Merritt Awards and Nominations

The Merritt Awards celebrate Nova Scotia’s outstanding talent in the professional theatre industry. Established in 2002, and juried by a peer committee, these annual awards highlight the wealth and calibre of theatre creation and production in the province.

2023

• Emma Vickers (Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role) | The Adventures of the Little Girl and the Wind
  
• Jackson Seib (Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role) | Murder For Two
• Wally MacKinnon (Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role) | The New Canadian Curling Club
• Diego Cavedon Dias (Outstanding Costume Design) | The Adventures of the Little Girl and the Wind
• Ingrid Risk(Outstanding Lighting Design) | The Adventures of the Little Girl and the Wind
• Avery-Jean Brennan (Outstanding Musical Direction) | Murder For Two
• Vickie Marston (Outstanding Scenic Design) | Murder For Two
• Ensemble (Outstanding Ensemble) | The New Canadian Curling Club
• Outstanding Production: Murder For Two

2022

• Elizabeth Perry (Outstanding Costume Design) | Robin Hood: The Great Escape
  
• Andrea Boyd & Laura Teasdale (Outstanding New Nova Scotia Play) | Robin Hood: The Great Escape
• Andrea Boyd & Laura Teasdale (Outstanding New Nova Scotia Adaptation) | Robin Hood: The Great Escape
• Andrea Boyd (Outstanding Direction) | Robin Hood: The Great Escape

2020

• Ronica Sajnani (Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role) | A Brimful of Asha
  
• Veronique MacKenzie (Outstanding Choreography) | Ben Hur
  
• Outstanding Production | A Brimful of Asha

2019

• Emlyn Murray (Outstanding Costume Design) | Big Sister Little Brother

2018

• Francine Deschepper (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Kingfisher Days
  

• Hugh Thompson (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Male) | Kingfisher Days – WINNER
  

• Christian Murray (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Male) | The Hound of the Baskervilles
  

• Outstanding Production | Kingfisher Days

2017

• Francine Deschepper (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Little Thing, Big Thing – WINNER
  

• Gordon Gammie (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Male) | Little Thing, Big Thing
  

• Jeremy Webb (Outstanding Direciton) | Little Thing, Big Thing – WINNER
  

• Outstanding Production | Little Thing, Big Thing

2016

• Francine Deschepper (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Outside Mullingar
  

• Mauralea Austin (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Female) | Outside Mullingar – WINNER
  

• Christian Barry (Outstanding Direction) | Lungs
  

• Ian Pygott (Outstanding Set/Projection Design) | Outside Mullingar
  

• Outstanding Production | Outside Mullingar

2015

• David Rosetti (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Male) | The Motor Trade
  

• Geneviève Steele (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Venus in Fur

2014

• Shelley Thompson (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Criminal Genius
  

• Anthony Black (Outstanding Direction) | Criminal Genius

2013

• Ann-Marie Kerr (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Funny Money – WINNER
  

• Joanne Miller (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Same Time, Next Year
  

• Christian Barry (Outstanding Direction) | Funny Money
  

• Outstanding Production | Funny Money

2011

• Jean Morpurgo (posthumous) (Outstanding Direction) | Maggie’s Getting Married – WINNER

2010

• Shelley Thompson (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Glorious – WINNER
  

• Ed Thomason (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Male) | Geometry In Venice
  

• Jennifer Coe & Jennifer Mills (Outstanding Costume Design) | Glorious

2009

• Geneviève Steele (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Female) | Grace
  

• John Fitzgerald Jay (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Male) | Gaslight

2008

• Sharon Bajer (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Female) | Boeing, Boeing
  

• Helene Siebrits (Outstanding Costume Design) | Boeing, Boeing

2007

• Geneviève Steele (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Educating Rita
  

• Thistle Theatre Design (Outstanding Lighting Design) | The Woman in Black
  

• Denyse Karn (Outstanding Costume Design) | Educating Rita

2006

• Andrew Musselman (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Male) | Stones in His Pockets
  

• Margot Sampson (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Joni Mitchell: River
  

• Raquel Duffy (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Female) | Miss Julie
  

• Ed Thomason (Outstanding Direction) | Stones in His Pockets
  

• Outstanding Production | Stones in His Pockets

2005

• Shelley Thompson (Outstanding Performance by an Actress) | Humble Boy
  

• Ann-Marie Kerr (Outstanding Direction) | Invisible Atom
  

• Anthony Black (Outstanding New Play by a Nova Scotian Playwright) | Invisible Atom
  

• Outstanding Production | Humble Boy

2004

• Ian Pygott (Outstanding Stage Manager or Technician)

2003

• Raquel Duffy (Outstanding Performance by an Actress) | I Do! I Do!
  

• Ian Pygott (Outstanding Stage Manager or Technician)
  

• Ian Pygott (Outstanding Lighting Design) | Self Help
  

• Lance Woolaver (Outstanding New Play by a Nova Scotian Playwright) | World Without Shadows – WINNER

2002

• Lionel Doucette (Outstanding Performance by an Actor) | For the Pleasure of Seeing her Again
  

• Susan Stackhouse (Outstanding Performance by an Actress) | For the Pleasure of Seeing her Again
  

• Ian Pygott (Outstanding Stage Manager or Technician)
  

• Mary Ellen MacLean (Outstanding Play) | Frankie
  

• Outstanding Production | For the Pleasure of Seeing Her