John Wamsley, Brefny Caribou, Richard Comeau. Photo: Lorne Bridgman
Three people standing looking directly into camera, wearing residential school uniforms from the 1930s. The person in the middle wears two braids with a smirk on her face, holding a thin notebook. Person on the left has short hair, wearing jean overalls on top of a checkered long sleeve collared shirt. Person on the right has short hair and is wearing a striped, collared shirt and knitted vest. Yellow text above reads, Three people standing looking directly into camera, wearing residential school uniforms from the 1930s. The person in the middle wears two braids with a smirk on her face, holding a thin notebook. Person on the left has short hair, wearing jean overalls on top of a checkered long sleeve collared shirt. Person on the right has short hair and is wearing a striped, collared shirt and knitted vest. Yellow text above reads,

1939

A Canadian Stage and Belfry Theatre joint production in association with The Stratford Festival

 
Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie.” All's Well that Ends Well 

Anticipating a visit by King George VI, an English teacher at a fictional Residential School in Northern Ontario enlists her students in a production of All’s Well That Ends Well. But her rigid ideas of how Shakespeare should be performed are challenged as news spreads, audience expectations abound and her Indigenous students start finding parallels between themselves and the characters in the play, setting out to make Shakespeare’s bitter-sweet comedy defiantly their own.

Initially produced at the Stratford Festival in 2022, 1939 was born of both family legacy and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and has been guided by Indigenous Elders, Survivors, and ceremony throughout its development.

 

Canadian Stage is offering $15 tickets to 1939 for all members of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit community. Proof of Indigenous status will not be requested.

Buy Now

 

Looking for some bonus programming to go with your ticket to Universal Child Care? We've got you covered! You're invited to attend:

  • September 26th following the 7:30pm performance
  • October 3rd following the 7:30pm performance

We've partnered with Jamii to allow ticketholders to access free childcare during select matinees.

Please note: Childcare is only available to ticketholders of the performance on September 22. 

Complimentary Childcare is currently full. Please check back later for updates. 

Select performances are designated for school matinees. For more information and to book, please contact Manuel Chaves at mchaves@canadianstage.com.

After each performance of 1939, Canadian Stage will host a Reflection Space in the form of a post-show conversation. This is a dynamic discussion guided by an Indigenous facilitator that invites audience members to join a circle and reflect on their experience of the production. Our aim is to create a culturally aware and sensitive experience for Indigenous and non-Indigenous audience members. The Reflection Space will happen in the theatre shortly after the play ends.

Reflection Space Facilitators

Trina Moyan

Trina is nehiyaw iskwew (Plains Cree) and a member of the Frog Lake First Nation in Northern Alberta. She began her career as a writer and producer for  the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and CBC television. Trina loves all things theatre and is a published playwright. When she isn’t acting she serves as a walking guide with First Story Toronto, sharing the Indigenous history of the city; is a muralist with Red Urban Nation Artists Collective; an educator at the U of T’s Daniel’s School of Architecture; and is co-founder of Bell & Bernard Ltd., a First Nations consulting firm.Trina is an award winning engagement and facilitation specialist whose work is inspired by her mother Jeanne – a residential school survivor.

Shadrak (Shak) Gobért

Shadrak Gobért is Plains Cree from Treaty 6 Territory and carries a love for sharing the Indigenous histories of Canada as a First Story Tour guide in Toronto. He found the stage during his time at university, and more recently developed a love for improv. As an engagement specialist he has worked with over 26 Urban First Nations Communities across Ontario, running programming, facilitating conversations, and fostering relationships. He has organized and facilitated community gatherings for large scale projects occurring on traditional territories and has served as the lead facilitator for public consultations for those communities. Shak is inspired by the power of story coming to life through performance and is motivated by the resilience of his family – residential school survivors.

