Stage - The Globe and Mail

review

Othello at the Stratford Festival is an unmissable focal point of the 2026 season

Haysam Kadri’s cast is airtight, with two must-see performances at its centre

André Sills, Krystin Pellerin and Evan Buliung. Photo: Dariane Sanche.

Photographer: Dariane Sanche @ds_sanchez
Email: dariane.sanche@hotmail.com
Phone: 1-514-712-1724
Website: www.dssanchez.com

André Sills, Krystin Pellerin and Evan Buliung. Photo: Dariane Sanche.

Photographer: Dariane Sanche @ds_sanchez
Email: dariane.sanche@hotmail.com
Phone: 1-514-712-1724
Website: www.dssanchez.com

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

review

The Outsiders takes you on one heck of a ride

Ilana Lucas

5 min read

review

The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival is a frothy, flowery bit of fun

Aisling Murphy

From left, Joe Perry as John Worthing, Carter Gulseth as Algernon Moncrieff, Allison Lynch as Gwendolen Fairfax and Marissa Orjalo as Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival.

From left, Joe Perry as John Worthing, Carter Gulseth as Algernon Moncrieff, Allison Lynch as Gwendolen Fairfax and Marissa Orjalo as Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival.

From left, Joe Perry as John Worthing, Carter Gulseth as Algernon Moncrieff, Allison Lynch as Gwendolen Fairfax and Marissa Orjalo as Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival.

4 min read

Hamilton-born Caissie Levy wants to use Tony win to start conversations about motherhood

Caissie Levy, the Hamilton, Ont.-born star of Ragtime, poses with the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical trophy at the 79th Tony Awards in New York City on June 7.

Caissie Levy, the Hamilton, Ont.-born star of Ragtime, poses with the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical trophy at the 79th Tony Awards in New York City on June 7.

Caissie Levy, the Hamilton, Ont.-born star of Ragtime, poses with the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical trophy at the 79th Tony Awards in New York City on June 7.

4 min read

National Ballet School grads have big dreams for the future

Ocean Smid prepares on stage before her dress rehearsal at the Spring Showcase in May, 2026.
Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto was founded in 1959 by Betty Elephant and Celia France. The school is independent of the National Ballet of Canada but partners closely on performances and is a pipeline for dancers through audition entries.

Ocean Smid in dance class in May 2026. Smid spent much of the school year rehabilitating a hip injury.
Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto was founded in 1959 by Betty Elephant and Celia France. The school is independent of the National Ballet of Canada but partners closely on performances and is a pipeline for dancers through audition entries.
May 7, 2026
Melissa Tait/The Globe and Mail

Ocean Smid in dance class in May 2026. Smid spent much of the school year rehabilitating a hip injury.
Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto was founded in 1959 by Betty Elephant and Celia France. The school is independent of the National Ballet of Canada but partners closely on performances and is a pipeline for dancers through audition entries.
May 7, 2026
Melissa Tait/The Globe and Mail

10 min read

Yesterday

André Sills, Krystin Pellerin and Evan Buliung. Photo: Dariane Sanche.

Photographer: Dariane Sanche @ds_sanchez
Email: dariane.sanche@hotmail.com
Phone: 1-514-712-1724
Website: www.dssanchez.com

André Sills, Krystin Pellerin and Evan Buliung. Photo: Dariane Sanche.

Photographer: Dariane Sanche @ds_sanchez
Email: dariane.sanche@hotmail.com
Phone: 1-514-712-1724
Website: www.dssanchez.com

review

Othello at the Stratford Festival is an unmissable focal point of the 2026 season

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

Yesterday

review

The Outsiders takes you on one heck of a ride

Ilana Lucas

5 min read

June 19, 2026

From left, Joe Perry as John Worthing, Carter Gulseth as Algernon Moncrieff, Allison Lynch as Gwendolen Fairfax and Marissa Orjalo as Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival.

From left, Joe Perry as John Worthing, Carter Gulseth as Algernon Moncrieff, Allison Lynch as Gwendolen Fairfax and Marissa Orjalo as Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival.

review

The Importance of Being Earnest at the Stratford Festival is a frothy, flowery bit of fun

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 19, 2026

Caissie Levy, the Hamilton, Ont.-born star of Ragtime, poses with the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical trophy at the 79th Tony Awards in New York City on June 7.

Caissie Levy, the Hamilton, Ont.-born star of Ragtime, poses with the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical trophy at the 79th Tony Awards in New York City on June 7.

