Canada's oldest professional Indigenous theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts, has announced its 44th season with seven presentations and partnerships on the theme of Connection and Belonging.
The 2026/27 season showcases Joelle Peters' thoughtful approach through meaningful development and connection for artists of all ages, platforming challenging work with care, strong partnerships with like-minded arts organisations, and creating rare opportunities to see incredible international work.
This season marks Peters last with Native Earth Performing Arts before she steps down from her role in November after four years in artistic leadership.
The Native Earth Performing Arts season commences in September with Ni Nagamoon, a Carousel Players cultural sharing workshop by Nicole Joy Fraser.
November 2026 will mark the 39th Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival, featuring eight Indigenous creators from across Turtle Island and beyond.
In March 2027, Native Earth will present the Canadian Premiere of Haunted, a horror-comedy by Tara Moses (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma), directed by former Native Earth Artistic Director Tara Beagan.
Moses' Haunted was the first Indigenous play to receive a National New Play Network's Rolling World Premiere in 2025, premiering across the United States in Boston, Cleveland, and Los Angeles. Native Earth is the first organisation to bring this play to Canadian audiences.
Attending all the way from Aotearoa / New Zealand is Sorry For Your Loss by Cian Parker in April 2027.
Returning to Toronto after hosting a workshop with Native Earth in 2025, Cian Parker (Ngāpuhi) brings a unique physical approach to storytelling in the vibrant, award-winning piece of devised theatre. All performances will feature artistically integrated ASL Interpretation.
After a successful launch in July 2026, Native Earth will bring back GIIZIS Reads in May 2027, an initiative to bring older plays written by Indigenous playwrights to life again in a present-day context.
Known for their longtime partnerships, Native Earth will also once again team up with Paprika Festival in May 2027, and Buddies In Bad Times Theatre for the 2-Spirit Cabaret in June 2027.
The 2026/27 Native Earth Performing Arts Season is brimming with high-quality productions, including Weesageechak Begins to Dance 39 (Native Earth Performing Arts' annual performing arts festival showcasing new works and works-in-development by Indigenous artists across Turtle Island and beyond), Ni Nagamoon (Neheyiwak for "my song"), a First Nation cultural sharing created and performed by Niagara-based performing artist Nicole Joy-Fraser, and Paprika Festival, which Native Earth Performing Arts is partnering with for the 11th year.
Tickets for Native Earth Performing Arts' 2026-2027 season can be purchased online.
For more fashion, arts, culture and lifestyle news subscribe for free to the Style Up newsletter.
