Your Story, Our Stage
Enjoy transformative walks, talks and workshops at Theatre on the Ridge.
Engage with the themes of our productions this summer on a personal level. With Your Story, Our Stage, we’re offering our patrons a transformative theatre experience even before the curtain rises.
Tickets will be on sale April 1st.
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The following are complementary, included day of show for Summer 2025 Theatre on the Ridge ticket and pass holders.
Morning Walkies
Walk and talk all things theatre with the artistic director.
Performance days only. Wednesday & Thursday mornings @ 9:30 – 10 am.
Rain (light to moderate) or shine!
Meeting Point: concession/information tent.
Mornings are the best time of day to appreciate the glories of summer, when the air is fresh, and the birds are busy. Take a walk with Carey Nicholson, artistic director and co-founder of Theatre on the Ridge, through the scenic grounds of Scugog Shores Museum while conversing about theatre.
Carey is happy to quench your curiosity, feed your creativity or simply share the joy and inspiration of stretching your legs in the open air at Scugog Shores Museum.
What to bring: water, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection.
Music at the Museum
Pre-show acoustic music busking.
Performance days*
* no music before the June 19th matinee.
Arrive early with your picnic or take-out meal from a local Port Perry restaurant or café. Then enjoy dining on provided picnic tables before the show while live music is aloft on the summer breeze, featuring emerging local singer-songwriters and musicians!
At Theatre on the Ridge, we are committed to supporting local artists through cross-collaborations such as this.
Backstage Pass
A walkabout the “backstage” areas of the performance tent.
Thursdays 5:30 – 6:15 pm*. Sunday June 22, July 13, August 10. 2:30 – 3:15 pm.
* no tour on Opening nights.
Meeting Point: concession/information Tent.
Have you ever sat under our tent in the audience and wondered how we make our productions happen when there’s very little behind the “curtain”? This is your chance to understand!
Explore our summer performance tent, stage set-up and backstage areas for a first-hand perspective of how we adapt to the unique situations that come with performing outdoors. Whether you are simply a curious audience member or someone with a deeper curiosity for theatre practice in general, this is your opportunity to discover the magic of our “backstage”!
Museum Tours
Discover the grounds and buildings of Scugog Shores Museum before your theatre experience.
Guided Tours before Friday evening and matinee performances, 1 hour before curtain.
Self-guided options available 1 hour before all other shows.
Meeting Point: concession/information tent.
Part of the heart of the Theatre on the Ridge Summer Festival is its unique location on the grounds of the Scugog Shores Museum. Surrounding our performance tent and spaces are the buildings that bring Scugog’s history and heritage to life.
Enjoy a glimpse into 19th Century North Durham life by learning about the roles of the cabin, barn, blacksmith, print shop, beef ring, etc. What’s a ‘beef ring’ you ask? Take a tour and find out! Guided and self-guided options.
Pre-Show Chats
Setting the stage for our audiences under the tent
30 minutes prior to all performances*
Meeting Point: under the performance tent
*no chat on Opening Nights
Learn about the story behind the script, offering context and fascinating insights that can add meaning to the on-stage play about to take place. Consider this as personal warm-up to the performance that will exercise heart, mind and emotional muscles.
Sunset Circle
Mingle post-show during the sun’s final curtain call of the day
June, July evenings post show*
Meeting Point: at the Muskoka chair circle, far side of the concession/information tent
*weather permitting
After the show, and only a few paces from the tent, take a moment to savour nature’s contribution to our festival experience – beautiful sunsets on the grounds of Scugog Shores Museum.
It’s a front row seat and a relaxing atmosphere for contemplating the evening’s performance and engaging with other patrons and company members as the sun sets in the west.
The following talks and workshops are available to both patrons and the general public at an additional cost.
Tickets will be on sale April 1st.
Props Maker For A Day
Get hands-on and make a prop for the show you’re about to attend!
June 13 & 18, July 16 & 19, August 13 & 16, 10 am – 1 pm
Meeting Point: concession/information tent
They may only be inanimate objects on stage, but when carefully crafted and chosen, props can become muses for actors to inspire meaning and intention, or they can set the scene for the action on stage.
During this hands-on workshop, create a prop for the evening’s performance and have the satisfaction of seeing it share the limelight onstage. After the performance, take your prop home with you as a memento of a unique day at the theatre.
