‘The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine’ is A Hilarious Kickoff to GCTC’s 50th Anniversary Season

 The Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) is set to celebrate a significant milestone with the opening of its 50th Anniversary Season. From September 24 to October 6, 2024, audiences will be treated to a revival of the beloved Canadian comedy The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine, crafted by the talented trio

The Chemical Valley Project has the Right Reaction

 It is no secret that the theatre industry was hit particularly hard during the pandemic. As the sector begins to rebuild, attracting new audiences, particularly younger ones, will be critical. Documentary theatre is a fascinating way to do that, especially for millennials and Gen Z, who look for meaning and

10 things to do in Ottawa this weekend – April 29-May 1, 2022

 Paint Nite at Mexicali Rosa’s, Dow’s Lake When: April 29, 2022 Where: Mexicali Rosa’s Dow’s Lake, 1001 Queen Elizabeth Driveway What time: 7 pm Admission: $39 (must be legal drinking age). Click here for tickets Ottawa's original paint night is back and ready to combine painting with some margarita sipping! (note:

10 things to do in Ottawa this weekend – April 22-24, 2022

 Vintage Pop-up 613 – Parking Lot Pop-up When: April 24, 2022 Where: 298 Preston What time: 10 am - 4 pm Admission: Donation in support of local charities This Sunday, a local travelling vintage shop, Vintage Pop-up 613, will be heading to Preston Street. Vintage Pop-up encourages Ottawa residents to contribute

Daisy delights at the GCTC

 ABOVE: Marion Day, Andrew Moodie, Geoff McBride, Eric Coates star in Daisy by Ottawa playwright Sean Devine. (Photo: Andrew Alexander) While it is wonderful to be back for socially distanced, in-person live performances, it is even more phenomenal to have the chance to see our hometown theatre/cinema star Andrew Moodie back on

Sharpen your mind and soul with Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools

 Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools opened last night at the Great Canadian Theatre Company and it is an uncomfortable, unsettling, powerful, raw and absolutely beautiful piece of theatre.  It is part concert, part conversation between two women and the audience, part magical journey through the North and Inuk culture and a wonderful

Cottagers and Indians at the GCTC: Brilliant and Beautiful

 You might think that there is something comforting about seeing a Canadian production about life on a lake, especially as nostalgia for dock days and warm summer afternoons sets in as the cold winds of December arrive. However, as the play begins you are immediately confronted with difficult issues on

Game of Thrones Eat your Heart out: Don’t Miss the GCTC’s The Virgin Trial

 All photos by Andrew Alexander Game of Thrones, eat your heart out. Canadian Playwright Kate Hennig’s Tudor trilogy is proving to be spectacularly more satisfying that the tv show for political intrigue, suspense and thrills. Incredibly, it is all based on history. The season opener for the Great Canadian Theatre Company is

Welcome to the Dolls’ House

 “I must stand on my own two feet if I'm to get to know myself and the world outside.” – A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen They may go by the name of dolls, but don’t be fooled – these women are no playthings. This Saturday, May 12th from 6:00-9:00

Ordinary Days Extraordinary at GCTC!

 Ordinary Days… is exactly that, an ode to the every day and some of the challenges of love, living life day-to-day and dealing with just run of the mill life frustrations.  Well, except for one thing, it is put to music and the music and tunes are anything but ordinary.

Girl Power in 2017/18 at the GCTC

 The GCTC unveiled its 2017-18 theatre season and it promises to be fantastic with a wide variety of theatrical offerings. Hometown favourites, an adult-only dating adventure, millennial comedies, and a full-blown musical are just a sample of what’s being offered. Here is the short version of the season: Rebecca Northan’s

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams: A Theatrical Dream

 Photos by Victoria Wells With Canada’s  150th birthday fast approaching, it seems like a fitting time to brush up on some Canadian history in a highly creative and entertaining fashion.  While Joey Smallwood is not an uncommon name and certainly the fact that Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949 is another

Tap into Trudeau with Trudeau Stories

 Photo credits:  Kelly Clipperton The year was 1985, she, a second-year theatre school student at the National Theatre School in Montreal and he, Canada’s 15th charismatic, charming Prime Minister. They meet at a gala fundraiser, share a dance and begin an improbable friendship that lasted 15 years. The play is

