To submit an event please use the Google form or send us an email at admin@ottawaartsdatabase.com.
[ID: Poster showing Rock N' Hops Event on August 16th from 2 - 6pm at Covered Bridge Brewery in Kinburn, ON.]
August 16 from 2 to 6 PM
Rock N’ Hops Hits Kinburn This August
On Saturday, August 16 from 3 to 6 PM, head to Covered Bridge Brewery in Kinburn for Rock N’ Hops—a community celebration of music, craft beer, and good food.
The family-friendly event features live independent musicians, craft beer as part of Ottawa Craft Beer Week, BBQ bison burgers by White Pine Bison, a food truck, and even a visit from an emu and other rescue animals courtesy of Gagné Homestead & Rescue. There’ll also be colouring activities for kids and lots of local flavour.
Admission is by donation, with proceeds supporting Indie Vibe Network, a new non-profit promoting independent musicians across Ontario.
Location: Covered Bridge Brewery, 3803 Loggers Way, Ottawa, ON K0A 2H)
Cost: Free (Only for optional food and drinks)
Accessibility: Free Admission and free activities. Pay for food and drinks. Accessible to wheelchair users, no stairs, A/C.
[ID: Four performers against a black background. From left to right: A Black Bajan woman with short fro, wearing a bright green shirt and matching pants. Filipina woman with long black hair, wearing black shirt, red pants and sash. a Vietnamese woman with black hair tied in a high bun, wearing a dark blue robe. A white woman with long brown hair in a ponytail, wearing a white, Grecian-style dress. Text Reads: SPEAKING VIBRATIONS. A co-presentation with Ottawa Dance Directive. October 2, 3, 4 2025 | 7:30 PM; ODD Box | 2 Daly Ave, Ottawa. Logos of City of Ottawa, Ontario Arts Council, Government of Ontario, Ottawa Dance Directive and Ottawa Fringe Festival logos. Photos by Lindsey Tran. @understudystudio_ .]
Thursday, October 2 at 7:30 pm (Q&A to follow) - Mask-mandatory
Friday, October 3 at 7:30 pm (Q&A to follow) - Mask-optional
Saturday, October 4 at 7:30 pm (Q&A to follow) - Mask-optional
Speaking Vibrations is an award-winning, multidisciplinary performance featuring signed music, ASL song/poetry, spoken word, song, percussive and contemporary dance. Throughout this piece, four women explore their origin stories and, along the way, discover and connect with one another. This production features vibrotactile devices, audio description, assistive listening, tactile interpretation, and dynamic captions/video projections.
Location: 2 Daly Ave | ODD Box
Cost: We understand the financial barriers that artists, arts workers, underemployed persons, D/deaf and disabled artists face in attending events. As such, this event has different options for pricing to ensure that finances are not a barrier to attending.
Please note that in support of the safety of immunocompromised persons, we are having a mask-mandatory evening on Thursday, October 2. The remaining shows on Friday, October 3, and Saturday, October 4, are mask-optional. We will provide masks at the front desk if you have forgotten yours.
Tickets are priced as follows excluding taxes:
$25 for general admission
$15 for artists/students/underemployed persons
$10 for community/youth (If standard pricing isn’t a barrier for you, we ask that you leave these tickets for those who require them.)
$0 for support persons/companions (If you are an aide/companion supporting a person to attend the show, this ticket is for you).
Tickets at the door will be subject to availability and are not guaranteed. Due to limited capacity, we highly recommend securing your seat in advance.
Accessibility: This is a wheelchair accessible venue and the show features vibrotactile devices, audio description, assistive listening, tactile interpretation and dynamic captions/video projections.*
*Note: Please let us know if you are requesting the use of a vibrotactile device, audio description, assistive listening, tactile interpretation services or reserving a wheelchair seat by adding a note with ticket purchase and sending us an email at SpeakingVibrations@gmail.com.
[ID: Purple, green, pink and black text on a yellow background reads: July 16 and 17 2025; tap and jazz dance workshops with Thys Armstrong; Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 290 Lisgar St - Ottawa, ON, Room 15/16; OttawaRhythmInitiative.ca.]
July 16 and 17 2025 - 6:30-9PM
The Ottawa Rhythm Initiative (ORI) is pleased to present tap and jazz dance workshop classes and artist talks with guest artist Thys Armstrong (Decidedly Jazz Danceworks company artist and former Ottawa Rhythm Initiative Ensemble member).
DJD is a professional jazz dance company and Calgary's largest dance school. DJD is dedicated to showing respect for the Africanist roots and aesthetics of jazz dance and prioritizes the foundational elements that were developed in and by Black American communities.
Thys looks forward to returning to Ottawa to share his love of exploration in vernacular styles, personal expression, musicality, and rhythm with Ottawa’s dance community!
Who should attend?
Tap dance, Lindy hop/Swing, jazz dance community members
Classes for ALL levels and abilities, for ages 16+
Spots are limited!
