Frontmezzjunkies reports: Paolo Santalucia’s inaugural season blends classics, premieres, and Canadian voices into a year of theatre that reaches outward and inward at once
By Ross
It took me a little while to find my way back to Soulpepper. It wasn’t part of my early theatre life back in the day when I was studying at York. My focus lived elsewhere, in other rooms, other stages, other corners of the city. But returning to Toronto and immersing myself once again in its theatre community, Soulpepper has become one of those trusted theatrical places I now look to with excitement. Not just for quality, which is a given, but for work that asks something of its audience. Work that challenges, unsettles, and expands the idea of what theatre can be.
With the announcement of Artistic Director Paolo Santalucia’s first full season, that expectation feels not only met, but sharpened into something more intentional.
The 2026/27 lineup is ambitious without feeling scattered, anchored by the idea of connection as something active rather than assumed. It brings together a mix of canonical works, returning Soulpepper favourites, strong alliances, new adaptations, and premieres, all held together by a sense that theatre is not just something to watch, but something to engage with.
The season opens with Spring Awakening, a work that has always carried a certain urgency (and is one of my personal favourites). Santalucia’s decision to begin here feels pointed. Adapted and directed by Santalucia, this is a play about young people pushing against a world that refuses to listen, about the cost of silence and the danger of repression. It is a bold way to begin a tenure, placing generational tension and the fight for agency at the center of the conversation.
From there, the season moves into territory that feels both reflective and expansive. The return of De Profundis: Oscar Wilde in Jail brings with it a production that has already resonated deeply with audiences, a musical confessional rooted in love, loss, and the consequences of living truthfully in a world that resists it. With its
original cast members, Damien Atkins, Jonathan Corkal-Astorga, and Colton Curtis, it sits alongside a new stage adaptation of All’s Well, a work adapted for the stage by Erin Shields that promises to blend theatricality and psychological unease in ways that feel distinctly contemporary.
Soulpepper’s commitment to revisiting its own history is equally present. The return of Parfumerie, directed by Morris Panych, reintroduces a production that has become part of the company’s identity, a reminder that intimacy and humour can still carry weight. That thread continues into the new staging of The Rez Sisters by Tomson Highway, a foundational Canadian work that remains as vital now as it was when it first premiered, offering a portrait of community, resilience, and the complicated nature of hope.
The middle of the season leans into the classics, but with a clear sense of purpose. The Zoo Story, starring Noah Reid and Peter Fernandes, and Machinal, directed by Marie Farsi, are not simply being revived for their historical significance. They are being positioned as part of an ongoing conversation about isolation, autonomy, and the pressures of modern life. Both plays carry a kind of emotional intensity that feels particularly relevant now, and their inclusion suggests a season interested in confrontation as much as connection.
The contemporary voice remains present through the Canadian premiere of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding by Jocelyn Bioh, a work that captures the rhythms of everyday life while holding space for deeper questions about identity and belonging. It is followed by Noël Coward‘s Design for Living, a play that continues to challenge conventional ideas of love and partnership with a wit that feels both timeless and quietly radical. I saw it in 2001 on Broadway, and I can’t even tell you how thrilled I am to have another opportunity to see this play.
Closing out the theatrical portion of the season is Closing Time, a two-part docu-concert rooted in Toronto’s own cultural history. Directed by Frank Cox-O’Connell, it feels like an appropriate ending, a look back at the spaces that have shaped the city, while also acknowledging what has been lost along the way.
What ties all of this together is not just the programming itself, but the larger vision around it. Soulpepper’s emphasis on civic engagement, from partnerships with the Toronto Star to collaborations with Hot Docs, positions the theatre as something more than a venue. It becomes a space for gathering, for conversation, and for the kind of shared experience that extends beyond a single performance.
That idea feels particularly resonant right now. Theatre, at its best, has always been about connection, but connection is not a passive act. It requires attention, willingness, and a certain openness to being changed by what you encounter. Looking at this season, there is a sense that Soulpepper is leaning into that responsibility, creating a space where those encounters can happen.
And for those of us who have come to the company from different paths, at different times, that invitation feels all the more meaningful. It is not just about what is on stage, but about what happens when we choose to sit in the room together, to listen, to respond, and to see what might emerge from that shared moment.
THE 2026-2027 SOULPEPPER THEATRE SEASON
SPRING AWAKENING
By Frank Wedekind
Adapted and Directed by Paolo Santalucia
Associate Directed by Luke Reece
September 10th – October 4th, 2026, in the Baillie Theatre
“When I have children, I’m going to let them grow up like weeds. No one pays any attention to weeds.”
A group of youth on the cusp of adulthood are schooled in rules and expectations. Romantic, restless, and full of desire, they reach for love before they understand it—aching for connection as silence and misinformation hurtle them towards irreversible consequences.
