Veteran actor, director and producer to join PEC Festival Players

Graham Abbey photo by Michael Cooper

Prince Edward County’s Festival Players has announced Graham Abbey, acclaimed stage, television and film actor, director and founder of The Groundling Theatre Company, is to assume the role of Artistic Director in 2018.

Abbey, with more than 30 Stratford productions to his credit, has just come off an impressive run with two critically-acclaimed productions, The Winter’s Tale and Measure for Measure, that played to sold-out audiences at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto.

In the interim, Festival Players plans to present the 2017 season under artistic direction of veteran director John Wood, Abbey’s long-time friend and collaborator. Wood’s directing career has spanned from coast-to-coast including roles with the Vancouver Playhouse, the Stratford Festival and artistic directing tenures at both the National Arts Center and Halifax’s Neptune Theatre.

“Festival Players has done a tremendous job in not only building demand for professional theatre in Prince Edward County, but also laying the foundation for it to flourish in one of the most culturally rich regions in Canada,” said Abbey in a statement. “I am extremely honoured to join this remarkable organization, and look forward to sharing my vision in 2018 and being a part of the thrilling future that is in store.”