Workshop classes
Wed July 16
6:30-7:30pm - Int/Adv Jazz Dance (5+ years experience)
7:30-8pm - Artist Talk
8-9pm - Int/Adv Tap Dance (5+ years experience)
Thurs July 17
6:30-7:30pm - Beginner/Open Jazz Dance (0-3+ years experience)
7:30-8pm - Artist Talk
8-9pm - Beginner/Open Tap Dance (0-3+ years experience)
Location: Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre/290 Lisgar Street
Cost: Fees*:
Drop In/Any Single Class + Artist Talk - $30
Evening Pass/Any Two Classes + Artist Talk - $45
Full Pass/ All Four Classes + Artist Talks - $60
*If payment is a barrier and you'd still like to attend, please reach us at OttawaRhythmInitiative@gmail.com
Registration: E-transfer OttawaRhythmInitiative@gmail.com with your first and last name and class choices.
Accessibility: Classes are held at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre (290 Lisgar St) in Room 15/16 on the second floor. Front door is accessible by stairs or ramp. Room 15/16 is accessible by stairs, or elevator. CDCC is easily accessed by public transit. For more info on building accessibility: https://carleton.ca/cdcc/visiting/ | Regarding class fees: If payment is a barrier and you'd still like to attend, please reach us at OttawaRhythmInitiative@gmail.com
[ID: Text reads Arts Ottawa Calling in Leadership on Cultural Spaces Shared Ground/Terrain Commun. Building schematic drawings beneath text.]
June 25 | 8:30 - 4 pm
Join us on June 25, 2025 from 8:30am (registration) to 4pm, for Shared Ground – Learning and Gathering Day, a dynamic, action-focused event uniting artists, business leaders, and creative experts. Together, we’re building a shared ground—one that values cultural co-design, community expertise, and the power of imagination in city-building.
Together, we’ll map, prototype, and model sustainable, arts-forward space activations through community visioning and participatory design. This day also launches our first Leadership Circle, calling-in leadership to identify strategies and pathways to centre artists in placemaking and city-building.
Presented by Arts Ottawa in collaboration with ArtsBuild Ontario, Memetic Media, and the Ottawa Art Gallery ACE District Initiative.
Location: Place de Ville, 300 Sparks Street & 112 Kent Street, 15th floor
Cost: Four Ticket Categories:
Regular: $110
Sponsor a Community Member : $220
Economy - Accessible Pricing (if it would be challenging for you to pay for a Regular Admission ticket): $45
Student (Current students and 2025 graduates): $30
Accessibility: Sessions are in English. A continental breakfast and a light lunch buffet will be provided. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available. Should you have other dietary restrictions we suggest you bring your own lunch and snacks. If purchasing a ticket is a barrier please contact: joni@artsottawa.ca.
[ID:Poster for "Work in Process" event by candide ꘎ media, happening on Wed, June 25, from 5:30–9:00 PM at the DARC Microcinema, and featuring a screening, Collab4Collab, chitchat, and food. The poster features event info in yellow text and a background of people socializing. More information can be found at candide.media/wip]
June 25 2025, from 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
"WIP: Work In Process" is a space for BIPOC creatives to find collaborators, share resources, and build community.
Whether you're a racialized artist, designer, filmmaker, poet, musician, cultural worker, DJ, photographer, writer, stylist, performer, producer, a hybrid of the above, or still finding your lane, this one's for you! ✨
Inspired by Skill 4 Skill, "Work In Process" is the perfect place to get you out of that creative rut, writer's block, or motivation dry spell. Bring your unfinished ideas, insights to share, and desire to learn from and with your fellow creatives.
"Work In Process" is a space where each attendee brings and leaves with something valuable, whether that's a new idea, skill, or connection.
What's on the menu?
5:30 PM | Doors open
6:00 PM | Screening: Showcasing video works by participants of the Frugal Filmmaking workshop
6:20 PM | Collab4Collab: Have photography skills but need help with copywriting on a project? Know your way around a CDJ but want to learn video editing? Need a second (or fifth) pair of eyes on your screenplay? This is your chance to present your idea / concept / project / skills and find your next collaborator, mentor, or muse.
7:00 PM | Chitchat: Join us in The Loop workshop room for food, fine tunes, and friendly conversations with your fellow creatives.
9:00 PM | Goodbyes 🥲
Location: The Digital Arts Resource Centre's (DARC) Microcinema is located on the first floor of the Arts Court building. The address is 67 Nicholas St, Ottawa ON K1N 7B9 Canada.
Cost: Work In Process is a Pay-What-You-Can (PWYC) event, and no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
Accessibility: This event will take place in the Arts Court building, which has an accessible ramp, accessible and all-gender washrooms, automated doors, and an elevator. Arts Court also offers transport chairs and walkers free of charge by reservation. Visit the Arts Court's Visitor Info page to learn more.
