It’s a special season for Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe as they celebrate 35 years of performance at Ben Franklin Place in Ottawa’s west end. This season, the theatre showcases never-before-featured-genres in a jam-packed calendar. The diverse lineup of performances has something for everyone, with family shows, comedy, music, and drag entertainment on the schedule through the rest of 2023 and spring 2024.
When asked about the lineup’s diversity and if any shows had a special significance, the theatre’s artistic producer and manager Allan Sansom said:
Tegan and Sara. Photo by Elise Coates.
“Some of the shows we think might be really special this season are Tegan and Sara with their Not Tonight Tour, playing their If Not Now album acoustically, plus other songs from their whole oeuvre. [Plus] Big Sugar [and] The Trews. It’s amazing to see such large-scale artists in an intimate theatre. Our local legends The Cooper Brothers celebrate their 50th anniversary and they’ll be bringing along special guests for this party. Legendary Downchild Blues Band will be joined by Natalie MacMaster. Tynomi Banks’s show will be a real fun one to catch. Walking Through The Fire will be a multimedia performance bringing together Indigenous collaboration with Sultans of String. For families, ERTH’s Dinosaur Zoo will definitely be a one-of-a-kind show to bring your little one to to inspire awe and wonder, and Jungle Book is a storytelling masterpiece.”
Sansom added the theatre is very excited to announce that Tynomi Banks (well-known from Canada’s Drag Race) will be its first-ever drag performance. The drag queen performs in Ottawa on Feb. 8, 2024.
Tynomi Banks. Photo by Matt Barnes.
After 35 years in the community, Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe continues to showcase a mix of tours from international and Canadian performers and local talent. Sansom mentioned there are quite a few local acts featured the upcoming season.
“We aim to bring in local acts to help further their profiles in the city. For example, J-W Jones is a fantastic blues musician from Ottawa. We are in the fifth year of presenting the J-W Jones and Friends show, highlighting a number of local musicians,” he said. “This year we also have Pierre Brault, with his play Will Somers: Keeping Your Head. He is a fantastic Ottawa actor with amazing shows to his name.”
Ill-Abilities is another performance expected this season at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe. Photo provided by Ill-Abilities.
Sansom said the theatre is also a great local resource as it has been available to rent by groups such as Orpheus Musical Theatre and Suzart. He also highlighted an evening of Afro-house music with JUICE: Season 2 featuring local performers Ok Naledi, Jessie Simmons, and Taapz.
If you’re thinking about catching a few shows at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, don’t wait to get your tickets! Sansom tells us that Tegan and Sara are almost sold out already, and he expects several other shows to sell out including The Cooper Brothers, The Debaters, Just for Laughs, Big Sugar, and The Trews.
To view the whole lineup and purchase tickets visit meridiancentrepointe.com. To keep up to date with Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to their email list. Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe is walking distance from Baseline station and Algonquin College. The theatre is fully accessible and offers accessible tickets and companion tickets by calling 613-580-2700. They also list details on accessibility and available accommodations on their website.
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