Stage Door News

Toronto: “First Métis Man of Odesa” has its world premiere in Toronto March 31

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Punctuate! Theatre is excited to announce the world premiere of First Métis Man of Odesa in Toronto. First Métis Man of Odesa runs March 30 - April 8, 2023 (opening March 31) at The Theatre Centre.

First Métis Man of Odesa is a love story. A love story about a couple. A love story about Ukraine. This love story spans continents, a pandemic, war, the beauty and challenges of bridging cultural divides and the challenges of understanding a partner’s background. This is a true story that is still unfolding.

First Métis Man of Odesa is written and performed by Métis playwright and Punctuate! Artistic Director, Matthew MacKenzie (as playwright: Dora Award-winning Bears, After the Fire, The Particulars) and Mariya Khomutova (as actor: Odessa Film Festival’s Grand Prix - The Golden Duke award-winner NONNA, Two People), who drew from their real life love story in this new work, for which they also star.

In First Métis Man of Odesa, Matt and Masha’s love spans continents, but distance can’t tame their passionate connection. After meeting on a theatre research trip in Kyiv, a Métis Playwright and a Ukrainian artist spark up a romance that takes them from the beaches of the Black Sea to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, through the onset of a global pandemic and the eruption of a brutal war, plus many moments of joy through it all including marriage and the birth of their son.

During the height of the lockdown in 2021, an initial version of this piece was presented as a radio play at Factory Theatre, written by MacKenzie and directed by Nina Lee Aquino. This March, First Métis Man of Odesa makes its on stage debut and offers a continuation of the initial story told in the radio play. In this live on stage world premiere, the piece offers the joy of a romantic comedy juxtaposed with an epic, international love story, where life’s everyday developments are set against the backdrop of the life-altering global events of the last few years - namely, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and COVID-19 pandemic.

The on stage debut of this sweeping work is directed by Lianna Makuch (as playwright and actor: Pyretic Productions/Punctuate!’s Barvinok, as playwright: Alina).

Following the world premiere in Toronto, First Métis Man of Odesa will appear at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, The Cultch in Vancouver and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg.

First Métis Man of Odesa is in Toronto for its world premiere run from March 30 - April 8, 2023 (opening March 31). To purchase tickets, please visit theatrecentre.org

First Métis Man of Odesa (World Premiere)

Written & Performed by Matthew MacKenzie & Mariya Khomutova

Directed by Lianna Makuch

March 30 - April 8, 2023 (opening March 31)

Franco Boni Theatre @ The Theatre Centre

Matt and Masha’s love spans continents, but distance can’t tame their passionate connection. After meeting on a theatre research trip in Kyiv, a Canadian Playwright and a Ukrainian artist spark up a romance that takes them from the beaches of the Black Sea to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, through the onset of a global pandemic and the eruption of a brutal war, plus many moments of joy through it all including marriage and the birth of their son.

A World Premiere from the creator of the critically acclaimed play, Bears. Based on actual events, this captivating real-life love story is set against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Award-winning playwright Matthew MacKenzie joins forces with his wife, award-winning Ukrainian actress Mariya Khomutova, to tell the story of their COVID courtship and share an intimate perspective on the personal impacts of the war in Ukraine.

PUNCTUATE! THEATRE

Punctuate! Theatre is a Dora and Sterling Award winning theatre company based in Edmonton. Led by Artistic Director Matthew MacKenzie, our company endeavors to create accessible, relevant and subversive theatre that entertains and provokes thought amongst diverse audiences.

www.punctuatetheatre.com.