Heather Braaten

County Stage Company‘s Artistic Director, Heather Braaten, is an accomplished professional theatre director and playwright with over 50 productions under her belt across North America. With a successful career holding upper management roles in the performing arts sector, she’s notably served as the Artistic Director of The Stephenville Theatre Festival since 2017, and in 2024 joined County Stage Company in its 18th season.

County Stage Company is dedicated to producing innovative and imaginative theatre, and their 2025 season is full of one-of-a-kind performances, thoughtful and poignant themes, and innovating programming. Their mission is to inspire creativity and pride of place in Prince Edward County by curating engaging theatrical experiences for the local community and tourists alike, fostering inclusivity, respect, and the County’s recognition as a national center for creativity and excellence.

Now, in its 19th season, Heather is the director of County Stage’s current offering, Flowers. On now until August 16th at Mt. Tabor Playhouse in Milford, this heartfelt play by Deborah Porter Taylor tells the story of a woman in northern Ontario who gives birth to identical quintuplets in 1934. Inspired by the Dionne quintuplets, it explores themes like the struggle for individuality, grief, and the siblings’ triumphs and challenges in forming distinct identities within societal expectations.

Also, starting on August 2nd at The Eddie Outdoor Pavilion, County Stage presents a theatre production for all ages, Snow White. Anything but your typical fairytale and adapted by Greg Banks, two actors in this impressive production portray Snow White, the huntsman, the prince, and all seven dwarves.

Without a doubt, Heather is excited about her future with County Stage Company and bringing more wonderful and fascinating tales to life, and we were equally as excited to catch up with her about all that County Stage has to offer – plus, where she finds inspiration, and what she’s been loving lately!

Tell us about your upcoming projects:

I’m especially excited about County Stage’s ongoing summer season—it marks a real turning point for us. For 2025, we’re reimagining how we build our season while staying grounded in our mission to produce essential live performance for our community and cultural visitors. At the heart of this new approach is a 10-week repertory season featuring a fantastic ensemble of actors, directors, designers, and production artists who will be working together intensively here in Prince Edward County.

What’s different—and truly meaningful—is that this year, our artists are living and rehearsing right in the community for the entire production period. In past seasons, rehearsals happened off-site, and artists would arrive only for the short performance runs. Now, they’re here for the full journey, making space for deeper engagement with our audiences, local partners, and sponsors. That level of immersion enriches the work onstage and strengthens our connection to the place and people we serve.

We’re also animating a variety of spaces around the County this year—from historic theatres to open-air pavilions—bringing live performance into the heart of different communities. Our season includes Flowers by Deborah Porter Taylor, Bittergirl: The Musical, and Snow White by Greg Banks, along with an expanded Scripts & Sips play reading series, a reimagined Haymaker Comedy Festival, and more.

Where in The County do you find the most creative inspiration?

I find so much creative inspiration in the natural beauty of Prince Edward County. When I’m in the thick of a production—working long days and juggling a lot of moving parts—stepping outside and taking it all in has been really great and very different from working in the city. There’s something incredibly calming about the landscape here, and that calm often leads to clarity and new ideas.

I’m also deeply inspired by the community itself—the patrons, audiences, and local arts enthusiasts who show up with such enthusiasm and generosity. Their support makes the work feel not only valued but vital, and that sense of shared purpose is incredibly motivating as an artist.

Where is your favourite place to work on your art?

As a professional theatre director, my favorite place to work is in the rehearsal room with my acting ensemble. There’s nothing more energizing than being in the creative process with a group of artists—sharing ideas, finding rhythm together, and building something bigger than any one of us could create alone. I gain so much insight and inspiration from the people I work with, both onstage and off. Live theatre is such a deeply human art form—rooted in presence, vulnerability, and connection—and no piece of technology can replicate that magic.

One of the things I’m most proud of is my ability to bring together groups of artists who not only collaborate well but truly thrive as a whole. Here in Prince Edward County, it’s been especially inspiring to rehearse in a variety of unique and beautiful locations—including outdoor spaces, local vineyards, and the historic Mt. Tabor Playhouse. Each space brings its own energy, and that connection to place becomes part of the work we’re creating.

What piece of media (music, movie, podcast, book, etc.) have you been loving lately?

When I’m in the middle of rehearsals, I don’t have much time to take in other media—but I recently made an exception for Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a beautiful novel that takes place during the early days of the pandemic, as a woman tells her daughters the story of a summer she spent performing in a summer stock theatre company in Michigan. That part really hooked me. The way Patchett captures the intensity, romance, and fleeting magic of working in seasonal theatre felt so familiar—like a love letter to these moments that we spend pouring everything into the work, the people, and the moment. It was such a rewarding read, and made me love what I do even more!