Plays in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and beyond—Theatre for every taste

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If seeing live theatre is one of your favourite ways to spend an afternoon or evening, check out this regularly updated list of upcoming plays in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and beyond. From comedies of manners to thought-provoking dramas, there should be something on this list to appeal to just about every theatre fan. To quote Bugs Bunny, “Overture, curtains, lights. This is it, you’ll hit the heights. And oh what heights we’ll hit. On with the show, this is it.”

Note: Did I miss a play from your favourite local company? Or do you have photos of an upcoming production that I could add to this post? Please email me! I update this post regularly to add plays as they are announced.

Come From Away, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Gananoque (September 22 to November 1, 2026)

Come From Away is based on the real-life events following 9/11, when thousands of travellers were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. As fear gripped the world, the people of Gander opened their arms. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness became trust, and gratitude grew into lasting friendships. (P.S.: I’ve seen two other productions of this Tony Award-winning musical at different theatres, and I highly recommend it!)

The Cottage, Ottawa Little Theatre (September 23 to October 10, 2026)

At Sylvia’s annual naughty weekend with her lover, her hopes for a future with him are derailed when their spouses show up with surprisingly different agendas. Inspired by screwball comedy and bedroom farce, The Cottage—a recent Broadway hit—puts the ladies in the driver’s seat.

Something Rotten!, Urbandale Arts Centre, Kemptville (September 26 to October 10, 2026)

Kemptville Youth Musical Theatre Company is staging Something Rotten!, the rollicking story of brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom. In 1595, they’re trying to revive their flailing theatre company while also dealing with the interference of a full-of-himself playwright named William Shakespeare.

Neige sur Abidjan, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (October 8 to 10, 2026)

More than 20 years after his father left Canada to return to his homeland, a young theatre student travels from Montréal for Côte d’Ivoire to meet him, armed with questions and hopes. Between the bustle of Abidjan and the silence of his patriarch, Iannicko charts a course toward a missing part of himself in Neige sur Abidjan. Authentic family photographs and excerpts from letters are projected onto screens in this dreamlike memoir. In French.

If You Don’t Know, You Wilno!, Rankin Culture and Recreation Centre, Pembroke (October 16 and 17, 2026)

Stone Fence Theatre is returning to its musical comedy roots with the premiere of If You Don’t Know, You Wilno! (I love this title so much.) The show highlights Wilno’s famous chicken supper and goings-on at the village’s community hub, the Wilno Tavern. In the play, a wealthy developer arrives in the village with plans to buy it up (the residents aren’t impressed), while a local rock band is going through a touchy reunion. Much of the music is based on Kashub/Polish folk songs sung by the late Martha Linton of nearby Barry’s Bay.

The Hollow, Smiths Falls Station Theatre (October 16 to 25, 2026)

An unhappy weekend of romantic entanglements explodes into murder in the Agatha Christie mystery The Hollow. The cast of memorable characters—many of them suspects—includes hosts Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell, lothario Dr. Cristow, Cristo’s boring wife Gerda, his mistress Henrietta (a sculptor) and his former lover Veronica (a Hollywood star), and visitors Edward and Midge. Nearly everyone has a motive for murder, but who did the deed?

Unbalanced, Constance and Buckham’s Bay Community Centre, Ottawa (October 20 to 25, 2026)

Inspired by a 1951 Ontario bank robbery, Unbalanced uses history, drama, mystery and humour to tell a story of ambition, secrets and the lasting impact of a single day. Decisions made in the heat of the moment have consequences that ripple through the community for decades. Twenty years later, key figures return to the scene of the crime, reopening old wounds and giving rise to new revelations.

Rogers v. Rogers, GCTC, Ottawa (October 20 to November 1, 2026)

Step inside one of the most dramatic boardroom showdowns in Canadian history, as Edward Rogers fights for control of the telecom empire that his father Ted Rogers built. (Meanwhile, a shrewd public servant is determined to derail the company’s billion-dollar takeover of Shaw Communications.) Rogers v. Rogers has been adapted for the stage by Michael Healey, based on Rogers v. Rogers: The Battle for Control of Canada’s Telecom Empire by Alexandra Posadzki.

