- The Belfry Theatre's 2024 - 2025 Season.
Four extraordinary plays for you
September 17 – October 13, 2024
From Alaska
By Sébastien Harrisson, translated by Leanna Brodie
Directed by Michael Shamata
“Pits the limitations of daily life against the vastness of the human spirit.”
“a play about coming to terms with identity, be it social, political, sexual, linguistic, generational, or intellectual.”
This award-winning francophone play casts us into the world of magic realism. In Quebecois playwright Sébastien
Harrisson’s unique world, time dances with the fast-forwards of grief, the slowness of healing, and the unpredictable rhythms
of shared wisdom. When a retired librarian is held hostage by a tough-talking teenager, they gradually discover that what they
have both lost is the one thing they have in common.
Francophone playwrights have a unique sensibility—interpreting the world with surprising wit and unique imagination. This play exemplifies those qualities. It is such a stunning confusion of aching need and fierce self-protection, wrapped in a magic realism that makes a mockery of time—to the point where we happily abandon ourselves to the heart of what Harrisson has conjured for us. – Michael Shamata
October 29 – November 24, 2024
1939
By Jani Lauzon and Kaitlyn Riordan
Directed by Jani Lauzon
“Bold and unexpected…sparkles and compels… does so with comedy.”
“A gripping tale of heart and humanity… a stunning success.”
It’s 1939, the year of King George’s first Royal Tour of Canada, and rumour has it that a Residential School in Northern Ontario is on the itinerary. As the Welsh English-teacher rehearses her students for a performance of All’s Well That Ends Well for the King, the Indigenous actors discover surprising parallels between their various cultures and Shakespeare’s script—and set out to make his bittersweet comedy their own.
Jani Lauzon and Kaitlyn Riordan have crafted a play full of empathy and humour. They have found a way of addressing the
tragedy of Residential Schools that gives the Indigenous students agency and pride. And I love the surprising way in which
Shakespeare—the ultimate colonial icon—is given new vitality and significance. – Michael Shamata
February 4 – March 2, 2025
Behind The Moon
by Anosh Irani
Directed by Leora Morris
WEST COAST PREMIERE
“Heartrending and captivating…pulls no punches.”
“Tender, heartbreaking theatre.”
“Finds the beauty and the misery entwined in the search for a better life across the globe.”
Hailed as “one of CanLit’s most innovative chameleons,” playwright and author Anosh Irani takes us to the Mughlai Moon
restaurant in Toronto, where Ayub cooks, cleans, and waits for his future to begin. His father’s friend, Qadir, has brought him
to Canada with a promise of permanency that never seems to materialize. A mysterious stranger brings with him the clarity
that Ayub needs to free himself from the limbo in which he is suffocating.
Anosh Irani is an acclaimed BC playwright and author who grew up in Mumbai. His clear-eyed view of the world—tempered by
his humanity and his skill as a storyteller—makes for thrilling theatre. This story is an ever-changing dance involving three
men—all fathers—and how one of them struggles to live in hope—against all odds. – Michael Shamata
April 22 – May 18, 2025
If You Could Read My Mind: The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot
Created by Tobin Stokes and Michael Shamata
Directed by Michael Shamata
“More than any other singer-songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot personified Canada.”
“Every time I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever.”
Tobin Stokes and Michael Shamata, the forces behind last season’s Joni Mitchell event, are creating another musical concert focusing on the music of another Canadian icon— the late great Gordon Lightfoot. He was a national hero. He was a homegrown star. And now, Lightfoot’s words and music—which have caressed our ears and haunted our souls—will fill our beautiful theatre in a performance orchestrated especially for you.
Creating a musical event around the songs of this prolific and beloved Canadian hero is something that Tobin and I have been longing to do for some time. As with our investigation of the words and music of Joni Mitchell—the Lightfoot songbook provides an irresistible invitation to explore his lyrics and revel in his melodies. He was an international star—but he speaks most eloquently to us. – Michael Shamata
Season Tickets
This season, we are offering three price options. Whichever price you choose, your subscription includes a ticket to each of our four Mainstage productions.
($120 per person)
Our standard subscription price.
($150 per person)
For those patrons who wish to help offset the cost of offering pay-what-you-can tickets this season; the Belfry invites you to choose this Pay It Forward option and open the door for others.
For those patrons who are not in a financial position to afford the regular subscription price, the Belfry is pleased to be able to offer this Pay-What-You-Can option.
While we suggest $90.00 (per person), we will accept any amount affordable for your circumstances.
A $4.00 order fee and 5% GST will be added to each subscription, regardless of the price you choose to pay. Order fees go toward the Belfry Futures Fund, which supports capital improvements and ongoing stability.and
* Prices are subject to change without notice. GST / Order fees are not included in prices shown above. All ticket sales are non-refundable.
Audience Engagement
We offer a wide range of in-person events and digital activities that can deepen your experience with each play in our season.
We will send you a print version (or a link to digital version) of our magazine, Upstage. It is filled with information about the world of the play, providing insight into each production.
Our live talk show, hosted by CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie. You can watch the event live (or later) on Facebook, or Vimeo. B4Play features artists from the upcoming show, along with experts from the community.
Join the actors following the 3rd Thursday performance in the run of each play, for a casual and informative Q & A session. You’re bound to find out some interesting secrets about the creation of the production.
You can listen and download the full audio interviews from each B4Play at belfry.bc.ca/podcasts.
FAQ
Single tickets for all of our productions will go on sale August 6.
The Belfry is a contemporary theatre for an adult audience. Our plays may contain strong language and mature content. If you have any concerns before or when you book your tickets, please speak to our Box Office – they can guide you through each play beforehand.
Tickets may be exchanged for another performance (within the current season / subject to availability) provided they are being held at the Box Office or returned to us (in person, by mail, or by email) prior to the performance for which they were issued.
Contact
250-385-6815
1291 Gladstone Avenue, Victoria, BC
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