephyr House and Home ,Joan Craig and our Board and well loved member of the community the late Harvey Crowell. Harvey passed away suddenly in November 2016. We would like to dedicate our 2017-18 season in his memory. 2019 we presented The Realistic Jones by Will Eno ,directed by Bryden MacDonald at Park Place Theatre. We are back with a new production this Spring at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. UNCONFINED by Liz Richardson will be presented from March 30- April 10, 2022. for tix and more info www.tickethalifax.com
We are extremely grateful for these supporting partnerships. Thank you so much for your interest in KAZAN. BE IN THE ROOM with us.