Featuring Noah Beemer, Jake Bunyan, EJ Candelaria, Jasmine Case, Jake Cohen, Raquel Duffy, Justin Eddy, Raylene Harewood, Daren A. Herbert, Anaka Maharaj-Sandhu, Diego Matamoros, Eric Miracle, Olivia Neary-Hatton, Liisa Repo-Martell, and Mackenzie Wojcik.
DE PROFUNDIS: OSCAR WILDE IN JAIL
Adapted and Directed by Gregory Prest
Original Music and Lyrics by Mike Ross and Sarah Wilson
November 3rd – November 29th, 2026, in the Michael Young Theatre
“There is no prison in any world into which love cannot force an entrance.”
Writing from his prison cell, Oscar Wilde is cut off from the world that once adored him. As he writes De Profundis—a letter to the man he loved—memory, regret, and desire crowd the silence, turning confinement into confession. Set to an incredible award-winning score, this is Wilde unmasked: lover, icon, exile—insisting that even in the darkest places, love can still reach us.
Featuring original cast Damien Atkins, Jonathan Corkal-Astorga, and Colton Curtis.
PARFUMERIE
By Miklós László
Adapted by Adam Pettle and Brenda Robins
Directed by Morris Panych
November 18th – December 20th, 2026, in the Baillie Theatre
“‘Dear Friend’, that’s how we addressed one another. No names just ‘dear friend’”.
On a snowy night in downtown Budapest, a perfumery hums with chatter, gossip, and the spark of romance. Behind elegant counters, clerks scramble through the holiday rush as a secret love ignites.
Tender, sharp, and riotously funny: Parfumerie is a romantic comedy about yearning, connection, and the leap of faith love demands.
Featuring Akosua Amo-Adem, Noah Beemer, Oliver Dennis, Peter Fernandes, Dan Mousseau, Jordan Pettle, Brenda Robbins, and Sophia Walker.
ALL’S WELL (World Premiere)
By Mona Awad
Adapted for the stage by Erin Shields
Directed by Jackie Maxwell
A Soulpepper Theatre and Crow’s Theatre Co-Production
November 24th to December 27th, 2026, at Crow’s Theatre
“The theatre is a magical place, isn’t it, Miranda?”
Miranda Fitch was bound for the spotlight until a freak stage accident painfully ended her career. Now a theatre professor, she’s determined to prove the worth of one of Shakespeare’s most mysterious plays—and herself in the process. When three mysterious strangers offer a new life, Miranda is drawn into a surreal bargain where ambition, power, and the promise of a cure come with wickedly fine print.
Featuring Maev Beaty, Sturla Alvsvåg, Danté Prince, Bella Reyes, Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah, Rick Roberts, Amelia Sargisson, and David Storch.
THE THRILL OF HOPE: A Holiday Concert
Created by Beau Dixon, Raha Javanfar, and Luke Reece
Directed by Luke Reece
Music Directed by Beau Dixon and Raha Javanfar
December 15th, 2026 – January 3, 2027, in the Michael Young Theatre
The weary world rejoices!
Before Christmas, it was a celebration of the longest night, and the first promise that the light would return. Across cultures and centuries, people have met this moment with singing, and the same instinct: to gather, and hold each other through the dark. This is a celebration of that origin—the hush, the cold, the candle, the collective breath—and the music that’s always risen to meet it.
Come for the longest night.
Leave with a little more light.
LAST WALTZ
A Docu-Concert
Created and Performed by Ben Kopp, Beau Dixon, Raha Javanfar, Andrew Penner, and Talia Schlanger
Created and Directed by Frank Cox-O’Connell
January 12th – January 28th, 2027, in the Michael Young Theatre
The legendary concert. Reimagined.
In 1976, The Band took the stage for a final performance that defined an era. Joined by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, and Eric Clapton, the night became a landmark concert and documentary. Last Waltz is our 50th Anniversary tribute to that historic moment—a full-throated reimagining of the songs that shaped a generation and changed music forever.
THE REZ SISTERS
By Tomson Highway
Directed by Jessica Carmichael
January 23rd – February 21st, 2027, in the Baillie Theatre
“When I go to the biggest bingo in the world, in Toronto, I will win. For sure I will win.”
On the Wasaychigan Hill Reserve, seven Ojibway women dream about hitting the jackpot at Toronto’s biggest bingo. What begins as an uproarious road trip becomes a life-changing journey of friendship, survival, and a fierce reminder of the dreams we dare to keep alive.
Featuring Brefny Caribou, Nicole Joy-Fraser, Grace Lamarche, Trina Moyan, PJ Prudat, Tara Sky, Star Slade, andMontana Summers.
Edward Albee’s
THE ZOO STORY
Directed by Frank Cox-O’Connell
February 16th – March 14th, 2027, in the Michael Young Theatre
“Every once in a while I like to talk to somebody, really talk.”
