A Mahone Bay man has received prestigious recognition through Theatre Nova Scotia.
Chris Heide picked up the organization’s Legacy Award during a virtual celebration Monday night.
He’s had a lengthy career as a playwright, director, producer and writer and is known for his dedication to community development.
Heide says he loved writing from an early age and has no regrets.
“No one in my family knew anything about writing, my father was in the armed forces and my mother was a war bride and home-maker. They were rather appalled I wanted to write for a living and they were concerned I would live a life of dire poverty…and to some extent maybe I have,” chuckled Heide during an interview with our newsroom.
In 2008, Heide co-founded Halifax Theatre for Young People and served as the Managing Director of the Chester Playhouse for nearly ten years.
“My first love was plays and writing plays,” explained Heide. “Mostly because I liked listening to people talk, the way they use the language…their accents and most of my inspiration has come from people in rural Nova Scotia who I’ve met and their stories enticed me.”
Past recipients of the Legacy Award have included director Mary Vingoe, actor Deb Allen, and playwright Wendy Lill.
The virtual celebration and award ceremony can be watched in the video below.