Artistic Director / Producer ~ Robert Latimer

Founder, Artistic Director Emeritus ~ Diana Reis

Artistic Associate ~ Costin Manu

First Stages Theatre was founded in 1999 by Canadian actor Diana Reis.  Its debut presentation was TALLEY'S FOLLY by Landford Wilson and starred Diana Reis, Karl Pruner and Paul Soles.  The performance was at The Capitol Theatre in Port Hope where the company continued to present a five-play season every year.  In founding First Stages Ms. Reis set down a mission statement as follows: "The aim of First Stages Theatre Company is to present a unique eveing of theatre using its three essential elements: The Actor, The Play and The Audience. The Actors are among some of the most accomplished professionals in Canada today. The Plays include time-honoured classics and challenging new works.  First Stages wishes to share its love of the spoken word and to provide stimulating and satisfying entertainment to the Audience."

The manner in which we present plays is best described as "staged concert readings".  The actors perform the play, on stage, without the benefit of a rehearsal period or the support of full sets, costumes or props. The presentation is in the style of a concert with the actors reading from the script.  The experience has been compared to "watching a radio play... with the emphasis on the text, the spoken word then ignites the imagination !"