About the Play:

Hilda's Yard is a full-length comedy by Norm Foster. Sam and Hilda are finally on their own after their grown children leave the nest. They're looking forward to rekindling their romance in their "Golden Years" but their love nest suddenly becomes a bit crowded with the unexpected return of the children and some very exotic visitors. Set in 1956, Hilda's Yard is a delightful comedy that sparkles with unexpected twists and turns as Hilda attempts to corral her family's foibles.

Hilda's Yard is a poignant and funny look at how family dynamics don't really change much over the years. It's an exciting summer day in 1956 for Hilda and Sam Fluck. Newly on their own since their thirtysomething children Gary and Janey moved out, they are finally ready to relax. Hilda plans to hang her laundry while Sam goes to buy a shiny new television. What could disturb their simple peace? Turns out doors are merely decoration as Gary and Janey return with more than enough baggage to change Sam and Hilda's world. Gary has lost his job, is enamoured with his new girlfriend, Bobbi, and running from a bookie named Beverly, while the ever-dependent Janey has unexpectedly left her husband. The family careens into an afternoon of calamity, showing them that ultimately they must celebrate how they can be together rather than apart. Norm Foster's heartwarming and relatable family comedy proves that there will always be a significant weight to an empty nest.

Hilda's Yard premiered in 2012 at The Fredericton Playhouse by Theatre New Brunswick. Since then the play has been produced widely at high school and community theatres across North America.

Cast: 3 female, 3 male

What people say:

"Norm Foster has a gift for comedy but in his work Hilda's Yard the Canadian playwright also delves into the complexity of relationships – particularly within families. It's comedy with a message." — Waterloo Region Record

"Hilarious and poignant. A hilarious and uplifting comedy that is sure to keep an audience in stitches." — Broadwayworld.com

"Hilda's Yard hits home with laughter, insight and nostalgia to boot." — Wellington Advertiser

"Hilda's Yard is Foster at his best, his witty, comedic dialogue sparking lots of laughs around a dysfunctional family's troubles." — London Free Press

About the Playwright:

Norm Foster enjoyed a 25-year career as the morning man at independent radio stations in Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, and Kingston, before finally ending up in Fredericton, where he began writing plays. He is considered to be Canada's most produced playwright, with more than fifty-five critically acclaimed plays that are known for their humour, accessibility, and insight into the everyday tribulations of life. He is the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama-Logue Award for his play, The Melville Boys which would go on to be produced across Canada and in the United States, including a well-received run Off Broadway in New York. It would become his signature play, and the one which would bring his name to the forefront of Canadian theatre.