Punctuate Theatre’s Dora-Award winning production of First Métis Man of Odesa is back in Toronto, this time as part of Soulpepper Theatre Company’s current season. Directed by Lianna Makuch, this thrilling love story about writers and performers Matthew MacKenzie and Mariya Khomutova is simultaneously a fascinating snapshot of their lives leading up to and during…
When Matthew Mackenzie and Mariya Khomutova first met in Ukraine, they never could have guessed at the incredible, and often terrifying, journey they would go on together to become a family. They talk about this, and so much more, in their play First Métis Man of Odesa, on right now at Soulpepper Theatre Company. I…
Imagine having ideas and plans so big that you simply knew you couldn’t fit them into a single lifetime. What’s a billionaire like Walt Disney to do but freeze his own head in hopes of one day being revived in time to help save the world. Lucas Hnath’s A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay…
In 1895, the great writer Oscar Wilde was charged and convicted of “gross indecency” and served a sentence of 2 years hard labour. At the end of his incarceration, they found it would be more therapeutic for Wilde to write instead of work, and so “De Profundis” was born. This stage production, De Profundis: Oscar…
The second offering of Soulpepper’s 2024 season is the moving and enthralling De Profundis: Oscar Wilde in Jail. Written and directed by actor/director/creator Gregory Prest, De Profundis turns Wilde’s epic love letter written during his final months of incarceration into a tantalizing 100 minute play. I sent some questions to Gregory about the process in…
Soulpepper Theatre Company has once again teamed up with the Stratford Festival to bring one of its most popular shows from summer 2023 to Toronto audiences. Casey and Diana, written by Nick Green and directed by Andrew Kushnir, looks at the visit of Princess Diana to Toronto’s Casey House through the eyes of one of…
The classic story of “Beauty and the Best” truly is a tale as old as time, but trust me, you’ve NEVER seen it like this! Taking the true story behind the fairy tale and giving it a bold and daring twist, Kat Sandler’s WILDWOMAN is just that: wild. Rich with dark humour, dazzling design, and…
The first time I saw one of Kat Sandler’s plays was on a whim one weekend on a visit to Toronto; Bang Bang had its first preview at Factory Theatre and I nabbed myself a last minute seat. I was blown away by the verisimilitude of her dialogue and the issues which she was willing…
The word “epic” barely begins to describe the powerful nature of King Gilgamesh & the Man of the Wild properly. Created by Seth Bockley, Jesse LaVercombe, and Ahmed Moneka, we are told the story of the Epic of Gilgamesh while exploring the modern-day friendship of Ahmed and Jesse. Directed by Bockley and starring LaVercombe and…
The final production of Act 1 of Soulpepper’s 2023/2024 season takes us to South Africa for Sizwe Banzi is Dead. Written by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona, Sizwe Banzi is Dead is a glimpse into the harsh realities of Apartheid while also proving that you can restart your life at any age. You…
A View from the Box 