Here are the specifications for the chairs in the Microcinema: 1¼” foam padded seats with 3/4″ backrest, 16 x 16″ fabric padded cushion, 18” high, 300lb capacity.
[ID:Poster for Elevator Theatre Company's production of Dogfight. The design features a black-and-white illustration of a rose on the left side against a dark, textured background. Centered text reads: “A world at war. A cruel bet. A night they will never forget.” Below, the title Dogfight is prominently displayed in large, distressed font. Credits note music and lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, book by Peter Duchan, based on the Warner Bros. film and screenplay by Bob Comfort. Beneath that: "An immersive musical theatre experience" Performance dates: September 10–21, 2025 at Live on Elgin. Website: ElevatorTheatreCompany.ca Legal note at bottom states the production is licensed through Music Theatre International (MTI)..]
September 10-21
Nightly at 7:30pm (no show September 16)
Elevator Theatre Company presents Dogfight: An Intimate and Immersive Musical Experience
In a world teetering on the brink of war, a single night becomes a turning point for a group of young marines and those they encounter. At the heart of the chaos is an unexpected connection between a hardened soldier and a kindhearted waitress, revealing the transformative power of vulnerability and compassion. Dogfight is a deeply moving story of redemption, humanity, and the courage to seek connection in the face of uncertainty.
For this production, Live on Elgin will be stripped down to half capacity, creating an intimate, 360-degree immersive experience that surrounds you with the raw emotion and powerful storytelling of Dogfight. With its stirring music and an electrifyingly close connection to the performers, this is theatre like you've never seen before.
Doors at 7pm, Show at 7:30pm.
Location: Live on Elgin, 220 Elgin St #2, Ottawa, ON K2P 1L7
Cost: $25-$48
Accessibility: *Unfortunately, this venue is not wheelchair accessible. It is located on the second floor, accessible only by stairs. We sincerely apologize for this limitation.
[ID:Bright, whimsical poster against a sky-blue background features six stylized caricature figures—three women and three men—standing behind a metal railing as if on a balcony. Their expressions are varied: hopeful, thoughtful, anxious. Bold yellow text at the top reads ‘Private Fears in Public Places by Alan Ayckbourn,’ with smaller lettering at the bottom crediting director David Whiteley.]
June 18 Preview @ 7:30PM
June 19 Opening Night @ 7:30PM
June 24 Pay-What-You-Can @ 7:30PM
June 25 @ 7:30PM
June 26 @ 7:30PM
June 27 @ 7:30PM
June 28 @ 2:30PM and @ 7:30PM
Finally, an Ayckbourn play for the 21st century!
“It’s like Pulp Fiction without the violence.” – Alan Ayckbourn
"But it's more like Love Actually with brains." – David Whiteley
“Rueful, funny, touching and altogether wonderful.” – The New York Times
Written a year after Love Actually and echoing some of it's best elements, but better: where Love Actually is all heart and belly laughs, Private Fears has heart, belly and brain. Sir Alan has previously tickled Gladstone audiences with his well-known early hits How the Other Half Loves, Bedroom Farce, Absurd Person Singular, and The Norman Conquests. In this more mature work, “Britain’s Neil Simon” trades in the artifice of his earlier plays for a contemporary, film-like style as he depicts the loneliness of life in the big city. Though the style may be new, Ayckbourn’s genius shines bright as ever. With his trademark mix of humour, insight and compassion, Sir Alan deftly interweaves three stories about six Londoners searching for love, sex, and a decent apartment.
This show contains mild coarse language and sexually suggestive audio.
The run time for this show is approx 2 hours and includes an intermission.
Location: 910 Gladstone Avenue Ottawa ON K1R 6Y4 boxoffice@thegladstone.ca +1 (613) 233-4523
Cost: Ticket Pricing:
Regular: $41
Regular (65+): $37
Student/Artist/Unwaged: $26
Preview: $24
*Angel: $75
PWYC Tuesday: $5-$75
Accessibility: The Gladstone Theatre is wheelchair accessible; air-conditioned; PWYC on Tuesday
[ID:A graphic of artist Julie Fletcher smiling while painting at the studio with text that reads: "BEING STUDIO'S OPEN HOUSE, Explore Creative Art Programs" with date and time information.]
June 25 | 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Join BEING Studio for our 2025 Open House and learn more about how we support artists with developmental disabilities through a variety of arts programs. From our core programming to Tuesday evening workshops and Saturday sessions, we’re growing, and we want you to be part of it.
Location: Room 304, 211 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa, ON
Cost: Free.
Accessibility: The Bronson Centre is an accessible venue. The studio is located on the third floor, Room 304 and can be accessed by elevator.
[ID:Text reads: "The Sketchy Sketchers Comedy Show. 18 yrs + text in caption. Photos in black and white of people with a microphone graphic.]
A Hilarious Performance of Comedy Skits, Stories and Songs.
