{"id":123126,"date":"2026-04-06T10:25:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=123126"},"modified":"2026-04-06T10:25:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:25:18","slug":"performance-picks-theatre-dance-performance-need-see-month-april-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/04\/06\/performance-picks-theatre-dance-performance-need-see-month-april-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"PERFORMANCE PICKS | Theatre, Dance & Performance You Need To See This Month: April 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R
L-R (clockwise): Graphic for Mary, Mary, Mary at Crow\u2019s Theatre (Courtesy of Crow\u2019s Theatre); Strife at Tarragon Theatre: L: Director Yvette Nolan; R: playwright Matthew MacKenzie (Photo courtesy of the artists); Scene from Clyde\u2019s at Canadian Stage (Photo courtesy of Canadian Stage)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This monthly column features Theatre and Dance performances happening this month in and around Toronto and the GTA that you should absolutely check out.<\/p>\n

The Theatre Centre: The Moors<\/h3>\n

April 3 \u2013 19
\nThe Theatre Centre<\/p>\n

Dora award-winning indie theatre company Riot King Art Market is presenting The Moors by acclaimed playwright Jen Silverman. The play riffs on Bront\u00eb-style Gothic tropes \u2014 isolated manor, stormy moors, repressed desires \u2014 putting them through a modern, queer lens. This dark comedy shows how love, desire, power and identity collide in a house where nothing behaves the way it should. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tarragon Theatre: Strife<\/h3>\n

April 7\u2013 26
\nTarragon Theatre<\/p>\n

In association with Tarragon Theatre, this Punctuate! Theatre Production is making its world premiere. Written by two-time Dora Award winner Matthew MacKenzie and directed by Yvette Nolan, Strife features an all-Indigenous cast. The play revolves around issues of identity, power, and the politics of representation, and is a powerful reflection on loss and resilience. Read our Interview with playwright Matthew MacKenzie and director Yvette Nolan here<\/a>. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Crow\u2019s Theatre: Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary<\/h3>\n

April 7 \u2013 May 17
\nGuloien Theatre At Crow\u2019s<\/p>\n

This is the world premiere of a new play by Governor General\u2019s Award\u2013winning Canadian playwright Erin Shields. Directed by Ellen McDougall, this feminist work reimagines four women from the gospels, all sharing the name Mary, each telling their own stories of faith, rebellion, and erasure. The play explores how women\u2019s identities get blurred, overwritten, or collapsed into stereotypes. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Canadian Stage: Clyde\u2019s<\/h3>\n

April 11 \u2013 26
\nBluma Appel Theatre<\/p>\n

Helmed by director Philip Akin with an all-star Canadian cast, this boisterous play by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage has been nominated for five Tony Awards, Set in Clyde’s diner, which is staffed by ex-convicts, Clyde\u2019s is a transcendent story about second chances, rising above past mistakes, and reconnecting with the world, while demonstrating the healing power of food. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Soulpepper: How to Catch Creation<\/h3>\n

April 23 \u2013 May 17
\nBaillie Theatre at Soulpepper<\/p>\n

This is the Canadian premiere of playwright Christina Anderson\u2019s bold and imaginative exploration of the power of artistic expression and the lasting impact of those who dare to create. Directed by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu, this is a feel-good story about second chances, finding purpose, and the legacies we leave behind, while leaning into the legacy of Black feminism. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Show One Productions: The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark<\/h3>\n

April 24 \u2013 26
\nElgin & Winter Garden Theatres<\/p>\n

Created by two big names on the Canadian stage, this ballet adaptation of Shakespeare\u2019s most famous tragedy is directed by Robert Lepage and choreographed by Guillaume C\u00f4te. The story is told through movement and music without a single spoken word, and set to an original score by John Gzowski. As a bonus, C\u00f4t\u00e9 and Sonia Rodriguez, both former Principal Dancers with The National Ballet of Canada, are coming out of retirement to star in this performance. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Holla Jazz: Room Upstairs<\/h3>\n

April 29 \u2013 May 2
\nWinchester Street Theatre<\/p>\n

Choreographed by Holla Jazz Founding Artistic Director Natasha Powell, The Room Upstairs is a blend of jazz, lindy hop, and Black vernacular dance forms set to the music of John Coltrane, one of the most influential jazz musicians in history. It is a fitting tribute to Coltrane, in the year that marks what would have been his 100th birthday. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Are you looking to promote an event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong>
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Theatre, dance, and performances in Toronto for the month of April 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":123129,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[42533,20,42592,4780,42708,41918,62,63],"tags":[631,23344,3006,3074,13714],"yst_prominent_words":[22923,15433,12857,13702,8973,13717,29185],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-2026-04-06T102312.846.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-w1U","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/118"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123126"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":123130,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123126\/revisions\/123130"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123126"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=123126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}