Peter sits on a quiet park bench on a seemingly ordinary afternoon. Then Jerry appears—a stranger whose loneliness shatters Peter’s quiet sense of the world. Edward Albee’s first major play is darkly funny, unsettling, and unforgettable, revealing how easily we misread one another—and how a single encounter can change our lives forever.
Featuring Noah Reid and Peter Fernandes.
MACHINAL
By Sophie Treadwell
Directed by Marie Farsi
Choreographed by Peggy Baker
A Soulpepper Theatre and Necessary Angel Theatre Company Co-Production
March 25th – April 25th, 2027, in the Baillie Theatre
“I am not interested in writing pretty plays. I am interested in writing true ones.”— Sophie Treadwell
From the outside, Helen Jones has a happy marriage—until she murders her husband. Inspired by a 1928 trial that shocked the world, this explosive play follows a woman trapped in an engine of routine—until she glimpses a way out and discovers the true cost of escape. An expressionist masterwork: Machinal is an electrifying portrait of rebellion, autonomy, and the fight to claim your own voice.
Featuring Evan Buliung, Charlotte Dennis, Daren A. Herbert, Jeff Lillico, Dan Mousseau, and Nancy Palk.
JAJA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING
By Jocelyn Bioh
Directed by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
A Soulpepper Theatre, Obsidian Theatre, and Nightwood Theatre Co-Production
May 13th – June 6th, 2027, in the Michael Young Theatre
“We all deserve some joy in our life”
Step into Jaja’s shop, where every braid carries a story. On a sweltering July day, this vibrant comedy celebrates five women building new lives far from home. Overlooked by the world around them, inside Jaja’s, they’re artists with gifted hands and bold ambition. Equal parts hilarious and tender, Jaja’s reminds us that everyday rituals can become profound celebrations of community, calling us back to who we really are.
Featuring Tony Ofori, Warona Setshwaelo, and Sophia Walker.
DESIGN FOR LIVING
By Noël Coward
Directed by Andrew Kushnir
A Soulpepper Theatre and Crow’s Theatre Co-Production
May 27th – June 27th, 2027, in the Baillie Theatre
“We’re not normal—and we don’t want to be”
Stylish, sharp, and unapologetically modern, Design for Living follows three artists in a love triangle that defies convention. Ricocheting between Paris, London, and New York, they refuse to choose respectability over desire. This glittering comedy is as sharp as it is subversive: love without permission, happiness on your own terms, and the thrill of living outside the margins.
Featuring Jeff Lillico, Nicole Power, Antoine Yared, Nancy Palk, and Liisa Repo-Martell.
CLOSING TIME: At the Matador
Created by Andrew Penner and Frank Cox-O’Connell
Directed by Frank Cox-O’Connell
&
CLOSING TIME: At Maple Leaf Gardens
Created by Beau Dixon and Frank Cox-O’Connell
Directed by Frank Cox-O’Connell
July 29th, 2027 – August 15th, 2027
“Last call at the music venues that shaped our city.”
Toronto is incredible at creating landmark music venues—and even better at shutting them down. Closing Time is a two-part musical docu-concert, inspired by Leonard Cohen’s “Closing Time”, tracing the shutdown notices across the venues that define our city.
ANCILLARY PROGRAMMING
THE FRINGE ENCORE SERIES
September 26th – October 11th, 2026
Toronto’s best new work—selected, celebrated
Following the success of the 2026 Toronto Fringe Festival, Soulpepper, Obsidian Theatre, Bad Hats Theatre and The Toronto Fringe will bring you a curated showcase of the summer’s most exceptional Fringe productions. These are bold, innovative works that capture the talent, creativity, and ambition defining Toronto theatre today. Each production will be handpicked for its originality, vision, and ability to spark conversation. Experience a limited engagement of boundary-pushing performances, fresh storytelling, and the voices shaping the city’s vibrant theatre scene.
TORONTO STAR LIVE
In partnership with the Toronto Star, this new monthly series transforms the theatre into a public forum for the city, a place where journalists, guest speakers, and audiences come together to examine the ideas shaping Toronto right now.
Once a month, Star journalists will take audiences behind the headlines and into live conversation about the issues, questions, and possibilities defining life in the city. It’s a space for debate, discovery, and the shared work of imagining what Toronto can become. More details to be announced this summer.
HOT DOCS AT SOULPEPPER
A new monthly series in partnership with Hot Docs, bringing visionary documentary filmmaking from around the world to Toronto’s East End. Programming to be announced this summer.
PUBLIC TUESDAYS
Every week, Soulpepper turns its lobby into a live social space: part hangout, part happening, part public gathering. Expect games, films, conversation, music, and the kind of encounters that remind you why we’re lucky to call Toronto home. Bring a friend. Talk to a stranger. Put your phone away. And take part in a new weekly ritual that makes the city feel human. Programming to be announced this summer.