Kick Ass Kate: Don’t Miss The Last Wife

 She was strong, courageous, smart and, unlike what some historians would have you believe, she was beautiful and fashionable to boot. An ambitious political dynamo, she managed to wield power with a good head on her shoulders, one which she managed to keep--- no small feat being married to King

Let The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble draw you in

 At last week’s opening night of the GCTC’s current production, The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble, by Beth Graham, Artistic Director Eric Coates stated that plays are meant to stir the soul and heart and make you think. I am paraphrasing of course but it’s true and this is one

Upcoming GCTC Season Showcases Local Talent

 Since 2012, artistic director Eric Coates has been bringing his unique artistic vision to the Great Canadian Theatre Company. With some innovative and interesting partnerships just announced for the Theatre’s upcoming season, it’s safe to say that Coates’ leadership is leading the GCTC into new and exciting territory. Coates’ first

The Undercurrents Festival Showcases Innovation in Contemporary Independent Theatre

 Sarah Waisvisz in Monstrous. Photo by Christopher Snow. The undercurrents theatre festival is well-known in Ottawa for bringing socially and politically relevant, contemporary independent plays to the stage.  The festival, which started at GCTC and moved to Arts Court in 2015, has cultivated a history of originality throughout its six

Ho! Ho! Head to the Theatre!

 A scene from Anne and Gilbert, The Musical. Photo courtesy of the NAC.  Christmas is always a great time to grab the kids and head to the theatre for a family outing.  There are two shows on in Ottawa right now that fit the bill perfectly. Anne and Gilbert, The Musical

Get Your Politics On With Generous at the GCTC

 All photos courtesy of Pascal Huot The Great Canadian Theatre Company is opening its season with a solid hit of political theatre. Generous, by award-winning Canadian playwright Michael Healey, is a great play to see at any time, but it’s a special treat during an election campaign. Generous at first

9th Hour Brings Comedy and Conflict to the Stage

 Above: Johnny Eaton, Mary Beth Pongrac, David Plouffe, George Dutch, Benoit Trudel, Robin Guy. Photo credit: Andre R. Gagne. The Ottawa premiere of Arthur Miller’s The Creation of the World and Other Business is here! 9th Hour Theatre Company is bringing this thought-provoking production to the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre from July

Let Propeller Take You to New Heights

 Above: (left to right) Liz Winkelaar, Rob Chartier, Moni Hoffman, Julia Gutsik, Jessie Huggett Photo by Erica Ferrarin.   Dancer Sylvain Bouchard in rehearsal for Flesh and Spokes. Photo Guillaume Grau. While the Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) on Wellington Street offers up phenomenal, eclectic theatre productions every year, it also

Take a stroll in Moss Park

 Photo: Mark Halliday Any play by Canadian playwright George F. Walker is a satisfying theatre experience. Sometimes disturbing, funny, moving or sad—sometimes all at the same time. Walker’s work is always thought provoking and entertaining. Last year, the Great Canadian Theatre Company’s season included the hilariously brilliant moral-questioning Walker comedy,

Get Great Vision from Fish Eyes at the GCTC

 Beyoncé, eat your heart out. When it comes to shaking your booty and making the moves on the dance floor, there is nobody like Anita Majumdar. Majumdar, the star, playwright and choreographer of the current double bill at the GCTC, Fish Eyes and Boys with Cars, has Beyoncé beat by

GCTC’s 40 Seasons Strong and Just Getting Stronger…

 photo credit: GCTC/Andrew Alexander As  the GCTC celebrates its 40th season, it once again proves it is on the cutting edge of thought-provoking, hard-hitting, fantastic Canadian theatre.  The GCTC chose a whopper of a play to open its 2014-2015 season, The Boy in the Moon, by Emil Sher. Based on

The GCTC’s The Burden of Self Awareness … Is Anything But A Burden

 Adultery, prostitution, murder, corruption: it has it all.  While it sounds like the latest episode of Game of Thrones, it isn’t. It’s even better. It is the latest GCTC production, the world premiere of The Burden of Self Awareness, by George F. Walker .It is bold, vulgar and absolutely brilliant.