Angel Levac (Brant)

Angel is a Cree woman from Opaskwayak Cree Nation who was adopted by the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. She resides in Tkaronto and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Studies at the University of Toronto. Angel leads the Youth Leadership Council at Indigenous Climate Action, hosting an annual  5-day Knowledge Gathering for Indigenous youth across so-called-Canada. She serves as a Kairos Blanket facilitator sharing the Indigenous history of Kanada and as an  international panellist for climate and social justice issues. She currently organizes a Youth Leaders Zine and works with notable organizations and grassroots activists on consultation, facilitation and partnerships. Angel’s work is motivated by her joy in supporting the creation of healthy relationships between Indigenous and non- Indigenous Canadians.

Sarah Chegahno

Sarah is a dedicated Anishinaabek First Nation professional specializing in community consultation and engagement, with deep roots in Neyaashiinigmiing, Ontario. Born and raised in this vibrant community, she brings a profound understanding of Indigenous issues and a wealth of lived experiences to their work. As a skilled facilitator, Sarah excels in fostering meaningful dialogue and building strong connections between communities and organizations. Her expertise in navigating complex cultural landscapes ensures that the voices of Indigenous communities are heard and respected in all engagements. With a commitment to empowering others and advocating for equitable outcomes, Sarah plays a crucial role in bridging gaps and creating collaborative solutions that honor both tradition and progress.

A moving and powerful must-see play – Broadway World
A gripping tale of heart and humanity – Stratford Today

today / oct 6

2:00pm

buy now
tuesday / oct 8

1:00pm

buy now
wednesday / oct 9

1:00pm

buy now

7:30pm

buy now
thursday / oct 10

1:30pm

buy now
friday / oct 11

7:30pm

buy now
saturday / oct 12

2:00pm

buy now

7:30pm

buy now

Director

Set Designer

Associate Set Designer

Costume Designer

Associate Costume Designer

Lighting Designer

Associate Lighting Designer

Sound Designer and Composer

Stage Manager

Assistant Stage Manager

The first production in our 24.25 season is supported by Sandra Simpson in recognition of her generous gift to Canadian Stage's Transformation Campaign.

Thank you to performance underwriters Huw Evans & Kathryn Bird, M. Fainer, and the Remembering Otto and Marie Pick Charitable Foundation for their support of 1939.

Jani Lauzon and Kaitlyn Riordan are members of the Playwrights Guild of  Canada.

1939 was originally commissioned by the Stratford Festival, Ontario, Canada. Special thank you to Shakespeare in the Ruff who, through the Canada Council, helped support the initial script development.  

The playwrights wish to thank the following for their support in the development of 1939:  

Antoni Cimolino, Anita Gaffney, Keira Loughran, ted witzel and Rachel Wormsbecher from the Stratford Festival; Eva Barrie and AJ Richardson from Shakespeare in the Ruff; Rev. Dr. Stephen Drakeford and Nancy Hern from the Anglican Church of Canada and its archives, Krista McCracken from the Algoma University archives, Rebecca Burton from The Playwrights Guild of Canada, Keith Barker, Jessica Carmichael, Alessandro Costantini, Waawaate Fobister, Roger Fobister Sr., David Mildon, Sorouja Moll, Yvette Nolan and YES! Theatre. And most importantly our Elder Script Consultants: Pauline Shirt, Shirley Horn, Edna Manitowabi, Elizabeth Stevens. 

The playwrights would also like to thank the actors and stage managers who participated in past workshops or productions; Marion Adler, Brendan Chandler, Kat Chin, Richard Comeau, Morgan Cook, Lisa Cromarty, Jake Deeth, Sarah Dodd, Deborah Drakeford, Sheldon Elter, Jacklyn Francis, Sarah Gartshore, Renate Hanson, Robert Harding, Braiden Houle, Nicole Joy-Fraser, Madison Kalbhenn, Wahsonti:io Kirby, Shira Leuchter, Cheri Maracle, Kathleen MacLean, Brendan McMurtry-Howlett, Jeff Meadows, Chris Mejaki, Lisa Nasson, Joelle Peters, Gregory Prest, Mike Shara, Tara Sky, James Dallas Smith, Kelsey Tyson, Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone, John Wamsley, Gordon Patrick White, Katie Wise and Mackenzie Wojcik. 

Also Playing at Canadian Stage

View All Shows & Events