As we edge closer to a new normal, a powerful sense of hope is surging. To celebrate each step we take, NAC English Theatre is bringing together some of the country’s most inventive artists to create and perform innovative new works with Grand Acts of Great Hope. These acts will inspire and embolden audiences for the brave new world facing us post-pandemic. 

Following the success of Grand Acts of Theatre, Grand Acts of Great Hope will continue the NAC’s investment in the creation of ambitious new work from artists across the country, delivering performances safely in front of local audiences and later shared online. The hope is these works will help prepare us for the safe return when audiences and artists can once again share space together. 

NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Jillian Keiley has once again teamed up with Sherry J Yoon, Artistic Director of Boca del Lupo (Vancouver), as the Co-Curator of Grand Acts of Great Hope. Boca del Lupo is an acclaimed theatre company which creates and presents performances in unconventional spaces. For this initiative, Ms. Keiley and Ms. Yoon issued an open call for proposals, which prompted exciting submissions from a large swath of companies and artists.  

From that call, five works from locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia were chosen to be showcased for Grand Acts of Great Hope.
 
The five companies will perform their work live on location on select dates in late June and early July, in preparation for national audiences to experience the performances online later in September.

These are:

A Mid-Summer's Daydream 

The Shakespeare Company and One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre (Calgary, AB)

Across the Back Forty

Narrative Design Collective (Regina SK)

Siiye'yu 

Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolfpack) and Mortal Coil (Vancouver, BC)

First Flight

Two Planks and a Passion Theatre in association with Theatre du Poulet (Canning, NS)

Wishes in the Wind

Theatre Direct with FIXT POINT Arts and Media (Toronto, ON)