ON NATIVE LAND
A new musical by Corey Payette
Raven Theatre & Urban Ink (Vancouver)
The Cultch welcomes Raven Theatre and Urban Ink back to the York Theatre, April 8–19, 2026, for the debut of Corey Payette’s new musical On Native Land. This new musical follows three seemingly disparate characters whose lives intertwine in a powerful tale of identity, land, and love.
Payette’s newest work is a deep dive into contemporary urban Indigenous communities. Following a lawyer, a Chief, and a rising singer-songwriter, On Native Land offers solace and solidarity. The contemporary score has a driving force rooted in the drum, grounding the music in Indigenous tradition. Meanwhile, soaring melodies echo groundbreaking Broadway numbers from Company and Dear Evan Hansen. Richly textured and emotionally charged, Payette’s signature ability to bridge ancestral and modern tonalities shines. On Native Land creates a soundscape that is both timeless and boldly innovative.
Corey Payette is Anishinaabe, with French Canadian and Irish ancestry. He has been the Artistic Director of Urban Ink since 2014 and has been the Founding Artistic Director of Raven Theatre since 2011. As an award-winning storyteller, writer, composer, and director in theatre and film, Payette challenges the idea of what musicals can be, inserting Indigenous perspectives into mainstream spaces. His previous works include Children of God, Les Filles du Roi, and Starwalker, all of which premiered at The Cultch and went on to receive national and international acclaim.
“Payette has proven himself one of the most exciting talents in Canadian theatre, providing a First Nations perspective in his stirring musicals” —Jerry Wasserman, Vancouver Sun
WHEN: APR 08–19, 2026
EVENING PERFORMANCES, 7:30 PM
Wed, Apr. 8 — Preview
Thurs, Apr. 9 — Preview
Fri, Apr. 10 — Opening
Sat, Apr. 11
Tues, Apr. 14 — Talkback
Wed, Apr. 15
Thurs, Apr. 16
Fri, Apr. 17
Sat, Apr. 18
MATINEE PERFORMANCES, 2:00 PM
Sun, Apr. 12 — Talkback
Sat, Apr. 18
Sun, Apr. 19
WHERE: York Theatre, 639 Commercial Dr., Vancouver, BC
TICKETS: Tickets from $44. Tickets on sale now through The Cultch’s Box Office: 604-251-1363 or https://thecultch.com/event/
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ABOUT RAVEN THEATRE:
Raven Theatre is an Indigenous-led performing arts organization based on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples in Vancouver, BC. Founded in 2011 by Artistic Director Corey Payette, the company has been dedicated to developing new musicals, concerts, and original theatrical works that center Indigenous voices and stories. Raven Theatre creates space for emerging and established artists to collaborate in professional environments that nurture artistic growth and cultural exchange. The company champions work that is deeply personal, boldly imaginative, and challenges how we see the world, grounded in powerful storytelling and vivid characters that push beyond conventional theatrical forms.
ABOUT URBAN INK:
For 25 years, Urban Ink’s circle of artists have broken barriers through stimulating story, performance, and media. They support Indigenous and diverse artists, from the seed of an idea through to full productions, that are showcased to audiences around the world in feature films, national tours, festivals, and more. Urban Ink provides a home for storytellers to develop their voices over years of development. Relationship building takes place through feasting, cultural knowledge exchange with Elders, workshops, facilitated conversations, and installations. The company’s work is about opening hearts and minds to new perspectives and experiences, no matter how big or small the stage. Urban Ink aims to bring communities together to create a more open and empathetic society.
ABOUT THE CULTCH:
Since 1973, The Cultch (formally the Vancouver East Cultural Centre) has been one of Vancouver’s most diverse and innovative arts and cultural hubs. The organization operates three theatrical venues, a gallery, and various ancillary spaces in the heart of East Vancouver. Offering dynamic contemporary works in theatre, dance, music, and the visual arts, The Cultch brings world-class presentations to thousands of citizens each year through its own programming and rental opportunities for community users. The non-profit’s purpose is to provide a venue for performance, serving a diverse and engaged public, creating space for artistic experimentation and development, and building an audience for cutting-edge local, national, and international work.