Jane Eyre, Ottawa Little Theatre (October 28 to November 14, 2026)

Charlotte Brontë’s haunting novel comes to the stage in a new adaptation by Canadian playwright Erin Shields. This version of Jane Eyre is a witty, feminist take on the timeless story of an accomplished, outspoken young woman overcoming the odds to achieve her true potential.

When Sparks Fly, Studio Theatre Perth (October 29 to November 1, 2026)

When Sparks Fly is actually an evening of two one-act plays by local community theatre companies. In Theatre Night in Merrickville’s comedy, Reception, divorced parents arrive at their daughter’s wedding-with new partners in tow. In Studio Theatre Perth’s production of the memory play Smoke and Mirrors, the action shifts between a firehouse, a hospital room and a warehouse fire, and narrator Brent is hiding a dark secret.

À poils, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (October 31 and November 1, 2026)

In À poils, a production aimed at kids aged 3 to 8, three hairy, burly stage technicians start unloading equipment and ask the audience to help them. Then, a spectacular transformation takes place, revealing the gentle and colourful “unidentified furry objects” hidden behind each shaggy beast. Suddenly, the entire set opens up into a spectacular space for a concert! In French.

L’Orestie, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (November 5 to 7, 2026)

When King Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter to the gods, his wife kills him in revenge. Then their son, Orestes, takes his father’s side and murders his mother. A trial in front of Athena concludes this trilogy of three Greek tragedies by Aeschylus, which delves into themes of collective versus personal justice, destiny versus free will, and the law of men versus the law of women. In French.

Eastern Ontario Drama League One-Act Play Festival, Kanata Theatre (November 6 and 7, 2026)

At the Eastern Ontario Drama League One-Act Play Festival, nine community theatre groups will be presenting one-act plays in three, three-play blocks—one on Friday night, another on Saturday afternoon and a third on Saturday evening. You can buy tickets to single blocks or to the whole festival. Almost all of the plays are by Eastern Ontario playwrights.

Peter Pan, Upper Canada Playhouse, Morrisburg (November 6 and 7, 2026)

DuffleBag Theatre is bringing its touring production of Peter Pan to the Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg. Many kids will love the tail of a magical boy who refuse to grow up, and the children who join him in his adventures.

The King James Bible Play, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (November 11 to 21, 2026)

What could a pineapple possibly be doing in 1609 England? All is not as it seems as a committee of religious scholars attempt to translate the Bible for King James I, navigating clashing egos, royal expectations, and—anachronistically—the nature of male loneliness. Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman’s script crackles with wit, humour and heart in this Stratford Festival production of The King James Bible Play.

​The Boadicea of Britannia Street, Elmwood School, Ottawa (November 12 to 22, 2026)

Linden House Theatre is marking its 20th anniversary with this production of ​The Boadicea of Britannia Street. It traces the journey of four women as they cooperatively create an entry for a local performance festival. While celebrating a legendary warrior queen, they also discover their own heroism.

Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight, Ron Maslin Playhouse, Kanata (November 18 to 28, 2026)

In Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight, an 18th-century noblewoman comes back from the afterlife to defend her scientific legacy and her romantic choices. By all accounts, she lived an amazing life, flouting contemporary prejudices about what women could understand and do. For instance, she wrote a groundbreaking paper on the nature of fire, as well as a celebrated commentary on Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica. On top of all that, she found time for numerous affairs, including one with the writer and philosopher Voltaire.

The Comeback, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (November 26 to December 5, 2026)

The Comeback, written by married couple Trish Cooper and Sam Vint, looks at what happens when families from different backgrounds collide. The play follows Adam, a Métis writer navigating identity and family history, and his settler wife, Jesse. When Adam and Jesse’s surprise pregnancy brings their Métis and settler families closer together, long-buried tensions bubble to the surface.

Snow White: The Panto, Marble Arts Centre, Tweed (November 27 to December 5, 2026)

This production of Snow White follows the grand British tradition of pantomime, where audiences cheer the hero and boo the villain, Tweed & Company. The producers promise flashy musical numbers, outrageous costumes, comedy, magic, mayhem and lots of audience participation for the whole family.

Liars at a Funeral, GCTC, Ottawa (December 1 to 13, 2026)

When an estranged family gathers to mourn the passing of their matriarch, the funeral becomes a dysfunctional reunion. Secrets unravel, long-buried truths emerge and a family curse keeps siblings apart in the comedy Liars at a Funeral. Can this eccentric family of liars navigate the road to reconciliation?

