Shedding a Skin
Amanda Wilkin
April 22 – May 4, 2025
“I defy anyone to walk out untouched.”
—
The Guardian
A Nightwood Theatre production in association with Buddies in Bad Times
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.
photography by Kristen Sawatzky, treatment by Fran Chudnoff
Tuesday, April 22 // 7:30PM (preview)
Wednesday, April 23 // 7:30PM (preview) (mask mandatory performance)
Thursday, April 24 // 7:30PM (opening night)
Friday, April 25 // 7:30PM (Black Out Night)
Saturday, April 26 // 2PM (relaxed performance)*
Saturday, April 26 // 7:30PM
Sunday, April 27 // 2PM
Tuesday, April 29// 7:30PM (mask mandatory performance)*
Wednesday, April 30 // 7:30PM
Thursday, May 1 // 7:30PM
Friday, May 2 // 7:30PM
Saturday, May 3 // 2PM (relaxed performance)*
Saturday, May 3 // 7:30PM
Sunday, May 4 // 2PM
*Engagement events:
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/Elders Discussion
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.
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
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 25 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 and 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 doing a specific 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 Silman at jade@nightwoodtheatre.net
Nightwood Theatre is Canada’s preeminent feminist theatre. Nightwood cultivates, creates, and produces extraordinary theatre by women and gender-expansive artists, liberating futures, one room at a time. Founded in 1979, Nightwood Theatre has created, produced and toured award-winning plays that have garnered Dora Mavor Moore, Chalmers, Trillium and Governor General’s awards. The company is helmed by Artistic Director Andrea Donaldson and Managing Director Naz Afsahi, whose leadership has received public acclaim for artistic excellence, the successful training and development of emerging female talent, and their on-going advocacy around gender equity.
Buy Tickets
Dates & Times
Previews
April 22 + 23 7:30PM
Show Run
April 24 – May 4
Tue – Sat 7:30PM
Sat + Sun 2PM
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