Gros Morne Theatre Festival

Cow Head is home to the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, which is presented by Theatre Newfoundland Labrador. We had never heard of this festival until we rolled into the Sea Breeze B&B for the first time. They asked if we were going to the theatre that night and we decided why not. We were privileged to see Tempting Providence, a play based on the life of Myra Bennett who provided health care along this west coast for almost 50 years. Her story is fascinating and the play was world class. It has in fact toured around the world. The cast consisted of four people and a sheet. The sheet played everything from a cradle to a wedding dress. We saw the play a second time that following winter when it came to London, Ontario. The plays are usually performed in The Warehouse Theatre. The warehouse seats about 100 people in a small, very intimate theatre. You feel like you are on stage, interacting with the cast. The festival also has an excellent dinner theatre hosted at The Shallow Bay Motel, next door to the Warehouse Theatre. The S.S. Ethie is presented at the dinner theatre.

We have also seen Mary’s Wedding which brought tears to many. During the summer months they do a number of different productions in a week so it is possible to see a number of different plays over the course of a few days. Going to the theatre in Cow Head is now a treat we look forward to when we are in the area.

A new theatre is under construction in Cow Head, across the road from the Warehouse Theatre. The new theatre will be named after Nurse Myra Bennett of nearby Daniel’s Harbour. The new theatre is scheduled to open in 2020.