Ethan Claymore’s Christmas, Ottawa Little Theatre (December 2 to 19, 2026)

In the Norm Foster comedy Ethan Claymore’s Christmas, struggling egg farmer Ethan is having a strange Christmas Eve. The loveable grump next door has decided that widower Ethan needs to buy new clothes, hang out with the guys, find the perfect Christmas tree and meet the new teacher in town. Things get weirder when Ethan’s recently deceased brother shows up.

Je comprends. Respect., National Arts Centre, Ottawa (December 3 to 5, 2026)

Je comprends. Respect. is part hip hop battle and part autobiographical tale by actor and dancer Etienne Lou. He describes his chaotic journey from youth to breaking into the world of urban dance. The story involves a thousand-dollar prize, three judges, a DJ, an entranced crowd, truth, lies and lots of beat. In French.

Everything I Love About Christmas, Upper Canada Playhouse Morrisburg (December 3 to 20, 2026)

In the musical Everything I Love About Christmas, a snowstorm strands 17-year-old Susan Barnes in a bus station on Christmas Eve—but Christmas miracles do happen. When her mother gives their family’s Christmas dinner to a less fortunate neighbour, the resulting chain of events leads to Susan’s rescue.

The Gift of the Magi and Other Christmas Stories to Warm the Heart, Smiths Falls Station Theatre (December 4 to 13, 2025)

Eight stories in all will be featured in this performance by Smiths Falls Community Theatre. Along with the O. Henry classic The Gift of the Magi, about a penniless young couple who struggle to buy each other a wonderful Christmas present, you can enjoy the Philip Van Doren Stern story The Greatest Gift (the inspiration for the movie It’s a Wonderful Life). The show also features tales by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Hans Christian Anderson and others.

Snow White: The Panto, Bancroft Village Playhouse, Bancroft (December 9 to 19, 2026)

This production of Snow White follows the grand British tradition of pantomime, where audiences cheer the hero and boo the villain, Tweed & Company. The producers promise flashy musical numbers, outrageous costumes, comedy, magic, mayhem and lots of audience participation for the whole family.

Alice in Wonderland, Hudson Village Theatre (December 11, 2026, to January 3, 2027)

In Hudson, Quebec, families can enjoy a traditional pantomime version of Alice in Wonderland. Follow Alice down the rabbit hole to a magical world where she meets the Cheshire Cat, attends the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and has all sorts of other adventures.

The Vinyl Cafe Christmas Musical, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (December 14 to 30, 2026)

The Vinyl Cafe Christmas Musical is a new celebration of Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe characters. It gives audiences the chance to laugh and cry as they reconnect with Dave and Morley in some of McLean’s most cherished tales, including Dave Cooks the Turkey and Rashida, Amir and the Great Gift-Giving. 

Je suis William, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (December 19 and 20, 2026)

At night, 13-year-old Margareth writes in secret, fearful of society’s reaction to a learned woman in 1577. When William discovers his sister’s talent, he decides to help her. But how do you make a treasure shine when it has to stay hidden? Will the brother–sister duo manage to bend the rigid rules of their world? Je suis William is aimed at audiences aged 10 and up. In French.

A Snow White Christmas, Ron Maslin Playhouse, Kanata (December 27 to 30, 2026)

A Snow White Christmas is playwright Norm Foster’s riff on the beloved fairy tale. The family-friendly Kanata Theatre production follows Snow White in the years after her marriage. She has fallen on hard times and is looking for happiness. Who will help? Will she find her way?

The Diviners, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (January 12 to 23, 2027)

In this NAC Indigenous Theatre/NAC English Theatre co-production of The Diviners, based on Margaret Laurence’s 1974 novel, 18-year-old Pique storms out of the house in search of her Métis roots. Left behind, Morag Gunn writes a novel that unearths childhood memories and the truth about the town where she grew up. This adaptation intertwines the stories of Pique’s ancestors— both the Red River Métis and the Highland Scots—and looks at how communities carry both trauma and resilience across generations. 

Tout ça, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (January 28 to 30, 2027)

In Tout ça, a woman appears in a beam of light, like a bright sun that fades over time. What lies between our babblings at birth and our final words? Noises, heat, cold, joy, pain, grief, sex, work (always work), but also poetry and coloured pencils. From this flow of words and feelings, sharp reflections on love, parenthood and motherhood emerge. The script captures how every life is a story—perfectly ordinary, yet absolutely magnificent. In French.

