Pamela Halstead, Artistic Director

Pamela Halstead, who is the fifth artistic director in Lunchbox Theatre’s 37-year history, came to Lunchbox after six years as the Artistic Producer of Ship’s Company Theatre in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. Ship’s Company’s mandate is to develop and produce new Canadian work and in her tenure there she produced a record number of World Premiere productions. For Ship’s Company Pamela directed Ferry Tales, Ivor Johnson’s Neighbours, A Ship Portrait, Snow Dance, Share, MacGregor’s Hard Ice Cream and Gas, The Mystery of Maddy Heisler, Shatter, Trout Stanley and The Parrsboro Boxing Club.

Pamela has acted or directed for numerous theatres across Canada including: Theatre New Brunswick, Quest Theatre, Equity Showcase Theatre, Live Bait Theatre, Mulgrave Road Theatre, and DMV Theatre as well as for a number of smaller theatre collaborations or festivals. She has been a guest director and instructor at Dalhousie University in Halifax and is an International Directing Associate for The Petersfield School, UK. Beside the new play development work Pamela has helmed at Ship’s Company Theatre, she has also freelanced as a dramaturg and has worked with numerous playwrights from across the country.

Pamela is no stranger to Calgarians. In the 2002/03 season she apprenticed with Bob White, former Artistic Director at Alberta Theatre Projects, working on Who Has Seen the Wind as well as the annual playRites Festival of New Canadian Plays where she assistant directed Strawberries in January, The Plum Tree, The Red Priest and Pageant. In 2005 Pamela returned to ATP to direct Daniel McIvor’s Marion Bridge. She also has worked with Quest Theatre as a director and an Artist in Residence and in 2003 created fishnet theatre, which produced a site specific production of Elisa’s Skin at Calgary’s Hop ‘n Brew Pub.