Port Dover, ON – April 15, 2025 | Lighthouse Festival is pleased to announce it has received vital support from the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) to help bring its 2025 Summer Season to life in Port Dover and Port Colborne. This funding will directly support the production of five professional plays, helping Lighthouse continue its mission of delivering world-class comedy rooted in the Canadian experience.
Lighthouse Festival would also like to extend sincere thanks to Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady for her ongoing advocacy and support of the local arts sector. Her efforts were instrumental in helping secure this grant, which will have a meaningful impact on the theatre’s ability to engage local artists, employ production teams, and welcome thousands of patrons through its doors.
“There’s such an abundance of talent in rural and smaller communities, especially in Haldimand-Norfolk,” said Bobbi Ann Brady. “When funding is put to good use as it is for supporting the Lighthouse Theatre, the whole community benefits – both audiences and everyone involved in the productions. Congratulations!”
The Ontario Arts Council’s investment reflects a continued commitment to fostering creative communities and supporting organizations offering opportunities for artists and audiences across Ontario. Lighthouse’s summer season includes five plays, four of which are written by Canadian playwrights. These plays showcase various comedic themes and styles while creating professional opportunities for actors, directors, designers, and technicians.
“Government support for the arts is so much more than funding – it’s an investment in vibrant communities, local storytelling, and creative expression,” said Jane Spence, Lighthouse Festival’s Artistic Director. “Thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council, Lighthouse Festival is able to bring Canadian stories to life, create jobs, and continue building meaningful opportunities in our region’s economy.”
“We’re proud to be part of a thriving arts landscape in Ontario and deeply grateful for the OAC’s continued investment in what we do,” said Nicole Campbell, Executive Director at Lighthouse Festival. “We also want to give a special thanks to our local MPP, Bobbi Ann Brady, for her advocacy and tireless support of arts funding in our community.”
The 2025 season includes The New Canadian Curling Club by Mark Crawford, The Hound of the Baskervilles adapted by Steven Canny & John Nicholson, Hidden Treasures and Here on the Flight Path by Norm Foster, and Pinkerton Comes to Prospect, a world premiere written by Jamie Williams. With a nearly all-Canadian lineup (plus one cheeky British import), the summer promises to be full of heart, hilarity, and high-quality storytelling.
Lighthouse Festival is a registered charity committed to celebrating Canadian stories and making live theatre accessible to audiences in southern Ontario. With locations in Port Dover and Port Colborne, Lighthouse continues to be a cornerstone of the region’s cultural identity.
For more information on the 2025 season or to purchase tickets, visit www.lighthousetheatre.com.