Hamilton-born Caissie Levy wants to use Tony win to start conversations about motherhood

4 min read

June 19, 2026

Ocean Smid prepares on stage before her dress rehearsal at the Spring Showcase in May, 2026.
Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto was founded in 1959 by Betty Elephant and Celia France. The school is independent of the National Ballet of Canada but partners closely on performances and is a pipeline for dancers through audition entries.

Ocean Smid in dance class in May 2026. Smid spent much of the school year rehabilitating a hip injury.
Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto was founded in 1959 by Betty Elephant and Celia France. The school is independent of the National Ballet of Canada but partners closely on performances and is a pipeline for dancers through audition entries.
May 7, 2026
Melissa Tait/The Globe and Mail

National Ballet School grads have big dreams for the future

10 min read

June 17, 2026

Harrison James, left, and Koto Ishihara in MaddAddam.

Harrison James, left, and Koto Ishihara in MaddAddam.

MaddAddam is a ballet of giant exteriors and seismic intensity

4 min read

June 17, 2026

Mireille Asselin portrays the 19th-century investigative journalist Nellie Bly in 10 Days in a Madhouse.

Mireille Asselin portrays the 19th-century investigative journalist Nellie Bly in 10 Days in a Madhouse.

review

10 Days in a Madhouse sets a new standard for contemporary opera in North America

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 16, 2026

TCBS_Rouvan Silogix, Mikaela Lily Davies The Caged Bird Sings Tarragon

TCBS_Rouvan Silogix, Mikaela Lily Davies The Caged Bird Sings Tarragon

review

The Caged Bird Sings at Toronto’s Tarragon is a muted echo of its 2024 premiere

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 16, 2026

jeremy jordan

jeremy jordan

Jeremy Jordan has never been to Santa Fe. But gosh, does he love to sing about it

4 min read

June 15, 2026

Melissa James and Patrick Heusinger in Paranormal Activity.

Melissa James and Patrick Heusinger in Paranormal Activity.

review

Paranormal Activity at Mirvish is a petrifying screen-to-stage adaptation

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 15, 2026

Jeff Irving as Bertie Wooster and Damien Atkins as Jeeves in Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense.

Jeff Irving as Bertie Wooster and Damien Atkins as Jeeves in Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense.

review

Jeeves & Wooster at the Shaw Festival is amusing but never fully funny

Aisling Murphy

3 min read

June 11, 2026

Hailey Gillis and Andrew Penner in Tiger Bride

Hailey Gillis and Andrew Penner in Tiger Bride

review

Tiger Bride at Soulpepper is a sexy, sinister take on Beauty and the Beast

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 5, 2026

Sara Farb performs as Fanny Brice with the Funny Girl ensemble.

Sara Farb performs as Fanny Brice with the Funny Girl ensemble.

review

Funny Girl at the Shaw Festival delivers the laughs in a post-Hacks world

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 5, 2026

What to catch at the theatre this summer across Canada

3 min read

June 3, 2026

Ben Rudisin and Genevieve Penn Nabity with Artists of the Ballet in Kismet. Photo by Karolina Kuras. Courtesy of The National Ballet of Canada.

Ben Rudisin and Genevieve Penn Nabity with Artists of the Ballet in Kismet. Photo by Karolina Kuras. Courtesy of The National Ballet of Canada.

Kismet may be a crowd-pleaser, but Emma Bovary is lacking an emotional anchor

4 min read

June 3, 2026

Paul Gross as Vladimir, Waiting for Godot. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: David Hou.

Paul Gross as Vladimir, Waiting for Godot. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: David Hou.

review

Waiting for Godot at Stratford is tedious and stark – but that’s the point

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 2, 2026

From left: Sara-Jeanne Hosie as Old Took, Michael Man as Elrond and Tim Campbell as Gandalf, The Hobbit. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: David Hou.

From left: Sara-Jeanne Hosie as Old Took, Michael Man as Elrond and Tim Campbell as Gandalf, The Hobbit. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: David Hou.

review

The Hobbit at Stratford is a middling journey through Middle Earth

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 1, 2026

From left: Mark Uhre as Nick Bottom and Steve Ross as Shylock, Something Rotten! Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: Ann Baggley.

From left: Mark Uhre as Nick Bottom and Steve Ross as Shylock, Something Rotten! Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: Ann Baggley.

review

Something Rotten! at Stratford is a mind-blowing scramble of egg puns and dance

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

June 1, 2026

Gabriella Sundar Singh in Through the Eyes of God at Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace in Toronto.

