Royce Vavrek, librettist, playwright, and filmmaker (among other things), is the Artistic Director of Toronto’s Against the Grain Theatre.
Born in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Royce Vavrek is based in Brooklyn, NY these days. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 2017, together with composer Du Yun, for the opera Angel’s Bone. His works have been commissioned by some of the world’s leading opera companies, including The Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Swedish Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Opéra de Montréal, and Houston Grand Opera, among others.
We caught up with Royce recently to talk about Against the Grain and other things.
Melancholia, Royal Swedish Opera (2023), composer Mikael Karlsson, libretto Royce Vavrek:
Royce Vavrek: The Interview
“My parents held music in high esteem, and valued a musical education,” Vavrek says. “My parents were farmers,” he adds. They were farmers who loved music, to be exact. Royce’s father played piano by ear, and Royce was taking piano lessons by the age of five.
He joined a choir, and went the usual route of lessons and competitions. “I always loved, even at the competitive music festivals, I loved being the room with singers.” He even found the vocal classes and competitions more interesting than solitary study. “I love the interplay of music and words.”
A drama teacher in high school, even though she wasn’t actually a drama specialist, offered him all the resources and support that she could. “She gave me free reign to write as much as I wanted to write.” He turned to plays to put his ideas into words.
“I wrote something like 18 plays in high school,” he says. “We had about $200 as a budget in that drama class.” Along with writing, it taught him a great deal about making theatre magic with very little.
“I could turn black boxes, and black cubes, into anything.”
Working as much as he wanted gave him another, larger advantage. “I was able to cultivate an early voice,” he says. The opportunity to write, and to fail if necessary, provided a firm foundation for the career that would follow.
“I’ve been very, very lucky to have some great educators and mentors in my life.” Community theatre companies were a great place to learn too.
“I’m very much a product of an amazing arts education,” he says, noting that the private vocal and piano lessons were invaluable. “They really unlocked something.”
Royce went on to earn a BFA in Filmmaking and Creative Writing from Concordia University, and an MFA from New York University’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program.
Against the Grain
It’s early days for his tenure at Against the Grain Theatre.
“I am really excited about empowering my community and creating opportunities for storytellers,” Vavrek says of his role as AtG’s new Artistic Director.
With an already busy and successful career in opera and theatrical productions, he looked for the opportunity to be plugged into an administrative and programming function along with the creative side of things. His relationship with AtG began years ago, before COVID struck when AtG’s former Artistic Director Joel Ivany came to New York City for a workshop. Vavrek had heard of AtG before, and was intrigued. A commission set up their collaboration.
“I had a commission from Edmonton Opera to write four operas.” That commission was part of Edmonton Opera’s Wild Rose Project. One of the operas was titled Indians on Vacation, based on the story by author Thomas King, and written with composer Ian Cusson. The initial version was a 12-minute short.
“That was such as success that AtG and Edmonton Opera have come on board to produce it.”
The full length version stars mezzo-soprano Marion Newman as Mimi and American baritone Grant Youngblood as Bird. It’s the story of an Indigenous couple who travel to Europe to unravel the mystery of Mimi’s late Uncle Leroy and a stolen family heirloom, infused with Thomas King’s signature humour.
Edmonton Opera will present world premiere in February 2026, followed by Against the Grain’s presentation in Toronto.
“I knew that I loved the company,” he adds of AtG. “It was just a beautiful opportunity for me to come home […] and use my international contacts.” While opportunities have come from all over the world, he relishes the idea of a Canadian return. “My career has been mostly American and European,” he notes.
“I’m a very proud Canadian. I have a lot of Canadian stories and a lot of Canadian voices that I’m hoping to elevate.”
That includes more work with Indigenous colleagues, queer works, and original pieces.
“I’m really excited to create some iconic Canadian repertoire,” he says. “I’d love to lean into that.”
Against the Grain’s Messiah/Complex, which was seen and celebrated all over the world, is a kind of model for that kind of success — one that is universally accessible, and uses cinema in thoughtful and sophisticated ways. “I’d love to push cinema,” he adds. That may include, for example, operas that were composed specifically for film.
What’s Next?
“I will be in Toronto in April to host Emma Pennell’s opera pub,” Royce says. “I really want to celebrate the singer community.”
For February’s Opera Pub, he chose soprano Midori Marsh. His model is to choose the main vocalist, and then invite them to invite their own friends and colleagues, and choose the repertoire for the Opera Pub.
“The artist’s life is a crazy one, and we do rely on our chosen artistic family.”
Royce will be hosting the Opera Pubs at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 344 on April 21 and June 23.
- Check out more details on Opera Pubs [HERE].
Are you looking to promote an event? Have a news tip? Need to know the best events happening this weekend? Send us a note.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.
Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! — local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox HERE.
- SCRUTINY | Luminato: Compagnie Hervé KOUBI: What the Day Owes to the Night Blends Physicality With Poetry - June 23, 2025
- INTERVIEW | Karen Kaeja & Mayumi Lashbrook: Porch View Dances Returns For A 14th Season - June 20, 2025
- PREVIEW | Fringe Hit People Suck Returns To Toronto To Ask The Musical Question: ‘What Is Wrong With Humanity?’ - June 20, 2025