July 11, 2025 at 7 pm
July 12, 2025 at 2 pm
SKETCHY SKETCHERS
This independent Comedy Troupe is working in association with A Bunch of People Arts and Events to bring you smiles, gigles & gaffaws!!!!!!
Starring Tom Schoch, Kaitlyn Morrow, Patrick Burger, Harmony Koiter, Rick Ventrella, Sandra McNeill, Richard Bellefeuille, Jess Stewart & Amanda Burger
Stage Managed by Karen Ray-Stewart
FUN!!! FUN!!! FUN!!!
Location: At the Winchester Old Town Hall - 478 Main St E, Winchester, ON K0C 2K0
Cost: $15 a person. (18 yrs +) Call: 613 346-5064
Accessibility: Please contact.
[ID:Drawing of a forest of black, grey and white-lined trees that surround the silhouette of a bonobo monkey, seen from behind. There is a yellow gold light in the centre of the drawing. Beams of white light radiate down from the top of the drawing.]
June 13 at 8pm
June 14 at 2:30pm
June 17 at 7:30pm
June 19 at 10pm
June 21 at 2:30pm
June 22 at 6pm
"How far would you go to belong?" DNA is a dark, pressure-cooker comedy in which 10 teens live in a climate of fear and the constant quest for for safety. They find themselves caught in a situation that gets out of control. Terrified by what they may have done, one choice leads to another, then another, and… “What’s more important: the individual or the group?”
DNA: a cautionary tale with a big longing heart.
Location: LabO Theatre (enter through 2 Daly Ave or 60 Waller Street), Ottawa
Cost: $14.00 plus Ottawa Fringe Pin
Accessibility: Accessible to wheelchair users, A/C or heating.
[ID:Britannia Village Community Arts Crawl Facebook page.]
Saturday, June 14th, 2025 | 1- 4 pm
Rain date Sunday, June 15th, 2025
ART AND MERCHANDISE FOR SALE Handcrafts, wearables, paintings and prints, wood bowls, sculptures, photography, digital art, locally
grown produce, and much more.
ENTERTAINMENT FOR EVERYONE Musicians playing a variety of music - jazz, rock,
folksy, printmaking for kids of all ages, and more.
Location: Britannia Village, starting at Britannia & Howe
Cost: Free
Accessibility: Outdoor, driveways, mostly wheelchair accessible, limited shade. Pricing done by artists. Admittance is free. Lengthy route to go the whole Crawl (~1 hour).
[ID:June 14, 2025, from 10am to 12pm at Strathcona Park. The design shows colorful illustrations of kids and adults dancing, drawing, playing music, and having fun near a fountain and playground. A photo of a smiling woman points upward, with playful words like “wiggle,” “scribble,” “rhyme,” and “shine” winding through the park scene. The event is inclusive, features performers with disabilities, and encourages RSVPs via a QR code. Logos for the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Ottawa appear at the bottom.]
Saturday June 7th, 2025 10 am - 12 pm
Saturday June 14th, 2025 10 - 12 pm
Join us for a magical, inclusive, and interactive arts experience designed especially for little ones in Grade 2 and under! ✨
BOP: Bella’s Outdoor Project is a joyful, multi-arts dance performance crafted for children and their families in the Ottawa area. Kids will journey through five themed stations led with live music and a Pied Piper Dancer:
Queen and Castle,
Doggie’s Delight,
Topsy Turvy,
Fanciful Flowers
Art Creation Station
Each station features a short dance performance followed by interactive movement where children can join in the fun! The experience ends with an art creation station where little ones can view Bella's art and be inspired to make their own! 🎶💃
BOP celebrates contemporary inclusive dance, showcasing a talented, multigenerational cast of dancers of various abilities and a musician who improvises live.
Bella Bowes, a beloved dancer and educator, brings years of experience working with kids to this imaginative, participatory piece that’s all about creativity, connection, and wonder.
Location: Strathcona Park, 25 Range Road, Ottawa, ON K1N 8J4
Cost: Free
Accessibility: BOP is an outdoor event for children that is designed to be accessible and welcoming to individuals of all abilities. The event space includes a designated area for attendees using mobility aids, ensuring everyone can comfortably enjoy the performance. The cast features talented dancers, including 3 with disabilities, and the show is intentionally created to reflect and celebrate diverse abilities. Coordinated by leaders with extensive experience working with children, BOP prioritizes both safety and inclusivity. Tickets are completely free to ensure everyone can participate. RSVPing is encouraged to help us provide adequate support, materials, and accommodations for all attendees.
[ID:A photo of a conductor leading an orchestra of youth]
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 6:30 pm
Experience the magic and music of OrKidstra this spring at what Ottawa is calling the “BEST Concert!” Join us on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 6:30 PM as the Ottawa community comes together to celebrate the joy of music at our annual Centre Hub End-of-Year
Concert at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre (355 Cooper Street).
