Antigonish & Guysborough, NS – Two of Nova Scotia’s beloved professional theatre companies—Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre and Mulgrave Road Theatre—are proud to co-produce the world premiere of For Love Nor Money, a bold and tender new play by long-time regional artist Laura Teasdale, running July 11–19 on the Bauer Theatre stage.
Set in 1865 Guysborough, For Love Nor Money invites audiences onto the porch of a newly built home, where Henry Marshall Jost and Caroline Hart, life-long friends who are bound in an arranged marriage and meant to unite two powerful families—gather to finalize their wedding plans. But as the day unfolds, the couple confronts not only family expectations, but a more personal question: should they follow the path laid out for them, or risk everything to choose another?
“I’ve always loved stories from our past,” says playwright Laura Teasdale, a veteran writer/performer for both companies. “And I am always searching for untold gems and unsung heroes. When I discovered this Guysborough mystery I knew I’d struck gold. I wrote For Love Nor Money so the world could meet Carrie & Marsh. I hope their bravery, honesty and true love inspire us all.”
The play’s development began at Mulgrave Road Theatre, where Artistic Director Emmy Alcorn has championed it from the first draft. “Bringing this story to the stage has been a joy,” says Alcorn, who also directs the production. “It’s romantic, it’s witty, and it quietly challenges what we think we know about tradition, legacy, and choice. This is exactly the kind of story our region needs to see—one that’s both grounded in local history and emotionally universal.”
The premiere brings together two longstanding creative neighbours. While Festival Antigonish has anchored theatre in northeastern Nova Scotia for nearly four decades, Mulgrave Road Theatre has been developing new work rooted in the communities of Guysborough County since 1977—and is currently finalizing construction of the new Mulgrave Road Centre for the Arts, set to become Atlantic Canada’s first net-zero cultural facility. This partnership reflects both companies’ shared belief in the power of place-based storytelling and rural collaboration.
“This project is a testament to what can happen when we work together, our artistic industry and in fact our world benefits from more collaboration and shared resources.,” says Andrea Boyd, Artistic Director of Festival Antigonish. “Mulgrave Road commissioned a powerful story. We helped shape its production. And now, we invite both our communities to witness it unfold.”
Leading the cast is Liam Oko, a native of Antigonish who stars as Henry Jost. “It’s incredibly meaningful to be telling this story on the Bauer stage,” says Oko. “This theatre was a big part of my life growing up. To come home and premiere a brand-new play set just down the coast feels like a full-circle moment.” He is joined by Maude McInnis as Caroline Maria Hart. Both are recent graduates of the Fountain School of Performing Arts and bring authenticity and nuance to their roles.
Together, this extraordinary team of emerging and established Nova Scotian artists has crafted a production that is as heartfelt as it is haunting. Rich with local detail and emotional truth, For Love Nor Money invites you into a world where one conversation could change everything.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this historic premiere.
Come be the first to witness a moment lost to time—imagined anew.
For Love Nor Money is generously supported by BMO Private Wealth, with additional thanks to Season Partners MacLeod Group, The Maples Retirement Living and East Coast Credit Union.
Production Details
📅 July 11–19, 2025
📍 Bauer Theatre, Antigonish
🎟 Tickets & Season Passes: www.festivalantigonish.com | ☎ (902) 8673333
About the Co-Producing Companies
Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre is one of Atlantic Canada’s premier professional theatre companies, producing a vibrant mix of new work, reimagined classics, and community-access programming since 1987.
Mulgrave Road Theatre, based in Guysborough since 1977, is a regional hub for new play development and rural storytelling. Their forthcoming Centre for the Arts, opening in 2025–26, will be a landmark net-zero facility serving artists and audiences across the province.
Together, these two companies share a commitment to artistic excellence, community engagement, and celebrating the unique voices and stories of Nova Scotia.
Media Contact:
Caleb Marshall
Managing Director, Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre
📧 caleb@festivalantigonish.ca | ☎ (902) 8673954 | 📱 (236) 4642253