Northern Light Theatre

Northern Light Theatre (NLT) is a professional theatre company based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Its mandate is to challenge both artist and audience alike by producing and developing provocative scripts – language rich texts that are dark, poetic, funny – which reflect a complex world and lead us to question our hierarchy of values. The company is known for its darkly satirical and thought-provoking programming, often staging Canadian premieres and new works. NLT operates from an office at #203, 10816A – 82 Ave in Edmonton and performs at The Studio Theatre, 10330-84th Ave, inside Fringe Theatre Adventures. The company is led by Artistic Director Trevor Schmidt, a multiple award-winning playwright, director, designer, and performer, and Managing Director Lindsey Wasserman. NLT engages with its audience through subscriptions, single tickets, and donations, and maintains an active presence on social media. As of the 2026-27 season, NLT is celebrating its 50th season with a campaign titled "$50 for 50 Years," inviting supporters to donate $50 one time or monthly. The season, titled "LIFE TAKES A TURN," features three plays: Iron Matron by Trevor Schmidt (October 23 – November 7, 2026), Milked by Simon Longman (January 22 – February 6, 2027), and Duet for One by Tom Kempinski (April 9 – 24, 2027). The season explores characters at crossroads in their lives. NLT continues to produce provocative, language-rich theatre that reflects a complex world.

Northern Light Theatre (NLT) is a theatre company based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. According to its official website, the company is currently celebrating its 50th season, which would place its founding around 1976, though the exact founding year is not stated in the provided evidence. The company has a long-standing mandate to challenge both artist and audience alike by producing and developing provocative scripts – language rich texts that are dark, poetic, funny – which reflect a complex world and lead us to question our hierarchy of values. Over the decades, NLT has built a reputation for staging darkly satirical and thought-provoking theatre, often including Canadian premieres and new works. The company has been led by Artistic Director Trevor Schmidt, a multiple award-winning playwright, director, designer, and performer. Under his leadership, NLT has produced plays such as The Watermelon Girls and Change Room, for which Schmidt won playwrighting awards, and has staged Canadian premieres including Carol Anne Duffy's The World's Wife, Sean Graney's The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide, and Elise Forier Edie's The Pink Unicorn. The company also collaborates with other theatre artists and companies, such as Guys In Disguise. NLT performs at The Studio Theatre, located at 10330-84th Ave inside Fringe Theatre Adventures in Edmonton. Its administrative office is at #203, 10816A – 82 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta. The company engages its audience through season subscriptions, single tickets, and donations, and maintains an active presence on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. As of the 2026-27 season, NLT is marking its 50th anniversary with a campaign called "$50 for 50 Years," encouraging supporters to donate $50 either one time or monthly. The season, titled "LIFE TAKES A TURN," features three plays: Iron Matron by Trevor Schmidt (October 23 – November 7, 2026), Milked by Simon Longman (January 22 – February 6, 2027), and Duet for One by Tom Kempinski (April 9 – 24, 2027). These plays explore characters at unexpected crossroads in their lives. The company continues to fulfill its mandate by producing provocative, language-rich theatre that reflects a complex world.

• 2026

  Celebrating 50th season with "$50 for 50 Years" campaign and season "LIFE TAKES A TURN" featuring Iron Matron, Milked, and Duet for One.

NLT values its position on the far end of the spectrum in theatre, producing dark, satirical, and provocative plays.

• Iron Matron

  A play by Trevor Schmidt, running October 23 – November 7, 2026, about a woman who has been diverted off her planned path and must start over.

• Milked

  A play by Simon Longman, running January 22 – February 6, 2027, about two young men at the beginning of adulthood with no clear plan.

• Duet for One

  A play by Tom Kempinski, running April 9 – 24, 2027, about a woman raging against her life getting smaller due to a degenerative disease.

• $50 for 50 Years

1. 1Northern Light Theatre Edmonton - Northern Light Theatrenorthernlighttheatre.com
2. 2Staff & Company - Northern Light Theatrenorthernlighttheatre.com
3. 3Contact - Northern Light Theatrenorthernlighttheatre.com
4. 4Social Media - Northern Light Theatrenorthernlighttheatre.com
5. 5Northern Light Theatrewikidata.org