Mike Payette Artistic Director of Tarragon Theatre and Managing Director Andrea Vagianos are delighted to announce the world premiere of Behind the Moon. The play, written by Anosh Irani and directed by Richard Rose, runs in the Extraspace from February 21 - March 19, 2023 (opening March 2).

This is the newest work from the award-winning author and playwright who brought us the critically acclaimed work, Buffoon. The world premiere of Behind the Moon also features direction from Richard Rose, Tarragon’s previous artistic director, reuniting the duo after their work on Buffoon and introducing a multi-talented cast of stage and screen actors to the Tarragon community.

In Behind the Moon, Irani introduces a deeply resonant new work brimming with the roller coaster of emotions wrapped up in the immigrant experience. This haunting tale of loneliness, hope and resilience gives audiences a glimpse of Ayub’s life as a new Canadian as he moves through finding community, letting go of what’s past and finding a way forward.

"It's been several years since Anosh Irani’s Buffoon electrified the Tarragon stage, and we are so thrilled to welcome him back with this poetic and ultimately personal world premiere,” notes Artistic Director Mike Payette.

Payette reflects further, “Guided by themes of immigration and isolation, this compelling story is uplifted by the pursuit of brotherhood when family connection seems so far away. Deeply powerful, Behind the Moon speaks to the complexities of new experiences in Canada and the challenges of building a bridge that honours the past while encouraging a dream for the future.”

Behind the Moon is written by award-winning author and playwright Anosh Irani (Buffoon, The Men in White, Bombay Black) and features Ali Kazmi (Tarragon debut, Crow’s Theatre’s Uncle Vanya, Beeba Boys, The Dependables, “Funnny Boy”), Husein Madhavji (Tarragon debut, Soulpepper’s Art, Factory Theatre’s The Men in White, “Call Me Fitz,” “Saving Hope”) and Vik Sahay (Tarragon debut, Soulpepper’s Nathan the Wise and Hamlet, Nightwood Theatre’s Mango Chutney, Amal, “Chuck”). 

With set and costume design by Michelle Tracey (Tarragon’s The Summoned, Studio 180 & Mirvish’s Indecent, Soulpepper’s Wedding at Aulis), lighting design by Jason Hand (Tarragon’s Hamlet, Immersive Van Gogh, Young People’s Theatre’s Mary Poppins), associate lighting design by Echo Zhou (Tarragon’s My Sister’s Rage, Theatre Passe Muraille and Music Picnic’s The Year of the Cello, Thousand Island Playhouse’s Every Brilliant Thing), sound design by Thomas Ryder Payne (Tarragon’s Redbone Coonhound, Hamlet, Mustard, Aluna Theatre’s Madre) and fight direction by John Stead (Tarragon debut, “Dark Matter,” The Waking). With direction by Richard Rose (Tarragon’s Orestes, Buffoon, The Message, Hamlet) and associate direction by Deivan Steele (Tarragon debut, Bad Hats’ Princess Frownsalot, Shakespeare in Action’s 3Tempests, Shakespeare by the Sea’s Hamlet).

Behind the Moon runs in the Extraspace, February 21 - March 19, 2023, opening on March 2. Behind the Moon will also be available digitally from March 14 - May 31, 2023 as part of Tarragon Theatre’s “Chez Vous” subscription, offering fully realized recordings of the performances in the 2022/23 season.

Tarragon will continue to require masking in the Theatre for the protection of our artists and patrons.

For tickets visit www.tarragontheatre.com.