Nuclear Clock Talk
Nuclear Clock Talk – a look at the chronology and history of the nuclear age.
June 12 & 27 @ 2 – 4 pm
Meeting Point: the School House (main museum building)
For the greater good or devastation and disaster? The discovery of nuclear power and its rapid evolution have irrevocably changed the trajectory of the world for nearly a century. Learn about the timeline of the atomic age and all it has made possible in the science of energy, warfare and medicine. A subject that’s both fascinating and unsettling.
Putting the ME in Social Media
A hands-on social media masterclass in selfies and reels when you’re on the road.
June 14 @ 10am, June 20 @ 2 pm . Meeting Point: concession/information tent.
‘Like’ it, ‘Love’ it, or not, social media has become the instantaneous postcard of the modern travel landscape. Show your followers; decadent meals, epic scenery, unexpected gems or simply wonder. This lighthearted workshop is inspired by Two Minutes to Midnight character Jack, an aspiring influencer, committed to documenting his vacation for social media at the expense of, well, everything else!
Learn tips for posting your own adventures effectively and playfully so that you can share your travels virtually and never stop enjoying where you are!
What to bring: a cell phone fully charged, with ample memory space to allow you to record videos.
History of Nursing
A historical lecture from the time of Florence Nightingale to present day.
Thursday, July 10 @ 2 – 4 pm.
Meeting Point: School House (main museum building)
Learn about the role of nursing as it evolved from the mid 19th century, thanks to the dedication and passion of pioneers such as Florence Nightingale, advocating for higher hygiene standards to significantly reduce death and amputation due to infection.
Such initiatives dramatically improved chances of survival and quality of life for soldiers and civilians, and helped raise the profile of nursing from low class menial work to a respected profession.
Letters From the Past
An introduction to monologue writing.
Friday, July 11, 18, 25 @ 1 pm
Meeting Point: concession/information tent.
This workshop draws inspiration from the lost art of letter writing, when stories were shared through the written word, though often not received until months later.
Bring a personal family letter or history as a prompt for your monologue, or draw from our collection of authentic historical writings. Complete your playwriting journey with a live reading of your monologue by a member of Theatre on the Ridge on our summer stage. With your permission, this premiere performance will be recorded for your personal archives.
Medicine in the Field
A lecture and hands-on demonstration of early field medicine.
Saturday, July 19 @ 2 – 4 pm.
Meeting Point: School House (main museum building)
The realities of trauma care and surgery on the battlefield of WWI granted no mercies to the faint of heart.
Before experiencing Bluebirds, a touching and compelling chronicle of the lives and service of Canadian nurses working in England during the Great War, learn about the medical practices and procedures conducted on and near the front. After this informative presentation, you’re sure to have a greater appreciation and respect for what soldiers and health care providers alike endured on the front lines.
Navigating 19th Century Society
Etiquette & decorum in Chekhov’s time.
Thursday, August 7 @ 1 PM, Saturday, August 23 @ 10 AM.
Meeting Point: concession/information tent.
Picture yourself immersed in 19th Century dinner parties, libraries, romances and the like and have fun with this interactive lecture that allows you to experience the complexity and conventions of late 19th century Society.
From taking tea, to the language of fans, you’ll appreciate the brilliance of playwrights such as Anton Chekhov to capture the nuances of their times and embrace the most awkward social situations, leaving you to love or lament how times have changed!
Clowning Around
Learn to clown, (not) just for laughs!
Saturday, August 9 @ 10 am.
Meeting Point: concession/information tent.
In this fun and energetic workshop, Andy Massingham will guide you through a simple ‘how-to’ in the art of clown, or physical storytelling. Using improvisational exercises which maximize the imagination we will discover the power of being captivating and powerful on the stage without having to say a word. Much fun and laughter to be had.
Don’t Just Sit There, Write Something!
Every great work begins with a crazy idea.
Friday, August 8, August 15 @ 1PM
Meeting Point: concession/information tent.
Have you ever experienced something, seen something or had a daydream which made you think, “This would make a great movie (or play)?” We invite you to explore your own creative potential in a workshop geared to inspire you to take your idea to the stage!
Over the course of a workshop, we will create a world premiere with your material, then performed for you and an intimate audience on the summer stage by Theatre on the Ridge company members. Tap into your creativity and experience the thrill of seeing your dream come to life.
For more information, please contact the box office at boxoffice@theatreontheridge.ca or call 905 242-9343
