Bronwyn Steinberg

After 20 long months, the Great Canadian Theatre Company announces their five-show 2021–22 season, along with a slate of additional programming.

This week in the Future of Ottawa series, we’re taking a deep dive into Ottawa’s theatre scene—what it’s like now and where it’s headed. Read on for a guest post from Bronwyn Steinberg on the future of indie theatre in Ottawa.

Some playwrights are ahead of their time. Among them is Vishesh Abeyratne, the Ottawa-based playwright who began tackling complex intersections of systemic racism, class, and gender… in a play.

Nell Gwynn is playing at The Gladstone Theatre until June 8.

Barb Popel: “Fine performances from four talented actors… A polished production.”

“Kilpatrick peppers her intimately personal stories with humour and pathos that draws the audience into her world and the diverse personalities of her dogs.”

Raising Stanley / Life With Tulia is the Great Canadian Theatre Company until August 5. The show describes the journey from puppy to working guide dog for the blind using storytelling, painting and video.

Barbara Popel: Three Sisters Theatre Company seem to have a knack for picking good female-centric plays by female playwrights, as they’ve returned to The Gladstone with Miss Shakespeare (book and lyrics by Tracey Power, music co-written with Steve Charles).

The indie theatre series runs from April 19 to May 6 at Arts Court Theatre (2 Daly Ave).

Barbara Popel: “It’s rare for a play to have neither empathetic nor sympathetic characters.”

The inaugural show of the 2015-16 TACTICS series comprises two pieces that, though quite different, artistic director and series curator Bronwyn Steinberg sees as likely to appeal to the same type of audience. Both tackle experiences that, though age old, are at the forefront of contemporary life: mental illness and the street harassment women face […]

130 minutes (including one intermission) / Drama | Parental Guidance The striking first impression of this production is how good the casting is. Robin Guy, Shawna Pasini and Cindy Beaton are immediately believable as sisters Agnes, Theresa and Louise. The MacKeigan sisters (hard-drinking actress Agnes, teetotaling nun Theresa and television-addicted, unemployed Louise) are gathered in […]