Arts Roundup
Oct. 29, 2026
London calling! Nevermore – The Imaginary Life & Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe is headed to the U.K. Catalyst Theatre's gothic imagining of Edgar Allan Poe's life and death will play at the off-West End's Charing Cross Theatre from July 19 to Oct. 9, 2027. The musical, which was written, composed, and directed by Jonathan Christenson, made its official world premiere in 2009. Ever since, it has been on stages across Canada and the United States — including off-Broadway runs in New York. It was last seen in London at the iconic Barbican Centre in 2010. Casting is underway for the new engagement.
The original cast of Scott Shpeley, Shannon Blanchet, Sheldon Elter, Beth Graham, Ryan Parker, Garett Ross, and Vanessa Sabourin reunited for a run at Calgary's Vertigo Theatre in 2023. That production, complete with Bretta Gerecke's striking designs, was captured for a sleek, perspective-shifting film that was screened on Oct. 23 as part of the Catalyst Theatre Film Festival. That's where a local audience learned of the London tour, though trade publications such as Broadway World had it a bit earlier. "I'm very excited for London audiences to see this best-ever version of the show in 2027 and, as a co-producer of Come From Away, I'm especially proud to be bringing another extraordinary Canadian musical to the London stage," producer M. Kilburg Reedy said.
The film version of Nevermore is available to rent directly through Catalyst, and its soundtrack is on streaming services. For even more Catalyst close to home, MacEwan University's theatre program will perform a rendition of Catalyst's Hunchback at the school's Triffo Theatre from Nov. 25 to 29, directed by Christenson. His adaptation is based on Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame from 1831, though many audience members may know it as a Disney film from 1996. The Catalyst version is both dark and romantic, and of course, filled with rousing songs. Continuing in the vein of cultivating the next wave of Edmonton theatre artists, Catalyst's next musical theatre bootcamp runs from Aug. 3 to 21, with applications opening in February.
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Music
- Edmonton's Axios Men's Ensemble will launch a national tour of Benedict Sheehan's Ukrainian War Requiem at St. Basil's Ukrainian Catholic Church on Nov. 6. The JUNO-award-winning piece was commissioned by Axios in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
- Dana Wylie, Harry Gregg, and Jamie Cooper of Secondhand Dreamcar spoke to the Reluctantly podcast about the group's sophomore album, Get Ready, as well as collaborative songwriting, live recording, and touring plans.
- CKUA's fall fundraiser runs until Nov. 1. Fundraising events such as the Bluegrass Hootenanny, are mostly sold out. The station highlighted the staff who help make the fundraiser happen.
- The Neighbourhood, also known as The NBHD, is coming to Edmonton on May 15. The alt-rock band from California will play at Rogers Place.
Visual arts
- The founder of Love Pro Wrestling is bringing his carnivalesque promotion to an unusual place — the Art Gallery of Alberta — as part of his mission to attract new audiences to the spectacle. "One of my biggest goals for 2027 is to branch out and bring pro wrestling to where people would never really expect it," Spencer Love told Taproot. "When you see the best of the best in professional wrestling, which I believe we've got, you're going to fall in love with it — no pun intended." The Joy of Grappling takes place in conjunction with photographer Kim Parrent's Ring A Ding Dong Dandy exhibition of images from Stampede Wrestling, which she spoke to Love Wrestling about.
- Dusty LeGrande, founder of streetwear brand mobilize, bought embroidery shop Artwear after years as a customer. He said family, elders, and Nêhiyaw values guide his work supporting artists and businesses.
- The Community Mural Grant Program supported 15 new murals this summer, marking its 15th anniversary. The City said its Beyond Belonging action plan provided an additional $40,000 to fund five murals promoting inclusive public spaces.
Love, Lies, and a Very Busy Barber
He cuts hair, fixes love lives, and gets pulled into one very complicated romance. Meet Figaro in The Barber of Seville, a fast, funny comedy packed with secret love, outrageous disguises, and plans that go spectacularly off track.
With dazzling voices and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, it's a seriously fun night out. Nov. 5 and 7 at the Jubilee. Two nights only.
Theatre and dance
- The Citadel Theatre has received a $1-million donation from longtime supporter Arnold Rumbold to establish a fund supporting the development of new Canadian plays. The Rumbold New Play Prize will help artists develop original theatrical works, with the goal of producing a new work each year for audiences in Edmonton and across Canada. The donation builds on the theatre's work commissioning new plays and supporting emerging projects through its Playwrights Lab, which has selected Amanda Samuelson, Nicole Moeller, Mhairi Berg, and Jana O'Connor for its 2026-2027 program. Led by associate artistic director Mieko Ouchi, the lab runs until June 2027, when participants will present readings of their work at the Citadel's Collider Festival. The prize will be held in an endowment fund at the Edmonton Community Foundation.
- Northern Light Theatre's Iron Matron, which tells the story of a woman who must reinvent herself after some life twists, drew praise for its humour and realism from Postmedia's Liane Faulder and its portrayal of aging from blogger Lucy Haines. Playwright and director Trevor Schmidt told Liz Nicholls the play revolves around friendship as it changes over time.
