Anne and Gilbert to hit stage of National Arts Centre

The musical Anne and Gilbert will be on stage at the National Arts Centre later this year.

"I think it's an extraordinary piece of work and I think it's an extraordinary musical," said Jillian Keiley, NAC's artistic director of English theatre.

She decided to buy the rights to the show after she saw it in Charlottetown two years ago.

NAC officials say least four people from the Island production will finish the run in Charlottetown, then move on to the show in Ottawa.

Campbell Webster, the show's P.E.I. producer, is pleased Anne and Gilbert will find an even larger audience in Ottawa.

He says that ambassadors based in Ottawa often take in NAC shows.

"They all get invited to events at the National Arts Centre, so we might be seeing greater knowledge still of Anne and Green Gables around the world and of this play because we're putting it in the best theatre, in the best possible place in the country to have the rest of the world come see it," said Webster.

He says his production company was surprised to hear the City of Charlottetown cut its $15,000 grant for the show. 

"We hope to continue on in the city. We will definitely be on stage there this year. We're just going to have to find different ways to do it," said Webster.

Anne and Gilbert is a musical sequel to Anne of Green Gables.