Cabaret, Ron Maslin Playhouse, Kanata (February 3 to 13, 2027)

In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920s draw to a close, a garish master of ceremonies assures his audience that they will soon forget all their troubles. With the Emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, the musical Cabaret explores the dark, tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and ex-pats as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Young American writer Cliff falls in love with English singer Sally Bowles, while their landlady tentatively begins a romance with Jewish fruit seller.

Hurricane Diane, GCTC, Ottawa (February 9 to 21, 2027)

In Hurricane Diane, the title character is a butch permaculture gardener with supernatural abilities—because she’s actually the Greek god Dionysus. Having shown up in the modern day to rally followers and restore the Earth to its natural state, she begins with four housewives in a suburban cul-de-sac. Pulitzer Prize-finalist Madeleine George’s comedy skewers our willful ignorance in the face of climate change.

Incarnations transitoires, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (February 13 and 14, 2027)

Incarnations transitoires is aimed at children 7 and up. A musician plays synthesizers, distorted violins and other sound devices. Her fellow performer sways interacts with the music and large pieces of material that appear, come to life, and eventually pile up on the stage. Will she be able to tame a gigantic cardboard flap fluttering in the breeze from a fan? In French.

Bashir Lazhar, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (February 25 to 27, 2027)

A sensation when it premiered in 2007, Bashir Lazhar is a multi-voiced monologue that prompts audience members to question their values and educational system. A man of Algerian descent, a survivor of personal and political tragedy, steps in to replace a sixth-grade teacher. The new instructor uses unique methods to teach literature and grammar, but also courage and justice. As an intellectual in an environment dominated by emotion, he shakes up the microcosm of the primary school in a cultural clash. In French.

Little Women, Ottawa Little Theatre (February 24 to March 13, 2027)

Playwright Kate Hamill has written a new take on Little Women, the classic story of the four March sisters coming of age during the American Civil War. Jo’s voice remains the heart of the story, as each imperfect little woman learns to balance private ambitions with society’s expectations.

Jordan, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (March 6, 2027)

Jordan River Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation never set out to be a hero, yet he reshaped the way Canada cares for Indigenous children. In this family-friendly production, Jordan and his trusty companion, Maskwa the bear, visit children whose lives were changed by the protective principle named for him. Jordan illuminates how one life can touch so many and that no child should ever be denied the support they need.

Refaire la marguerite, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (March 13 and 14, 2027)

Refaire la marguerite is aimed at kids aged 7 and up. Inside a ruined theatre, the Ouellet–Sinou family has made a precarious home for itself: a small hut, a hanging garden and all kinds of instruments. Gradually, a quirky musical ceremony unfolds—a celebration of water and the joy of being together. In French, with minimal dialogue.

Leaving Home, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (March 19 to 27, 2027)

In Leaving Home, the Mercers are a Newfoundland family living in 1950s Toronto, struggling to redefine themselves and find common ground. On the eve of 17-year-old Bill’s shotgun wedding, tensions erupt between parents Jacob and Mary and their sons, Ben and Bill. Halifax’s Matchstick Theatre presents this fresh take on a 1970s script by David French.

Misery, Ron Maslin Playhouse, Kanata (March 24 to April 3, 2027)

The thriller Misery—by William Goldman, based on the Stephen King novel—follows romance novelist Paul Sheldon. After his “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, rescues him from a car crash, he wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads his latest book and becomes enraged when she discovers he has killed off her favourite character, Misery Chastain. Annie forces Paul to write a new Misery novel, and he quickly realizes she has no intention of letting him leave.

The 39 Steps, Ottawa Little Theatre (March 31 to April 17, 2027)

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a spy novel and a dash of Monty Python, and you get The 39 Steps, an award-winning action-comedy that also includes a bit of romance! A very busy cast of four plays dozens of characters.

Age Is a Feeling, GCTC, Ottawa (April 6 to 18, 2027)

How many chances do you get to change the course of your life? What will you leave unsaid when you go? Haley McGee’s solo show Age Is a Feeling charts the seminal moments, rites of passage and turning points that make up an adult life. Along the way, it examines the way our connection with mortality shapes the way we live.