Featuring over 150 talented young musicians onstage, this FREE concert is a family-friendly event for all ages. Join us for a not-to-be-missed uplifting celebration of music and community as our young musicians share their hard work, passion, and talent
with you!
Limited street and lot parking is available, and the venue is conveniently located a short walk from Parliament Station or accessible via the 11 or 14 bus. A free livestream of the concert will be available via our YouTube channel—click here to Subscribe now!
Location: Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre (355 Cooper Street)
Cost: Free– donations in support of OrKidstra’s mission to empower kids and build community through music are welcome (tickets not required).
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible and online livestream.
For more information on the event, call 613.233.0166 or email devcomm@orkidstra.ca.
[ID: Illustration of five colourful human figures standing in a circle, raising their arms and connecting with each other.]
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 7 PM
I’m Carolina Gallegos, a Mexican theatre creator and newcomer to Canada. I’d love to invite fellow immigrant and newcomer theatre artists to join me for a relaxed gathering to reflect on creative life in a new country and connect over the challenges and joys of rebuilding our artistic voices.
Artists from all disciplines—and anyone interested in listening and reflecting with us—are warmly welcome.
Light refreshments provided
Location: GCTC Upper Lobby – 1233 Wellington St. West
Cost: Free Please RSVP to caro.gaco@gmail.com by May 26 — and feel free to reach out with any questions.
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible, step-free, light refreshments provided
[ID: In the foreground of the image is a goat holding a bucket of bingo balls in its mouth, underneath the bucket is a duck who is getting hit in the head with the bingo balls falling from the bottom of the bucket. The background of the image is rolling hills and a blue sky, with a fence across the picture and a small barn to the left. The top of the poster has text that says, "There's a Hole in my Bucket" Bingo, Beyond the Pale May 30th, BYOB:Bring Your Own Bucket".]
Friday, May 30, 2025 7-10 PM
Join us at Beyond the Pale on May 30th at 7pm for another fun night of bingo. Our Full Moon Bingo Fundraiser was such a success we had to do it again!
Doors: 7PM
Bingo: 7:30PM
Our fundraiser this month just happens to fall on National "Hole in my Bucket" Day, so we are embracing the joy and the wackiness of a celebrated children's folk song and bringing you "There's a Hole in my Bucket" Bingo! Featuring fun and silly prizes with unbelievable backstories that will be shared with you by some of Skeleton Key's very talented friends, what better way is there to spend National Hole in my Bucket day?!
Want to win some extra Bingo cards? Well then, BYOB (Bring Your Own Bucket)! Bring your very best bucket to be judged by our expert panel of bucket judges. Got a bedazzled bucket? Or a hand painted pail? Or perhaps your own holey bucket that's been going strong for years? We want to see them all! The winner of the best bucket will get 10 FREE BINGO CARDS!
Bring your cash or cards because more bingo cards will be available for purchase all evening. You can play as many cards as you can handle each round!
Bingo Card Pricing:
$5 for 4 cards
$10 for 10 cards
$20 for 24 cards
Bring your buckets and fill it up with bingo cards and prizes!
"There's a hole in my bucket, oh Liza, oh Liza"...then come to bingo and celebrate National Hole in my Bucket day!
We can't wait to see you there!
Location: Beyond the Pale (250 City Centre Ave Ottawa, ON K1R 7R7, Canada)
Cost: Pay-What-You-Choose starting at $15.00
Accessibility: We have pay what you chose tickets starting at $15.00, which includes a ticket to the event and six bingo cards.
[ID: Flyer for “Thugs Need Love Too,” a community art showcase. The title is spray-painted in bold yellow graffiti letters with pink and white paint splatter on a brick wall background. Details at the top read: “Saturday May 31st, 5PM – 8:30PM, Taggart Parkes Family Clubhouse – BGC Ottawa, 1770 Heatherington Road.” Below, white text says: “A community art showcase & exploration of love by community for community.” The flyer includes angel wings, a heart sketch, and a single flower growing from the grass.]
Sat, May 31, 2025 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM EDT
Thugs Need Love Too is a community art showcase by community, for community, happening May 31st, 2025, in Heatherington Road , Ottawa’s gem and the nighborhhod I call home.
This event is rooted in the radical idea that love—💛 as food security, dignified housing, land sovereignty, mutual aid, and affection—is not a luxury, but a necessity. Inspired by the plotlines in trap music and hip-hop that often paint love as elusive or irrelevant in the hood, this gathering dares to challenge that narrative: What if love is exactly what we need to survive? What if it’s the glue, the through line, the goal?
We'll come together to share art, food, memory, and music—a space where local artists can yearn, imagine, and build beyond survival. The evening will also feature a community-built ancestral altar 🕯️, performances 🎤, local food by Bon Goût Lakay 🍽️, and tangible resources to support wellness, connection, and care.
