The National Arts Centre’s Indigenous Theatre welcomes you back this fall with an uplifting and inspiring third season including co-productions with NAC’s French and English Theatres.

The 2022-2023 season kicks off with an explosion of colour, culture, and controversy from Australian matriarchal powerhouse Hot Brown Honey. Running from October 12 to 15, 2022, Hot Brown Honey’s riotous cabaret is a stereotype-smashing celebration that uses wit, honesty, and feather boas to hammer home important truths.

“Our third season will ignite your spirit with Indigenous artists from the four directions, across Turtle Island and around the world,” said Kevin Loring, Artistic Director of Indigenous Theatre. “The vibrancy and diversity of Indigenous stories are at the heart of what we bring to audiences in 2022-2023, with works highlighting the distinct natures of Indigenous artists’ perspectives, territories, cultures, and languages.”

Later in October, take an intimate journey to the North as we co-present Aalaapi | ᐋᓛᐱ with NAC’s French Theatre. In this work, which is part radio documentary, part theatrical performance, hear the accounts of five young Inuit women talking about their daily lives between northern and southern Quebec. Aalaapi | ᐋᓛᐱ means “keeping quiet to hear something beautiful” in Inuktitut and invites contemplation, listening and connection. Coming October 26 to 29, 2022.

In a co-presentation with the NAC’s English Theatre, The Breathing Hole brings to life the legendary tale of a polar bear cub adopted by an Inuk grandmother, carrying us through centuries of tumultuous contact between those who honour the North and those who exploit it. The play is presented in Inuktut and English from November 30 to December 10, 2022.

“Indigenous Theatre creates the opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences to witness and participate in the work to build new relationships of trust and possibilities; to promote healing, mutual understanding, and respect,” said Lori Marchand, Managing Director of Indigenous Theatre. “We are honoured to continue providing programming which supports our commitment to artists and audiences across the land.”

A prophecy from the plains emerges in Cree playwright Kenneth T. Williams’s The Herd, coming to Babs Asper Theatre from January 12 to 21, 2023. When two white Bison calves are birthed from a genetically manipulated herd owned by a Saskatchewan First Nation, a media circus erupts. In an age of social change, social justice warriors, and social media callouts, The Herd will keep you thinking long after you leave the theatre.

From the West Coast, we present Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer, a land claim fable written and directed by our own Kevin Loring. Little Red Warrior, the last remaining member of the Little Red Warrior First Nation, discovers construction has begun on his ancestral lands. In a fit of rage, he attacks an engineer, gets arrested, thrown in jail, and assigned a court-appointed lawyer, Larry. Much to the dismay of his wife, Larry invites a displaced Little Red Warrior to stay with them. Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer runs from May 18 to 27, 2023.

As we have in past seasons, Indigenous Theatre will continue to offer community engaged activity, learning opportunities and corollary programming in and around the work presented on stage. We are honoured to be able to continue to offer $15 All My Relations tickets to the Indigenous community in the upcoming season. It extends to programming from all disciplines at the NAC.

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