Compelling dramas, laugh-out-loud comedies, and family-friendly stories will all be brought to the stage when New Stages Theatre presents the 2026 Brand New Stages Festival in downtown Peterborough from Tuesday, February 24 to Sunday, March 1.
Curated by artistic director Mark Wallace and festival producer Megan Murphy, the ambitious 2026 event is the theatre company’s third annual festival of new Canadian works for the stage, bringing together more than 40 local and national theatre artists for three mainstage shows at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St.) and four brand new shows of experimental and traditional works at The Theatre on King (171 King St.).
“It’s an incredible collection of talent and promising new Canadian plays, and we’re excited in how this has come together and the energy behind it,” Wallace says.
The mainstage shows at the Market Hall feature a staged reading of The Cull by Michele Riml and Michael St. John Smith at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, a family-friendly performance of Munsch Goes Wild by M. John Kennedy at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 1, and a staged reading of 12 Dinners by Steve Ross at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 1.
Tickets for The Cull and 12 Dinners are $30, with a welcome rate of $20 for those who need it and a pay-it-forward rate of $40 for those who which to cover the welcome rate, plus a $4 venue service fee. Tickets for Munsch Goes Wild are $12.50, all-in.
Tickets for all three shows are available at tickets.markethall.org/?category=20.
The four shows at The Theatre On King — with most getting their first public reading — include a festival-opening double bill of staged readings of I Started Collecting Teacups After Grandma Died by Ryan Pepper and Are We Sleeping? by Esther Vincent at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24, StorySLAM (an evening of communal storytelling hosted by Megan Murphy) at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, a staged reading of Kennel by Katherine Cullen at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 27, and a staged reading of Picture Day by Madeleine Brown at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 28.
Tickets for each show are $20 plus fees, except for StorySlam which are $15 plus fees, and are available at ttok.ca/brand-new-stages-festival/.
Below is the complete lineup for the 2026 Brand New Stages Festival.
An Evening of One-Act Plays
Tuesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. at The Theatre on King
The Brand New Stages Festival kicks off with staged readings of two brand new one-act plays.
Ryan Pepper’s I Started Collecting Teacups After My Grandma Died begins as an ode to a family heirloom but becomes a remembrance of a great romance with a Quebec separatist. Described as “an interprovincial love affair told through poetic dialogue, friendly banter, and the occasional croaking of frogs,” the staged reading is directed by Mark Wallace and stars Colin Doyle and Andy Trithardt.
Peterborough playwright Esther Vincent’s Are We Sleeping? asks the audience “to find grace in small kindnesses and love where memories falter.” Suffering from dementia, renowned botanist Florence no longer remembers her life’s work or recognizes her own children Andrew and Maggie, who navigate the heartbreaking realities of caregiving while their mother drifts between clarity and confusion. Directed by Vincent, the staged reading stars Dianne Latchford, Megan Murphy, and Mark Wallace.
Both shows are rated 14+ due to strong language and mature themes including dementia.
StorySLAM 2026
Wednesday, February 15 at 8 p.m. at The Theatre on King
Following the success of the debut StorySLAM during the 2025 festival, Megan Murphy will once again invite audience members to become the storytellers.
StorySLAM is an open invitation for anyone who has a story to tell — or who just wants to enjoy an evening of communal storytelling. Each storyteller will have five minutes to share a personal story based on the theme “Well, that was unexpected.” Stories must be true and based on the storyteller’s own experience, and no notes or props are allowed.
All are welcome to participate, whether they are seasoned storytellers or have never spoken on stage before.
“The Cull” by Michele Riml and Michael St. John Smith
Thursday, February 26 at 7 p.m at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre
The first mainstage show in the festival, The Cull by real-life couple Michele Riml and Michael St. John Smith follows a group of longtime friends who gather for an intimate 25th anniversary dinner celebration as a forest fire rages out of control in the nearby mountains of southeastern British Columbia. When an unexpected gift transforms a discussion about the local wolf cull into a heated argument over economic inequality, it also triggers hidden agendas and exposes conflicting values within the tight-knit group.
First produced by Vancouver’s Arts Club Theatre in 2023, this modern drama is in a new stage of development. Directed by Peter Pasyk, The Cull stars some of Canada’s top talent from stage and screen, including Matthew Edison, Sergio Di Zio, Tina Jung, Michael Riley, Tina Jung, Sarah Wilson, and Jenny Young.
Containing strong language, the play is recommended for ages 14+.
“Kennel” by Katherine Cullen
Friday, February 27 at 7 p.m. at The Theatre on King
Mark Wallace will be directing a staged reading of Katherine Cullen’s comedic Kennel about a kitten, a doggie, and a guinea pig whose play for young audiences goes off the rails in its search for an ending.
Starring Hilary Wear, Stew Granger, Amy Keating, Annie Luján, and Jeff Yung, the play is definitely not for young audiences with its mature themes and strong language.
“Picture Day” by Madeleine Brown
Saturday, February 28 at 7 p.m. at The Theatre on King
As you might expect from the title, Madeleine Brown’s comedic Picture Day is set during picture day at an elementary school. But this is no ordinary picture day — when the school photographer doesn’t show up, a principal’s lie cascades into a series of disasters.
Directed by Linda Kash, the staged reading stars Marc Rico Ludwig, Mark Rostrup, Dreda Blow, Linda Kash, Megan Walsh, and Oaklen Conroy.
Containing strong language, the play is recommended for ages 14+.
“Munsch Goes Wild” by M. John Kennedy
Sunday, March 1 at 10:30 a.m. at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre
VIDEO: “Fireside Munsch” trailer (2023)
Building off the success of his acclaimed Dora award-nominated Fireside Munsch, M. John Kennedy returns with an all-new performance of four of Canadian children’s author Robert Munsch’s most beloved tales.
Directed by Dahlia Katz, Munsch Goes Wild is described as a “high-octane theatrical storytelling event for the young (and young at heart).”
With its special Sunday morning performance, Munsch Goes Wild is a perfect treat for the kids and grandkids in your life.
“12 Dinners” by Steve Ross
Sunday, March 1 at 7 p.m. at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre
To close out the 2026 Brand New Stages Festival, New Stages Theatre’s founding artistic director Randy Read will direct a staged reading of 12 Dinners by Steve Ross.
Previously produced at Stratford’s Here for Now Festival and in Barrie with Talk is Free Theatre, the acclaimed semi-autobiographical play recounts a series of monthly dinners the playwright shared with his parents during a particularly eventful time in their lives.
The staged reading features the original cast from the Stratford production: Jane Spidell, Geoffrey Pounsett, and Ben Skipper.
Dealing with mature themes including depression, the show is suitable for audiences aged 12+.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be media sponsor of New Stages Theatre Company’s 2025-26 season.