- Shadow Theatre has added an additional showing of Yaga, as the run is nearly sold out. Indeed, positive reviews abound for the production, serendipitously timed with the release of Crave's screen adaptation of Kat Sandler's play, which features Edmonton-born actor Sam Krochmal.
- Rachel Meyer's Mama, do we die when we sleep? drew praise from reviewer Salena Kitteringham. She highlighted its inventive movement and joyful ensemble work. Brian Webb Dance Company presented the Vancouver production at the Freemasons' Hall.
Books and publishing
- Premee Mohamed and Richard Van Camp have horror books coming out just in time for Halloween. Mohamed's From the Library of Jurgen Leitner ties into a British podcast called The Magnus Archives; it launches at Audreys Books on Nov. 4. Van Camp's Wheetago War Stories is a short story collection centred on apocalyptic tales inspired by Tłı̨chǫ Dene mythology.
- Edmonton artist Spyder Yardley-Jones has released a book called Boy Did I Ever Get Postered Last Night, a retrospective on the gig posters he has created over more than 45 years.
- Kathryn Gwun-Yeen Lennon spoke to CBC Edmonton's Radio Active about her first poetry collection, Duckweed. The book explores her mixed identity and connections to culture and was among the top-selling poetry books on the Edmonton bestseller list from the Book Publishers Association of Alberta.
- Edmonton Public Library writer-in-residence Alexis Marie Chute penned an advice article about finishing stories. She recommends finishing drafts before editing and holding onto the joy of creation.
- The Book Publishers Association of Alberta is hiring an editorial coordinator for Read Alberta.
- Registration is open for YouthWrite's Winter WordPlay 2027. The camp is for ages 10 to 19 and features a full day of instruction and writing activities.
Screen industries
- More Miles Than Money: The Story of Jr. Gone Wild will screen at Metro Cinema on Nov. 1 at a fundraiser for CJSR. Eden Munro spoke to Moving Radio about his documentary, which follows the band's long and arduous journey through Canada's music scene. The film is "a fast-paced and gorgeously constructed timeline of one of Edmonton's longest-going and most storied bands," wrote Fish Griwkowsky, "merrily diving into our swirling cultural history into which ambitious lead singer Mike McDonald decided to drop his terrific talent nearly half a century ago."
- Invisible Imagination will have its Edmonton premiere on Nov. 14 at the Broad View International Film Festival. The documentary follows co-director Sarah Taylor's discovery that she has aphantasia, or no visual imagination. Taylor and co-director Anna Cooley will join a Q&A after the screening.
More headlines
- Edmonton city council directed staff to report on staffing and operating costs for a nightlife committee. Brent Oliver, producer of Winterruption, said a previous unfunded effort stalled and cautioned that the new proposal still needs funding.
- The new Heritage Places Strategy will broaden recognition beyond buildings, but time will tell how it will help preserve historic buildings, landmarks, and natural features, Alexander Dowsey wrote in a Rat Creek Press opinion piece. "I can't help but think of the quieter losses of heritage places, the houses and businesses which are boarded up one day and left alone for years (or even decades) before fires or mismanagement lead them to be demolished," he wrote.
- The Edmonton Downtown Business Association profiled seven long-standing downtown businesses for Small Business Week, including Audreys Books, Henry Singer, Blu's, The Artworks, and Tony the Tailor.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up soon:
- Oct. 29: Zak Jones In conversation with Conor Kerr starting at 7pm at St. Albert Public Library (Downtown)
- Oct. 29: Baroque's Greatest Hits starting at 7:30pm at Winspear Centre
- Oct. 30: Little Miss Higgins starting at 7:30pm at Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts
- Oct. 30: fun, frightful & fancy starting at 7:30pm at Trinity Lutheran Church
- Oct. 31: Sorry Not Sorry Presents: yegDND starting at 7pm at Grindstone Theatre
- Nov. 1: BLOOM: Inaugural Concert of the Marigold Ensemble starting at 7pm at ArtsHub Ortona
- Nov. 1: Jake's Gift starting at 7:30pm at Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts
- Nov. 2: Sing for Life Society of Alberta Practice starting at 3:30pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
- Nov. 3: Book Launch with Bev Fowler starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
- Nov. 4: Cannes Lions Screening: Best of 2026 starting at 5:30pm at Cineplex Cinemas North Edmonton
- Nov. 4: "From the Library of Jurgen Leitner" Book Launch by Premee Mohamed starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
- Nov. 4: Bach, Zappa & Beyond starting at 7:30pm at Winspear Centre
And here are more to keep in mind:
- Nov. 12-14: Broad View International Film Festival at Garneau Theatre
- Nov. 18: Ideas: 14 Tools to Generate Awesome Ideas & Never Feel Stuck Again online
- Nov. 20: A Very YEG Nutcracker at The Orange Hub
Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.
Correction: This file has been updated to reflect that the Yaga TV series is from Crave, not HBO.