This showcase was born from personal grief and collective dreaming. It asks:
Who are we when we're not in pain? Who could we become if love was abundant and survival wasn’t the only goal? 🌱
Location: Taggart Parkes Family Clubhouse - BGC Ottawa (1770 Heatherington Road Ottawa, ON K1V 8T8)
Cost: $0 – $27.96 - The showcase is pay-what-you-can because accessibility matters. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. If you can afford to give more, those funds will go toward paying local artists, feeding the block, and building a space rooted in love and abundance.
Accessibility: Yes! The venue is wheelchair accessible, has washrooms on site, and is close to OC Transpo routes. If you have specific accessibility needs, please reach out — we want to make sure everyone feels safe and supported.
[ID: A poster with an image on a green background of one person's stylized head with a spiral line inside coming out in a single strand to enter a second person's head where the line becomes tangled. ]
Thurs. May 15, 2025 7:30-10:00 PM
A new play by award-winning Ottawa playwright Ron Davies, "Last Known Well" tells the story of an estranged son who returns home after a stroke leaves his lawyer father unable to make himself understood and his mother unable to cope. The reading is directed by Geoff McBride and features John Koensgen, Mary Ellis, Will Somers and Ananya Antony. There will be a talkback with the artists after the reading.
Location: Great Canadian Theatre Company Studio, 1233 Wellington West
Cost: Free
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
[ID: The words Sunset Season in large white letters, are in the centre of the image with a white square surrounding them. The background on both images is a pink to yellow ombre, with the silhouette of a sunset in the background, and pink clouds.]
May 9th - 6pm to 10:30pm, May 10th - 4pm to 10:30pm
Celebrate Tactics at our Sunset Season!
Come join us at LabO Theatre for a weekend filled with new, independent theatre created by local Ottawa artists. Celebrate Tactics by enjoying three local shows - The Coven (A Staged Reading), No More Mr. Rice Guy and Nuit, and between shows check out EXA, an intimate performance installation. And join us on Saturday at 5pm to rejoice and reflect on over 10 years of Tactics at our Tactics Tribute, a reception hosted by Jacqui Du Toit reflecting and honouring Tactics' work over the past 12 years.
Sunset Season Schedule:
*All shows take place in LabO
Friday, May 9th
6PM to 7:30PM: The Coven - A Staged Reading
8PM to 9PM: No More Mr Rice Guy
9:30PM to 10:30PM: Nuit
Saturday, May 10th
4PM to 5PM: No More Mr Rice Guy
5PM to 7PM: Tactics Tribute
7:30PM to 9:00PM: The Coven - A Staged Reading
9:30PM to 10:30PM: Nuit
Throughout the weekend, check out EXA. A ticketed performance installation that allows only one audience member at a time in this 10 minute experience. EXA will be presented in Room 1201 (60 Waller St., Ottawa) - just down the hallway from LabO!
Ticket Information:
Tickets for each show are pay what you chose between our Discount rate of $10 or our Arts Supporter rate of $20. You can also purchase our Festival Pass for $50 which includes one ticket to each show, and one ticket to EXA.
100% of the ticket sales go back to the artists.
*Tickets will be available online or at the door by cash or card.
Show Descriptions
The Coven (A Staged Reading):
The Coven is an intergenerational magical realist play set between 1800s Guyana and modern-day Canada. The play follows Renette, the first free woman in her family, as she seeks vengeance against her former master. But the curse she casts carries a terrible cost—one that reaches her unborn child. In the present day, teenage Thea is navigating her parents' divorce and finds herself haunted by that same curse.
As past and present blur, The Shadow—a ghostly embodiment of the curse—emerges through contemporary dance and ensemble movement terrorizing generations. Only Thea can guide her family to heal generations of pain and uncover a path to forgiveness - before the darkness consumes them all.
With moments of blocking, choreography, and music, this unconventional staged reading brings the world of The Coven to life, and provides a window into this dynamic new work.
No More Mr. Rice Guy:
This witty comedy tells the story of a Canadian-born high school student of Chinese descent who enters a rap music contest in the hopes of fulfilling his dreams of becoming a famous rapper. The full-length world premiere of No More Mr. Rice Guy integrates all the ingredients that worked so well for its shorter format: the humorous references to Asian culture are innocent, the dialogue is original and quirky, and Franco is as skilled and exceptional as ever in his performance, even from what is presumably his bedroom in Richmond Hill. - Review from Apt 613, Livia Belcea
Nuit:
Have you ever wanted to join in on the fun of live theatre? Now you can – with Nuit’s Heckle Night! We invite the audience to yell, give suggestions, tell their own jokes as our performers take to the stage. Get ready for a never before and never again seen version of Nuit!
Does your clubbing experience need more theatre, comedy, and choreographed dance numbers? Then Nuit is the spot for you! This award-winning story follows four queer characters as they stumble and sing their way through a night out: the cycle of partying on full, messy display. Bright lights, funky moves, deep talks and hilarious pit stops showcase themes of sapphic romance, friendship and identity. Winners of The Ottawa Fringe and the Prix Rideau Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance, this cast will make you feel like you are part of the adventure. So get ready for a night you’ll never remember!
