Crow’s Theatre announces packed 2025-26 season, including major partnership with Soulpepper
iPhoto caption: The 'Octet' company. Photos by Dahlia Katz.
Next season, Crow’s Theatre will stage work by Michael Healey, Dave Malloy, Eboni Booth, Erin Shields, and Tennessee Williams, among others. The company is also launching a three-year partnership with Soulpepper Theatre, which will involve four large-scale 2025-26 co-productions.
“Soulpepper and Crow’s… share many common values, including a commitment to creative excellence, city-building, and the development of new Canadian work,” wrote Crow’s Theatre artistic director Chris Abraham in a press release. “Our joint presentation with Soulpepper of The Master Plan in the 2024-25 season… suggested uncharted possibilities to expand upon production partnership into something longer term — a vision for a new approach to collaboration that would not only deepen production capacity but also nurture a more active and engaged audience for theatre in our city.”
This morning’s announcement also revealed that Crow’s is transforming its Nada Ristich Studio-Gallery on Dundas East into a performance venue for music, comedy, drag, and local/international fringe hits. Programming details for that space will follow in the fall, with an expected January 2026 launch.
The 2025-26 season lineup is listed below.
The Welkin
Written by Lucy Kirkwood
Directed by Weyni Mengesha
September 4 – October 5, 2025
Young Centre for the Performing Arts (Baillie Theatre)
A Crow’s Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre, and The Howland Company co-production
Rural England, 1759. Halley’s Comet burns across the sky, and a young woman is sentenced to hang. When she tries to escape the noose by claiming to be pregnant, a jury of 12 women must decide whether she’s telling the truth. First produced in 2020 at London’s National Theatre, The Welkin is a courtroom drama about justice, duty, and righteous dissent.
Octet
Written and composed by Dave Malloy
Directed by Chris Abraham
September 9 – October 12, 2025
Streetcar Crowsnest (Guloien Theatre)
A Crow’s Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre, and Musical Stage Company co-production
From the composer of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 comes Octet, previously produced off-Broadway. In a tech-obsessed support group, eight Internet addicts grapple with everything from doom scrolling to Candy Crush to conspiracy theories. The Canadian premiere production features Alicia Ault, Damien Atkins, Andrew Broderick, Ben Carlson, Hailey Gillis, Zorana Sadiq, and Jacqueline Thair.
The Veil
Written by Keith Barker and Thomas Morgan Jones
Directed by Helen Juvonen
September 17 – October 12, 2025
Streetcar Crowsnest (Studio Theatre)
A Thought for Food Theatre production in association with Crow’s Theatre and Guild Festival Theatre
When a high-powered lawyer inherits a sinister curse, every terrible deed he’s ever committed stirs to life. A world premiere inspired by Edgar Allan Poe.
The Christmas Market
Written by Kanika Ambrose
Directed by Philip Akin
November 4 – November 30, 2025
Streetcar Crowsnest (Studio Theatre)
A b current Performing Arts production in association with Crow’s Theatre and Studio 180 Theatre
Far from home, three Caribbean migrant workers carve out a sense of belonging in an unfamiliar, and often unforgiving, landscape. In the quiet moments between shifts, they discover unexpected friendship, forging unshakable bonds through their humour, grit, and shared determination to survive their first Canadian winter. A world premiere.
Narnia
Adapted and directed by Fiona Sauder
Music and lyrics by Landon Doak
November 18 – December 28, 2025
Young Centre for the Performing Arts (Baillie Theatre)
A Crow’s Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre, and Bad Hats Theatre co-production
In a snowy world held captive by a powerful witch, four children — Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter — tumble through an ordinary wardrobe and discover that imagination, loyalty, and courage can defy even the most fearsome of foes. This musical based on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe premiered at Manitoba Theatre for Young People in 2023; its Toronto cast features Belinda Corpuz, Landon Doak, Sierra Haynes, Matthew Joseph, Matt Pilipiak, Jonathan Tan, and Amaka Umeh.
