Shedding a Skin
A Nightwood Theatre production in association with Buddies In Bad Times
Directed by Cherissa Richards
April 22 – May 4, 2025
Buddies in Bad Times – Mainspace (12 Alexander St)
On the 15th floor of a London tower block, a revolution takes place. Myah has ejected herself from a corporate hellscape only to crash-land in the spare room of an elder named Mildred—an evasive auntie with laminated house rules and hidden wounds. But healing takes many shapes, and sometimes it looks like sneaking your roommate’s duckanoo.
Shedding a Skin is a one-woman buddy comedy for the heartbroken—a series of exquisitely observed, quietly radical scenes that offers a hand to those feeling the weight of the world. Drop your baggage at the door. Connection is resistance.
Winner of the 2020 Verity Bargate Award and a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, join us for the Canadian premiere of this “engrossing and emotionally resonant” (The Guardian) play.
General $48-$53 | Arts Workers/Students/Seniors in need $25-30 | Community Access $18
Preview: April 22 & 23, 2025
Performances: April 24 – May 4, 2025
Tuesdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm. Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm.
See below for accessibility information and datess of mask mandatory and relaxed performances.
Tickets can be purchased at the link below or by contacting the Buddies In Bad Times box office at 416 975 8555.
Check out the rest of our 2024-2025 season and consider booking a Nightwood Season Pass for additional savings!
BOOK TICKETS
Written by Amanda Wilkin
Directed by Cherissa Richards
Performed by Vanessa Sears
Set Design by Jung-Hye Kim
Costume Design by Ming Wong
Lighting Design by Shawn Henry
Sound Design by Cosette “Ettie” Pin
Associate Sound Design by steph raposo
Projection Design by Laura Warren
Stage Managed by Laura Baxter
Production Managed by Maya Royer
Dialect Coach: Peter N. Bailey
Shadow Director: Emerjade Sims
Publicist: Katie Saunoris
Friday, April 25 – Black Out Night
We invite all self-identified Black audience members to join us on Friday, April 25th for Shedding a Skin Black Out Night! Join Nightwood Theatre and Buddies in Bad Times in an evening welcoming Black communities to experience Shedding a Skin with a panel of Black creatives following the show.
More on Shedding a Skin Black Out Night can be found here on our website. Contact Jade at jade@nightwoodtheatre.net with any questions.
Saturday, April 26 matinee – Future Arts Leaders Panel
Come chat with three up-and-coming arts leaders from our Nightwood Shadow Residencies: Trisha Harlan, Tsholo Khalema, and Shadow Director for Shedding a Skin, Emerjade Simms! We’ll get their POVs on the industry today and hear about their hopes for the years to come.
Tuesday, April 29 – Canadian vs UK Black Cultures Panel
Let’s chat about Black Cultures on both sides of the pond. Join panellists Cherissa Richards and Lamesha Ruddock with moderator Intisar Awisse in a conversation that explores these cultures — their unique histories, similarities, and differences.
Saturday, May 3 matinee – Youth/Elder Session
Join Buddies’ Youth/Elders Program in the cabaret after the show to participate in a discussion centred on fostering on queer intergenerational connection, using Shedding a Skin as a jumping-off point. Queer folks of any age are welcome to attend and participate, or just listen. Facilitated by Franki Forte and Carol Thames.
Here is an accessibility overview for this venue and show:
Venue Accessibility:
The show is taking place at the Buddies In Bad Times Mainspace. Here is their accessibility guide.
Masked Performances
There will be 2 mask mandatory performances of Shedding a Skin:
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 7:30pm
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 7:30pm
Relaxed Performaces
There will be 2 relaxed performances of Shedding a Skin:
Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 2:00pm
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 2:00pm
For media inquiries, please reach out to Katie Saunoris at katiesaunoris@gmail.com.
Please find more information in our Media Kit.
Black Out Night is a performance for Black audiences that invites Black theatre-going communities to experience a show for them, by them! We invite all self-identified Black audience members to join us on Friday, April 25th for Shedding a Skin Black Out Night.
No one will be turned away from attending Black Out Night. Exclusivity is not the intention of the evening. Similar to all theatre events available for general sale, it is available to any member of the public who wishes to purchase a ticket. Black Out Nights are inspired by the Black Out event created for Jeremy O Harris’ Slave Play in 2019, and have happened at theatres in Toronto and beyond over the past couple of years.
Unfortunately, theatre spaces haven’t always been spaces where Black people have felt welcome. Theatre culture is reflective of deeper oppression that Black people face on a daily basis. Black Out nights are a type of affinity group gathering, which is an event where people who are from equity-owed groups can come together in a safe(r) space. These events can be healing and/or celebratory spaces where people feel more comfortable to be themselves and connect along experiences of shared identity, culture and oppression.
Black Out nights are a part of a broader strategy to dismantle anti-Black racism in the theatre and create a truly inclusive space. We’d like to acknowledge that no group is a monolith and there are of course Black people who will not want to attend a Black Out Night or who disagree with the practice.
We will be clearly communicating via the ticketing website and via box office phone that this is a Black Out night. Nightwood Theatre and Buddies in Bad Times are committed to a welcoming, curated outreach strategy to ensure that Black communities are aware of and invited to this Black Out Night.
Should you have any questions about the Shedding a Skin Black Out Night, please contact: Jade at jade@nightwoodtheatre.net