EXA:
EXA is the fortune teller of the future– a divining machine from the end of time brought back to the modern day, inspired by the coin operated fortune-dispensing machines of the past. Enter the studio alone and have your Tarot read by the inexorable, ineluctable EXA. In just five short minutes, you can learn what the future has in store for you.
When you consult modern forms of divination, such as Tarot and astrology, what answers do you expect or hope to receive? When posed with such sensitive questions, how can diviners provide proactive, meaningful and responsible answers?
Ultimately: If you could know your future, beyond any doubt, would you want to?
Tactics Tribute: A Farewell Reception (Free)
Join us in LabO for a reception hosted by Jacqui Du Toit to reflect, remember and celebrate 12 incredible years of independent theatre. Walk down memory lane to honour all of the beautiful work and talented artists who have worked with Tactics since 2013.
Celebrate with light refreshments, snacks and good friends.
Doors: 5PM
Reception & Presentation: 5:15PM
Come and give Tactics a standing ovation with us.
Thank you for your support!
Location: LabO Theatre - 10 Daly Ave
Cost: $10 to $50
Accessibility: There is an accessible entrance from 10 Daly Ave and the theatre is situated on the ground floor. There are physically accessible washrooms across from the theatre.
Each show has two ticket prices - a discounted rate of $10 per show, and a arts supporter rate of $20.
Content Warnings for Each Show are listed below:
The Coven (A Staged Reading)
non-graphic reference to sexual assault, intergenerational trauma, minor visualization and discussion of slavery, stylized violence, witchcraft, the occult, abuse, colonialism, and horror themes
Nuit
Coarse language, substance use (drinking)
EXA (A Performance Installation)
Content warnings: Audience participation. Potential exposure to flashing lights, as well as reference to war, sex and sexuality, racism, and explosives. May contain depictions of grief and loss.
[ID: image of guest artist Soprano Magali Simard-Galdès in black dress with arms folded]
Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 7:30-9:00pm
Conductor and harpsichordist Alexander Weimann joins Thirteen Strings in a program celebrating the power and the beauty of nature. The music in this concert will represent the calm and the wild sides of nature, the sun, light and joy! Soprano Magali Simard-Galdès, praised everywhere for her clear, crystalline voice, joins Thirteen Strings for the first time.
Location: Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper St., Ottawa, K2P 0G6
Cost: $10 student to $45 reserving seating; discount for groups
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible, A/C, comfortable airy setting.
[ID:A vibrant collage showcasing the artwork seen on the Red Trillium Studio Tour. The image includes paintings of landscapes and animals, hand-thrown pottery, handwoven textiles, intricate jewellery, wood furniture, turned bowls, stained glass, and sculptures in mixed media.]
May 31 and June 1; 10am - 4pm daily
The Red Trillium Studio Tour is a free, self-guided driving tour that invites visitors to explore the studios of local artists and fine craftspeople in the scenic countryside of West Carleton, Ontario. Visitors can explore an inspiring variety of art mediums—from pottery, glass, and woodwork to painting, textiles, jewellery, photography, and mixed media.
Location: 12 different studio locations across West Carleton, ON
Cost: Free self-guided driving tour
Accessibility: Accessibility information is listed on our website. Redtrilliumst.com
[ID: White text on a dark pink background reads "Come dance with us! Classes start Mar 17." Below this text is a the Ottawa Rhythm Initiative logo. Black text in a white circle with black border reads "Ottawa Rhythm Initiative".]
Recurring Event* Mondays - 5:45pm -7:45pm; Mar 17 – May 12, No class on April 21. Thursdays - 5:45pm-9:15pm; Mar 20 – May 22
Ottawa Rhythm Initiative (ORI) Adult (16+) tap dance classes on Mondays and Thursdays in Room 15/16 (2nd floor) at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre.
We offer 5 levels: Beginner, Beginner 2, Slow Intermediate, Intermediate and Advanced. Learn about music theory, jazz and tap history and culture, and tap dance technique with teachers David Lafleur and Carole Anne Piccinin.
Mondays: Intermediate 5:45pm-6:45pm; Advanced 6:45pm-7:45pm
Thursdays: Beginner 2 5:45-6:45pm; Beginner 7pm-8pm; Slow Intermediate 8:15-9:15pm
Join our community! To register or inquire about our levels, go to our website www.OttawaRhythmInitiative.ca or email us at OttawaRhythmInitiative@gmail.com
Location: Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre/290 Lisgar Street
Cost: MONDAYS – Mar 17 – May 12 (8 weeks). No class on Apr 21 | Session fee: $160 ($20/class)
THURSDAYS – Mar 20 – May 22 (10 weeks) | Session fee: $200 ($20/class)
If finances are a barrier to joining dance classes, please email us at OttawaRhythmInitiative@gmail.com to discuss options for participation.