Gabriella Sundar Singh in Through the Eyes of God at Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace in Toronto.

Surprises, snubs and more snubs from this year’s confounding Dora Award nominations

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

May 29, 2026

Tom McCamus as Willy Loman and Lucy Peacock as Linda Loman, Death of a Salesman. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: David Hou.

Tom McCamus as Willy Loman and Lucy Peacock as Linda Loman, Death of a Salesman. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: David Hou.

review

Stratford’s Death of a Salesman is mournful and languid, with an undeniable Willy Loman at its centre

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

May 29, 2026

André Sills stars as the title character in the upcoming production of Othello, which opens June 19th at the Stratford Festival.

André Sills poses for a portrait in the Tom Patterson Theatre in Stratford, ON on April 25th 2026. Sills stars as the title character in the Festival’s upcoming production of Othello which opens June 19th. Duane Cole/The Globe and Mail

André Sills takes on his biggest Stratford Festival season yet: Othello and Oberon

7 min read

May 28, 2026

From left: Mike Nadajewski as Puck and André Sills as Oberon, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: Ann Baggley.

From left: Mike Nadajewski as Puck and André Sills as Oberon, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: Ann Baggley.

review

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the Stratford Festival’s best Shakespeare in ages

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

May 28, 2026

Playwright Drew Hayden Taylor in Curve Lake, Ont on Aug 3, 2025.

Playwright Drew Hayden Taylor in Curve Lake, Ont on Aug 3, 2025.

opinion

Don’t get Indigenous humour? The joke’s on you

Drew Hayden Taylor

4 min read

May 27, 2026

Dan Chameroy as Sky Masterson with members of the company, Guys and Dolls. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: Ann Baggley.

Dan Chameroy as Sky Masterson with members of the company, Guys and Dolls. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: Ann Baggley.

review

Stratford’s Guys and Dolls is a masterpiece of a gangster musical

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

May 27, 2026

From Left to right- The lead cast of five sisters— Kendra Dixon (Joy), Sophia Erdogan (Hazel), Cadence Robinson (Mary), Allie Doran (Beth) and Astrid van Zijl (Ruby) perform on stage during a rehearsal of Finding Joy at Eastside Secondary School in Belleville on May 21, 2026. /Shay Conroy

From Left to right- The lead cast of five sisters— Kendra Dixon (Joy), Sophia Erdogan (Hazel), Cadence Robinson (Mary), Allie Doran (Beth) and Astrid van Zijl (Ruby) perform on stage during a rehearsal of Finding Joy at Eastside Secondary School in Belleville on May 21, 2026. /Shay Conroy

A new kind of high school musical, courtesy of the trade war

4 min read

May 26, 2026

Marissa Orjalo as Ariel, The Tempest. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: Ann Baggley.

Marissa Orjalo as Ariel, The Tempest. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: Ann Baggley.

review

Stratford’s The Tempest is an eye-popping, imperfect goodbye for outgoing artistic director Antoni Cimolino

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

May 25, 2026

Steven Skybell in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish for The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene in New York. The revival is being brought to Canadian audiences on starting on May 25th.

Steven Skybell in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish for The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene in New York. The revival is being brought to Canadian audiences on starting on May 25th.

In Yiddish, Fiddler on the Roof embraces tradition – or traditsye

5 min read

May 25, 2026

Sepehr Reybod as Milo Tindle and Patrick Galligan as Andrew Wyke in Sleuth. Photo by David Cooper.

Sepehr Reybod as Milo Tindle and Patrick Galligan as Andrew Wyke in Sleuth. Photo by David Cooper.

review

Shaw Festival’s Sleuth is a highly spoilable thriller – and an auspicious directorial debut for Peter Fernandes

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

May 15, 2026

Thomas Mitchell Barnet in Take Rimbaud at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto.

Thomas Mitchell Barnet in Take Rimbaud at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto.

review

Take Rimbaud, a new play about the futility of art, is a manifesto in every sense of the word

Aisling Murphy

4 min read

May 14, 2026

Gabriella Sundar Singh in Through the Eyes of God at Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace in Toronto.

Gabriella Sundar Singh in Through the Eyes of God at Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace in Toronto.

Small-scale plays and musicals win big at the 2026 Toronto Theatre Critics’ Awards

4 min read

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