The Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) today announced its 2023–24 subscription season with five new mainstage productions, through which five Canadian playwrights share their humourous, heartfelt, provocative, and playful visions of how we relate, what we mean to each other, and how much we need to be together. The theatre is also revamping its subscription options to create a more accessible pricing structure that they hope will welcome more people into the live theatre experience.
GCTC’s Artistic Director Sarah Kitz says, “Our 23-24 Season is all about relationships. All of our programming this year, mainstage and ancillary, is based around the idea of gathering; to share, strategize, seek guidance, and celebrate—because we are better together.”
Here are the five shows that make up the 23–24 subscription season:
The Supine Cobbler. Art by Trish Lindstrom.
The Supine Cobbler by Jill Connell
September 26–October 8, 2023
Directed by Emily Pearlman
The Doctor introduces the gang: The Cobbler (Wanted: name redacted), The Lover, The Dancer, and The Kid. A story about falling off the map of decency and becoming an outlaw. A contemporary female Western. A hero myth for girls.
Benevolence. Art by Trish Lindstrom.
Benevolence by Fanny Britt, translated by Leanna Brodie
December 5–17, 2023
Directed by Eric Coates
This is Gilles Jean. This is his mother. Those are his brothers. That is his friend, and his friend’s wife. This is the distance between Gilles and goodness. What will Gilles do for love?
Women of the Fur Trade. Art by Trish Lindstrom.
Women of the Fur Trade by Frances Koncan
January 17–27, 2024 at NAC
Directed by Renae Morriseau
A co-production with National Arts Centre Indigenous Theatre & Native Earth Performing Arts
Eighteen hundred and something something. A room in a fort on the banks of a Reddish River. This important history is brought to you by Marie-Angelique (a Métis Taurus), Cecilia (a British Virgo), Eugenia (an Ojibwe Sagittarius), Thomas Scott (an Irish Capricorn), and Louis Riel (a Métis Libra), under the influence of Suri Cruise and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt.
The Waltz. Art by Trish Lindstrom.
The Waltz by Marie Beath Badian
February 13–25, 2024
A Factory Theatre Production
Directed by Nina Lee Aquino
It’s the ‘90s and this is a romcom. Two Filipino Canadian teenagers—strangers to each other, but with a shared history—spend one evening with a boombox under the big Saskatchewan sky.
be careful with each other (so you can be dangerous together). Art by Trish Lindstrom.
be careful with each other (so you can be dangerous together) by Daniel Sarah Karasik
April 9–21, 2024
A world premiere
Directed by Sarah Kitz
Father and child. Aggressor and aggressed. Conflicted lovers. A care worker. As identity, power and desires shift, how can love transform us?
Complimenting these five mainstage shows will be a curated selection of limited-engagement programming. Some shows are still in development, and audiences can look forward to shows for all ages, including:
Dragonfly of Chicoutimi by Larry Tremblay
October 17–29, 2023
A Fâcheux Théâtre Production
After years of silence, francophone Gaston Talbot can finally speak again. The only problem is all his words are coming out in the wrong language. Written in French but with English words; a show that questions whether language brings us closer to the truth—or further from it?
A 100 Watt Production. Poster art by Sophie Dean.
A 100 Watt Production featuring The Youth Ensemble
May 1–4, 2024
Directed by Kristina Watt Villegas
These are teenagers. These are their experiences, their longings, their questions. Theatre of anarchy, theatre of innocence, theatre from the hearts of youth for audiences of all ages.
100 Watt Youth Ensemble member Sophie Dean created artwork to represent their piece, which can be downloaded here.
Tiny Treasures by Kevin Dyer
February 27–March 3, 2024
Directed by Hugh Neilson
A play for young audiences and their families
Here is James, a 13-year-old boy. Here he is feeding his fish. Here he is trying to do his homework. Here he is preparing his younger sister’s lunch… and getting her to school. And here he is reminding his mom to take her medication and eat. This is James, a 13-year-old boy. This is James, caring for his family.
Untitled—a new creation by Mary Ellen MacLean
Mary Ellen’s unique style of performance creation bridges physicality, voice, text, environments and objects. From her background in physical theatre, acting and directing, to her prowess on the dance floor, her curiosity, rigour, and love of the craft drive her to create new adventures in storytelling.
As mentioned above, GCTC is introducing a new subscription model this year, designed to further their efforts at becoming a more inclusive and welcoming space. Through the new Community Subscription program, subscribers make monthly contributions to the theatre and receive tickets to all five subscription series shows. The program creates a predictable, steady income stream year-round, which will allow GCTC to offer more single tickets at a reduced rate to those who need them, as well as free educational programming, bringing more people into the experience of theatre.
GCTC also continues to offer a range of accessibility programming, including reduced capacity, pay-what-you-decide, relaxed, and ASL-interpreted performances. They also offer on-demand access to things like descriptions of the shows and large-print programs. For more information about access programming and initiatives visit gctc.ca/accessibility.