Accessibility: Financial Accessibility: If finances are a barrier to joining dance classes, please email us at OttawaRhythmInitiative@gmail.com to discuss options for participation.
Building Accessibility: The main accessible entrance and ramp is at 290 Lisgar Street on the north side of the building. A second emergency exit and accessible ramp is located at 355 Cooper Street on the south side of the building.There is elevator access to all four levels of the building. Please call ahead to 613-520-4401 to make any inquiries about accessibility in the building.
Go to https://carleton.ca/cdcc/visiting/ for more info on accessibility.
[ID: A promotional poster for Elevator Theatre Company's production of Next to Normal. In dramatic shades of purple is pictured a paint-like portrait of a suburban home with three people on the front steps and two sitting in the window. The poster contains the show title, company name, as well as the dates of "May 14-24, 2025" and location of "The Gladstone Theatre".]
May 14-24, 2025. Nightly at 7:30pm (no performance May 20)
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and three Tony Awards, including Best Score, Next to Normal is a groundbreaking musical that shatters expectations of what theatre can be. With raw intensity and searing honesty, it delves into the lives of a family struggling to hold itself together in the face of mental illness and loss. Driven by an electrifying rock score, this deeply emotional journey pulls audiences into the minds and hearts of its characters, revealing their pain, resilience, and unbreakable love. Next to Normal isn’t just a show—it’s an experience that lingers long after the final note.
PG-13 Content Warning: This production contains themes and depictions of mental illness, grief, loss, trauma, and medical treatment, including discussions of suicide and self-harm. It also features strong language, drug use, and moments of intense emotional distress. Viewer discretion is advised.
Approximate run time of the show: 2 hours and 25 minutes (15-minute intermission included). Estimated end time is 10:00pm.
Location: The Gladstone Theatre, 910 Gladstone Avenue, Ottawa ON K1R 6Y4
Cost: $32-$44
Accessibility: The Gladstone Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Industry Night is May 19 for artists and members of the theatre community, 50% off tickets.
[ID: A theatrical face mask with two sides. One is dark and one is light. ]
Saturday May 17th 2025 - 9:30am- 6:30pm to Sunday May 18th 9:30am- 6:30pm
Explore creativity through mask work, movement, and imagination. Open to everyone. This work helps you break past mental barriers and tap into instinctive, body-led expression. By using masks, you can step away from usual ideas of identity and connect with your true creative self. Whether you’re looking to expand your artistic range, unblock your creativity, or simply explore new ways of expressing yourself, this workshop will open doors to insights and growth.
John Beale was born in Ottawa and lived in the Glebe area until he was seven years old. His parents met at the Ottawa Little Theatre. John Beale is an established actor and theatre professor based in Toronto. He is the master teacher of Clown and Bouffon for the Humber Theatre Arts Performance Program. He is a professor of acting, mask, clown, improv and scene study at Seneca College and Randolph College, Character Study at George Brown’s School of Media and Performing Arts and embodied presence at the Birmingham Conservatory, Stratford Festival. He has been teaching publicly offered performance workshops in Presence and Clown for 20 years. John is a graduate of the Philippe Gaulier International Theater School in Paris, France.
The Kenneth Brown Community Centre located in Laroche Park has recently undergone renovations, resulting in a modern and well-lit facility featuring rubber flooring and a communal kitchen. Come join us for a potluck or meal during or after the workshop.
For questions email: alisonfestivals@gmail.com
Facebook event : https://www.facebook.com/share/1C9iv5wqcB/
Ottawa Clowning Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19sSAjqJXF/
John Beale Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbeale_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Location: 51 Stonehurst Ave, Ottawa, ON at the Laroche/Kenneth Brown Community Centre.
Parking is located the City Centre mall: 250 City Centre Ave, Ottawa, ON K1R 6K7
Cost: Cost: $339 TAX included.
$271.20 for Students OR Actor OR Union Members 20% OFF
(Full refund one week before or after credit put towards future workshops)
Accessibility: Well ventilated. Wheelchair accessible. There A/C and heating.
[ID: photo of a microphone and an audience seated behind. Brightly coloured text shows the title: Amuse Bouche Variety, masked mandatory COVID-Safer comedy. The audience decides who gets more stage time. Starts Jan 24; Arts Court]
Jan 24, Feb 22, Mar 28, Apr 19, May 17
Show: 7:30 - 9:30 pm Doors: open at 7:00 pm
Comedians bring their new (and tried-and-true) comedic material* to win the audience's affection and a chance to headline a future show! All comedic types (improv, sketch, standup, music, etc.) and experience levels welcome.
Location: Arts Court, Atelier Studio - 2 Daly Ave, Ottawa ON
Cost: $15; Discount down to $5 for Jan 24
Accessibility: Arts Court is a mobility accessible venue; COVID-Safer - This is a masked (KN-95/N95) mandatory event for the audience