Theatre Gargantua is thrilled to announce the arrival of the Sidestream Festival, a bold and immersive showcase of innovative new Canadian theatre, running August 6–9 at the Kiwanis Theatre. After a breakout debut in Welland in 2023, Sidestream is hitting Chatham with a curated lineup of daring, diverse, and deeply human stories—all at various stages of creation.

Sidestream is not your average theatre festival. Each night pairs two distinct performances of new Canadian theatre, many being presented to an audience for the first time. This bold collection of new works promises to challenge, entertain, and inspire.

• OPENING NIGHT – AUGUST 6: Global Stories, Local Truths

Witness the world premiere reading of Mirrors, a multilingual epic by Dora Award winner Nabil Traboulsi told in French, Arabic, and English. From Nazi-occupied France to modern-day Gaza and a speculative Turtle Island of the future, Mirrors spans a century and three continents, exploring how language, war, and identity shape our empathy—and our survival. Subtitled in English, this poetic journey is haunting and unforgettable.

Paired with it is the moving, music-infused Memories: Voices from the Trojan Horse, created by Cynthia Grant with musical direction by Marcelo Puente. A heartfelt reunion of artists from the iconic 1970s Toronto Danforth coffeehouse, The Trojan Horse. This performance weaves a tapestry of poetry, politics, and cross-cultural solidarity that was formed when Chilean musicians fleeing the Pinochet coup joined with Greeks in exile from the Junta to form the legendary music group Compañeros. From a time once championed by Pablo Neruda and Mikis Theodorakis, this performance is a tribute to resistance and radical joy.

 • AUGUST 7: Humour, Heart, and Healing

Chula, by Alexandra Lainfiesta and presented in association with Vancouver-based rice&beans theatre, is a bilingual, high-energy, 1980s-infused solo show about Aria, a classical singer caught between English and Spanish, Canada and Guatemala, generations and expectations. Packed with humour, heart, and throwback flair, Chula is a joyful ode to cultural reclamation and familial healing.

Sharing the spotlight is (Un)Fruitful, a raw and riotous comedy about the hilarity and heartbreak that come with trying to become pregnant. Created by Dora and Canadian Comedy Award-winning artist Heather Marie Annis and directed by Aurora Browne (CBC TV’s Baroness von Sketch Show), this fearless work-in-progress dares to ask: what happens when “trying” becomes really trying?

 • AUGUST 8: Breaking Up & Elbows Up

Baggage follows exes Hannah and Marley dividing their belongings while they also unpack the fragments of their relationship and what it means to be modern-day lesbians navigating loss. Written by Marijke Reinink, the work uses the delicate art of shadow play to explore queerness, heartbreak, and the emotional archaeology of a shared apartment.

Both Sides Now, presented in association with Amplified Opera, brings together opera singer Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野 and pianist David Eliakis for an evening of Canadian songs that have been reimagined through their experiences as classical musicians. This magical evening of melodies will ignite nostalgia from coast to coast to coast, including legendary artists like Joni Mitchell, Jane Siberry, k.d. lang, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Anne Murray, Sarah MacLachlan, and more, all woven together with personal anecdotes by the performers themselves.

 • AUGUST 9: Glam, Guts & Opera Like You’ve Never Seen It

The final night kicks off with Lucky Bastard, a cabaret-styled performance starring the unpredictable Mr. B—your charming, chaotic host. With songs, laughs, and maybe even a tear or two, this bold new work by Breton Lalama (with pianist John Alcorn and director Daniel MacIvor) invites audiences to toast to life’s messiness and magic.

The grand finale is The Queen In Me by Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野 (they/them)—a sensational operatic rebellion co-produced by Canadian Opera Company, Amplified Opera, Nightwood Theatre, and Theatre Gargantua. With arias from The Magic Flute, Rigoletto, Madama Butterfly, and more, this powerful solo show breaks the fourth wall to challenge the outdated norms of race, gender, and sexuality in opera. Fresh off international acclaim, this is a celebration of voice, vision, and virtuosity.

Tickets on sale now!

Single-night tickets: $33

Full Festival Pass (all 4 nights): $80

Buy online at theatregargantua.ca or call 519-354-8338.