The StFX Art Gallery in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, is bringing live theatre to its 50th anniversary celebrations with a run of the comic whodunnit “Murder at Ackerton Manor” at the Bauer Theatre beginning July 14, 2026.
The fast-paced production runs nightly at 7:30 pm through July 17 (with additional dates stretching to July 25), offering a dose of summer entertainment running alongside the gallery’s current 50/50 juried exhibition.
Written by Canadian playwright Steven Gallagher, the play is a spoof of the classic country-house mystery in which three actors juggle seven characters. The story follows detective Pierre Pierrot as he races to solve a stormy-night murder, track down a missing diamond, and avoid becoming the next victim.
Director Andrea Boyd leads a cast featuring Karen Bassett, James MacLean, and Theofani Pitsiavas. The performance is recommended for ages 14 and up because of “murder, mayhem, innuendo, and some adult humour,” according to the event listing.
The play is being staged at the Bauer Theatre at 5015 Chapel Square on the StFX campus while the gallery’s 50/50 exhibit remains on view in Mulroney Hall. That show features 50 works by 50 artists from Antigonish, Pictou, and Guysborough counties and continues through September 19, 2026.