Pakuneu, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (April 8 to 10, 2027)

Pakuneu tells the story of a child born behind bars while her mother was serving time. Three paths lie before her: growing up in prison, being placed for adoption or being raised by her grandmother. Despite a common starting point, the journeys diverge. Multidisciplinary artist Soleil Launière draws on Innu cosmology to explore questions of stigma and the resilience of Indigenous ancestry, the pursuit of identity and intergenerational bonds. In French.

Cambodian Rock Band, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (April 21 to May 1, 2027)

Lauren Yee’s Cambodian Rock Band wades through the waters of family, survival and trauma. Moving between 1970s Cambodia and 2008, the play follows Chum, a genocide survivor who returns to Cambodia for the first time in decades. His daughter Neary is gathering evidence to prosecute one of the regime’s war criminals, unaware of her father’s connection to the crimes. The production includes a live rock band and soulful vocals.

The Last Wife, Ottawa Little Theatre (May 5 to 22, 2027)

The Last Wife is a contemporary retelling of the heated relationship between Henry VIII and his sixth wife Katherine Parr, examining patriarchy, sexual politics and women’s rights. Violence and temptation loom as Kate strives for a more powerful role while devoting herself to the education and equal rights of Henry’s daughters.

The Beaux’ Strategem, Ron Maslin Playhouse, Kanata (May 12 to 22, 2027)

Kanata Theatre is staging Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of The Beaux’ Strategem by George Farquhar. It tells the story of two penniless young rogues who leave London and roam from town to town in search of love and fortune. To find a wealthy heiress for at least one of them to marry, they pose as master and servant, exchanging roles from one town to the next.

Waiting for Godot – Inuktitut, National Arts Centre, Ottawa (May 19 to 29, 2027)

In Waiting for Godot – Inuktitut, Vladimir and Estragon wait endlessly for someone named Godot. Hungry, battered, bored and deeply bound to one another, they rely on their wit and companionship to make life bearable. Samuel Beckett’s legendary play will be performed in Inuktitut, with subtitles and sections in English. It will be produced in association with Great Canadian Theatre Company, NAC Indigenous Theatre and the NAC’s National Creation Fund, and tickets will be available only through a five-show subscription.

Go Back for Murder, Ottawa Little Theatre (June 9 to 26, 2027)

A letter from beyond the grave leads Carla into a web of secrets, lies and long-buried suspicions in Agatha Christie’s Go Back for Murder. Attempting to uncover the truth behind her mother’s conviction for the murder of her father, Carla persuades those who were there to go back 15 years and re-enact the crime.

Where You Are, Ottawa Little Theatre (July 14 to 31, 2027)

Where You Are explores love, loss and second chances. When unexpected circumstances bring a daughter home to the mother and aunt who raised her on Manitoulin Island, they must all confront their pasts in search of a hopeful future and, perhaps, even some unintended romance.

Rabbit Hole, Ottawa Little Theatre (August 18 to September 4, 2027)

Becca and Howie Corbett have everything a family could want, until a life-shattering accident turns their world upside down and leaves the couple drifting apart. Both heartbreaking and funny, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Rabbit Hole charts their bittersweet search for comfort in the darkest places and a path that will lead them back into the light of day.

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, Ottawa Little Theatre (September 22 to October 9, 2027)

When charming bumbler Lord Arthur takes a fortune-teller’s grim prophecy far too seriously, a series of wedding postponements, botched murder plots and high society shenanigans ensue. This adaptation of Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime brings Oscar Wilde’s wit, elegance and dark humour to a fast-moving farce.

Terror by Gaslight, Ottawa Little Theatre (October 27 to November 13, 2027)

In nineteenth-century Philadelphia, a surgeon’s obsession with anatomy leads to grave robbing, blackmail and murder. The circle includes his daughter, medical students, underworld characters and a persistent detective. As suspicion closes in, the gothic thriller Terror by Gaslight builds to a chilling climax.

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Ottawa Little Theatre (December 1 to 18, 2027)

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play allows the audience to experience Philip Van Doren Stern’s beloved story as a 1940s broadcast. An ensemble brings George Bailey and his Bedford Falls neighbours to live, a task that includes performing music and sound effects. The popular holiday tale reminds us that every life touches countless others.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.