TNB Opens a New Season with World Premiere

Bluebirds by Vern Thiessen runs Oct. 26-30 at the Open Space Theatre before touring the province November 1-6.

TNB’s first show of the year will be the world premiere production of Bluebirds, by Governor General Award-winning playwright Vern Thiessen.

Set in Étaples, France in 1918, Bluebirds tells the story of nurses Christy, Maggie, and Bab who have crossed oceans to care for wounded Canadian soldiers in the Great War. Despite the terrible injuries they must deal with, they manage to stay hopeful as the dangers of the front draw closer to their hospital. Through it all, the three women find friendship, independence, power, and influence in a place where men, once again, are trying to destroy the world.

“I’m so excited to launch our season with Bluebirds! I’ve been waiting two years to produce this play, and we’re finally doing it,” said TNB Artistic & Executive Director Natasha MacLellan.

“We workshopped Bluebirds during our first Fall Festival of New Plays back in October of 2020 when no one knew what the future held for live theatre. It was a weird time, as you all remember. I’m forever grateful to Vern for allowing us to include a workshop reading of this play in our festival. It certainly helped me feel a little more grounded in theatre than I otherwise would have. For that reason – and the fact that it’s just a beautiful story – I feel truly honoured be able to share its world premiere with you all as the first show in our first full season of theatre in too long. And being able to take it around the province, that’s the icing on the cake for me.”

This world premiere production will be directed by MacLellan and feature three New Brunswick-born actors: Kirsten Alter (Come Down From Up River, It’s A Wonderful Life), Mélanie LeBlanc (Heroine) and Sharisse LeBrun (Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley).

Reserve Your Seats:

Bluebirds will open October 27 and run until the 30th at the Open Space Theatre in Fredericton with a special Pay What You Wish preview performance on October 26. After that, the production will tour the province in the leadup to Remembrance Day.

Visit tnb.nb.ca to reserve your seat!