Features
iPhoto caption: The company of 'It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken.' Photo by Dahlia Katz.
In Theatre Aquarius’ new Tragically Hip jukebox musical, emotion comes first
“This show isn’t about the Tragically Hip,” says director Mary Francis Moore. “It’s about Waleed.” Instead of bending the Hip’s music to fit the narrative, the team has looked for thematic threads and moments where the emotional undercurrent of a song aligns with what’s happening on stage, even if the connection isn’t explicit.
iPhoto caption: (L to R) Ron Pederson (Nils) and Alexandra Lainfiesta (Nora) in 'A Doll's House.' Photo by HarderLee.
Anita Rochon, director of A Doll’s House at Theatre Calgary, knows a good play has your back
“[I know] the rhythms and aspects of humanity that she’s interested in exploring,” Rochon said. “I’m always attracted to the complex, troubled, imperfect human. Ibsen and Herzog invite in complexity.”
iPhoto caption: Damien Atkins as Oscar Wilde and Colton Curtis as Bosie in 'De Profundis.' Photo by Dahlia Katz.
Next season, Soulpepper Theatre wants to prove it’s ‘more than just a place that plays happen’
“The lobby is maybe even a more important meeting place than the seats in the audience, because that’s actually where the connection happens,” says artistic director Paolo Santalucia of Soulpepper’s 2026-27 season, which will feature a suite of public programming as well as 12 productions.
iPhoto caption: Headshots of Signy Lynch, Martin Julien, Anita Majumdar, Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, and Derrick Chua.
Five theatre professionals champion Canadian plays that deserve more life
Across the country, second productions are rare, especially for shows that premiered pre-pandemic. With this in mind, I spoke to five theatre folks about the Canadian play that each of them thinks deserves another live production.