Lots of live theatre will happen at Point Pleasant Park this summer, including a staging of Hippoposthumous, the 2021 Fringe Festival hit.

Take it outside: All the movies, musicals and more under the sun this summer in Halifax

From Shakespeare By The Sea to the return of FIN Outdoor.

By Morgan Mullin

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The best thing about summer, aside from it being the official season of iced coffee, might just be doing all the stuff you do inside the rest of the year in the great outdoors, instead. Movies under the stars? Sunset-backed plays? This is the time of year for all that and more, as we're showing in this collection of fresh-air fun:

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Take it outside: All the movies, musicals and more under the sun this summer in Halifax

FIN Outdoor

Summer screenings at FIN Outdoor

FIN Outdoors: Summer of Sarah Polley
"Come on, Halifax! Summer is supposed to be FUN" tweeted Canadian filmmaker and certified sad girl Sarah Polley when news of the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival's season-long tribute to her was announced. Polley's movies are more than just tear-jerkers: They're heart-crumplers. But they're also warm and life-affirming, so it's little wonder, really, that FIN's post-COVID revival of outdoor screenings means a different Polley movie will be shown at the Public Gardens every Friday night this July. The free, sunset shows kick off July 8 with a screening of My Life Without Me.

FIN Outdoor announces its return to the Public Gardens this summer: Free, outdoor screenings every Friday in July.

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Take it outside: All the movies, musicals and more under the sun this summer in Halifax (2)

Stoo Metz

Katherine Norris dazzles as the star in Hippoposthumous.

Hippoposthumous goes on tour
The 2021 Halifax Fringe Festival hit play about a hippo in Colombia who just wants to belong, Hippoposthumous delves into themes of home, impermanence and how communities evolve. The outdoor play is hitting the road this summer, stopping off at as many watering holes as possible around the province. See it at Point Pleasant Park (its original venue) in July, Shubie Park in August or any smattering of towns in between. Full show details are available on The Unnatural Disaster Theatre Company's website.

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Take it outside: All the movies, musicals and more under the sun this summer in Halifax (3)

Shanoa Phillips stars in a musical redux of Cinderella at Shakespeare By The Sea this July.

Shakespeare By The Sea stages Hamlet and Cinderelly! The Musical
It simply isn't summer in Halifax if there isn't a work from ol' Will himself being belted at sundown in Point Pleasant Park, a tradition since Shakespeare By The Sea launched its first season back in 1994.

This year marks big changes for the theatre company, with its final co-founder, Elizabeth Murphy, announcing her retirement in April 2022.

“I love living in Halifax. I've lived here since 1988. It's my home. And I'm so happy to be able to say I did something nice for Halifax, for Nova Scotia,” she told The Coast when the news broke, adding that her longtime collaborators Drew Douris-O'Hara and Jesse MacLean will continue to helm SBTS.

Thankfully, as Murphy predicted, it's still business as usual over at the Cambridge Battery in Point Pleasant: SBTS has announced it will stage Hamlet from August 5 to September 3, while July sees a musical redux of Cinderella, called Cinderelly! The Musical taking place. Get full details on the company's site.

Shakespeare By The Sea co-founder Elizabeth Murphy retiring: "I'm so happy to be able to say I did something nice for Halifax," says the woman who brought live theatre to Point Pleasant Park.

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Take it outside: All the movies, musicals and more under the sun this summer in Halifax (4)

via Facebook

The Hello City crew making magic—and making fun—at Point Pleasant Park last summer.

Hello City (by the sea) returns every Monday this July and August
Monday is the night off for Shakespeare By The Sea cast members, but recent years have seen the Cambridge Battery in Point Pleasant Park buzzing on the first night of the week anyhow, thanks to SBTS's "(by the sea)" series. For the second summer running, the series will bring lauded improv troupe Hello City to the stage, delivering some Bard-inspired brouhaha. Get in on the fun every Monday from July 18 to August 29 at Point Pleasant at 6:30pm—and get more details via Ticket Halifax.

About The Author

Morgan Mullin

Morgan is the Arts & Entertainment Editor at The Coast, where she writes about everything from what to see and do around Halifax to profiles of the city’s creative class to larger cultural pieces. She’s been with The Coast since 2016.