Rogers v. Rogers
Adapted for the stage by Michael Healey
Directed by Chris Abraham
December 2 – December 28, 2025
Streetcar Crowsnest (Guloien Theatre)
A Crow’s Theatre production
Telecom tycoon Ted Rogers built an empire turning Canada’s airwaves into cash. Now his son Edward is fighting for control of the family business. This world premiere stars Tom Rooney, and is based on Alexandra Posadzki’s Rogers v. Rogers: The Battle for Control of Canada’s Telecom Empire.
Pu Songling: Strange Tales
Adapted by Dean Gilmour, Michael Man, John Ng, Rosie Simon, Michele Smith, Jovanni Sy, Diana Tso, Lindsay Wu, and Jeff Yung
Directed by Michele Smith
January 13 – February 1, 2026
Streetcar Crowsnest (Studio Theatre)
A Theatre Smith-Gilmour production in association with Crow’s Theatre
The supernatural tales of 17th-century Chinese writer Pu Songling have engaged audiences for centuries. In a new adaptation, the enduring Theatre Smith-Gilmour brings them to life.
Summer and Smoke
Written by Tennessee Williams
Directed by Paolo Santalucia
February 3 – March 1, 2026
Streetcar Crowsnest (Guloien Theatre)
A Crow’s Theatre and Soulpepper Theatre co-production in association with Birdland Theatre
In a small town, under the wings of an angel, minister’s daughter Alma Winemiller meets John Buchanan, the reckless and intoxicating doctor next door. A rarely staged Tennessee Williams offering featuring bahia watson and Dan Mousseau.
The Surrogate
Written by Mohsin Zaidi
Directed by Christopher Manousos
February 24 – March 22, 2026
Streetcar Crowsnest (Studio Theatre)
A Here For Now Theatre production in association with Crow’s Theatre, House + Body, and b current Performing Arts
Jake and Sameer have spent years preparing for the birth of their first child. But when Marya, their surrogate, is admitted to hospital with complications, legal, ethical, and personal battles force the couple to confront questions they never expected. The debut drama from Mohsin Zaidi, author of the memoir A Dutiful Boy, featuring Fuad Ahmed, Thom Nyhuus, and Antonette Rudder.
Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary
Written by Erin Shields
Directed by Ellen McDougall
April 7 – May 3, 2026
Streetcar Crowsnest (Guloien Theatre)
A Crow’s Theatre production
Four women emerge from the desert, each bearing the name Mary. As history folds in on itself, they raise their voices in a story of faith, sacrifice, and rebellion. Featuring Vivien Endicott-Douglas, Michelle Monteith, Sabryn Rock, Nancy Palk, and Amaka Umeh.
The Division
Written and directed by Andrew Kushnir
April 21 – May 10, 2026
Streetcar Crowsnest (Studio Theatre)
A Project: Humanity production in association with Crow’s Theatre and Pyretic Productions
After publishing a eulogy for his renowned watchmaker grandfather in a national newspaper, Andrew is confronted by an accusation in the comments section. The charge sends him on a 19,000-kilometre journey through Ukraine and other parts of Europe with daunting questions. Retracing his grandfather’s footsteps as a soldier and immigrant, he unearths a family mythology that has astonishing implications for the present.
Primary Trust
Written by Eboni Booth
Directed by Cherissa Richards
May 26 – June 21, 2026
Streetcar Crowsnest (Guloien Theatre)
A Crow’s Theatre and the Grand Theatre co-production
The winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Primary Trust follows 30-something Cranberry Lake local Kenneth, who finds himself adrift after unexpectedly losing his longtime job at a bookstore. Stuck in self-doubt, he drowns his worries in cheap Mai-Tais and quality time with his best friend Bert. But when a kind waitress named Corrina mentions a job lead, Kenneth seizes the chance for a fresh start.
Crow’s Theatre is an Intermission partner. Learn more about Intermission’s partnership model here.
Liam Donovan
Liam is Intermission’s senior editor. He lives in Toronto. His Substack newsletter is available at loamdonovan.substack.com.
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