Photo by Jamie Kronick
2b theatre company is elated to announce Jacob Sampson as our inaugural Associate Artistic Director. The Associate Artistic Director will be a lead artist at 2b, creating new shows, and developing the company’s artistic and outreach programming alongside Artistic Director, Christian Barry.
“Jacob has been an inspiration,” says Barry. “He’s a brilliant writer and performer, and a respected leader in our community. His talent, his passion, and his rigour are second to none. Jacob blew us away during the interview process, and I can’t wait to start building the future of 2b together.”
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the 2b team and for the support system they’ve put in place,” says Sampson. “I sincerely wish to use this position to help 2b and the wider theatre community however I am able, to produce art that we are proud of, and to create and foster positive lasting relationships between myself and the incredible artists and communities of Nova Scotia.”
Jacob is an esteemed leader in the Nova Scotian Theatre landscape, having won multiple awards as a playwright and performer, including for his lead role in 2b’s 2019 hit, The Bridge, by Shauntay Grant.
LaMeia Reddick, Executive Director at 2b, is excited about the impact this new position will have for the creative sector in the region, “This position was created to support the significant cultural and structural shifts taking place at 2b and in the arts industry. Jacob’s contribution to the team will increase our capacity to make a greater impact in our community” says Reddick.
This position has been created with the support of funding from Emera’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fund. To learn more, visit www.emera.com/fund
About 2b theatre company
For more than 22 years, 2b has been contributing to the Nova Scotian cultural landscape, growing from a fledgling student start-up into a key cultural institution in Halifax and an internationally respected leader at the vanguard of new theatre creation. We prioritize care for our artists and audience members and create works that are accessible to both new and artistically seasoned audiences. 2b’s work has been presented in 64 cities, in 13 countries, on five continents, and in three languages. 2b’s productions have won awards and accolades around the world, including an Edinburgh Fringe First, two Herald Angel Awards, the Lieutenant Governor’s Masterworks award, six Drama Desk Award nominations, and a New York Times Critics pick.
We are committed to the work of creating spaces that support and sustain all creative voices. We center the voices of Black, Indigenous, and racialized artists, artists with diverse neurological expression, artists with visible and invisible disabilities and artists from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
About Jacob Sampson
Jacob Sampson (he/him) is a Graduate of the Acadia University Theatre Studies program and is a descendant of the Historic Black Nova Scotian community of Beechville. Jacob is the playwright of Chasing Champions, which premiered at Ship’s Company Theatre in 2016, a production that won the Merritt Awards for Outstanding New Play by a Nova Scotian, Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role (Jacob Sampson as Sam Langford), and Best Production. He also travelled with the show to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Jacob was the winner of the 2020 Merritt Award for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role for 2b theatre’s production of Shauntay Grant’s The Bridge. Jacob is currently a member of The Bus Stop Co-Op’s board of directors and is proud to have served as an ACTRA councillor for six years, and as a member of the board of directors for 2b theatre for four years. Most recently he has been involved in Shakespeare by the Sea’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the role of Bottom, played officer Ross in CBC’s Diggstown and wrote the play Umoja Corp for Obsidian Theatre’s 21 Black Futures, which premiered on CBC Gem in spring of 2021. He is incredibly passionate about the arts community in Nova Scotia and wishes to contribute in as many ways possible.
Emera’s DEI Fund
Emera and its operating companies launched the Emera Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Fund in February 2021 and are collectively investing a minimum of $5 million over five years to support organizations and initiatives advancing inclusion and diversity in our communities. The fund is part of Emera’s Community Investment Program, which is focused on helping build safer, stronger and more innovative communities. The fund is also reflective of Emera’s journey towards an inclusive and diverse culture, supported by active inclusion and diversity employee networks across the organization. To learn more, visit www.emera.com/fund
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Media contact:
Francesca Masters, Director of Development and Communications
Francesca@2btheatre.com
438-928-3087
