The Cultch, in partnership with Carousel Theatre for Young People, looks forward to welcoming Montréal’s Geordie Theatre to the Historic Theatre for the Vancouver premiere of Jordan,
November 12–15, 2026. Jordan is inspired by the real life of Jordan River Anderson. It received its world premiere at Montréal’s Centaur Theatre in spring 2025, gaining critical and audience acclaim and winning three 2025 META Awards.
The Cultch & Carousel Theatre for Young People present JORDAN
Geordie Theatre (Montréal)
WHEN: NOV 12–15, 2026
EVENING PERFORMANCES, 7:00 PM
Thurs, Nov 12 — Opening
Fri, Nov 13
Sat, Nov 14
MATINEE PERFORMANCES, 2:00 PM
Sat, Nov 14
Sun, Nov 15
SCHOOL MATINEES, 11:00 AM
Thurs, Nov 12
Fri, Nov 13
WHERE: Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables St., Vancouver, BC
TICKETS: Tickets from $39. Tickets on sale now through The Cultch’s Box Office: 604-251-1363 or
For school matinees, tickets on sale via https://www.carouseltheatre.ca/educators/bookings
Anderson was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation, surrounded by family and community from the beginning of his life. Because he required support that wasn’t available close to home, he spent all of his childhood in a Winnipeg hospital, hundreds of kilometres from his home. When plans were made for him to move to a care home where his family could be more present, a funding dispute between the provincial and federal governments stalled the transition. That delay meant Anderson never got the chance to grow up in a more nurturing environment. His story sparked national action, leading to Jordan’s Principle in 2007.
Under Jordan’s Principle, First Nations youth are to receive immediate access to the services they need, and the governments negotiate payment later. Jordan addresses these healthcare challenges,
highlighting the significance of Jordan’s Principle as a representation of Indigenous resilience amongst broader struggles for justice.
With express permission from Anderson’s family, Geordie Theatre’s play reimagines Jordan waking up in hospital as a superhero. Together with his spirit bear companion, Maskwa, Jordan uses his newfound abilities to explore the impact he’s had on Indigenous communities. Jordan is a show that the whole family can enjoy and learn from.
Jordan is directed by Geordie Theatre’s Artistic Director Jimmy Blais, an off-reserve member of the
Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, and written by Algonquin playwright Yvette Nolan. The cast and team include a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, from Tiohtià:ke/Montréal and across Canada, bringing their own unique perspectives into the creation process and onto the stage.
Geordie believes that theatre is an essential educational tool, speaking to the experiences and challenges faced by today’s youth and provoking important conversations, whether at home or in the classroom.
Jordan amplifies Indigenous voices, raises awareness around critical issues affecting Indigenous peoples today, and introduces Canadians to the heroes they might not already know.
“The writing was immensely well done, the performance was beautiful, and I could tangibly feel
the genuine care that has been put into the creation of this needed show” —Audience member at
the Jordan premiere
“The kid in me was delighted, and the adult in me was devastated in the best possible way”
—Audience member at the Jordan premiere
Written by: Yvette Nolan
Directed by: Jimmy Blais
Assistant Director: Barry Bilinsky
Set Designer: Amy Keith
Set Design Assistant: Zoë Heffring
Set Builder: Tibeau Mathews
Costume Designer: Rachel Quintero Faia
Maskwa Headpiece Builder: Tania Marchildon
Lighting Designer: Tim Rodrigues
Lighting Design Associate: Brianna Montour
Sound Designer: Troy Slocum
Video Designer: potatoCakes_digital (Emily Soussana and Andrew Scriver)
Stage Manager: Lia Wright
Tour Assistant Stage Manager: Abi Sanie
Production Manager: Morgandy McKinnell
Technical Director: Vladimir Cara
Relational Care Holder: Katey Wattam
Cast: Braiden Houle, Wahsontí:io Kirby, Krystle Pederson, Ravyn R. Bekh
Jordan was developed in collaboration with Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal. The tour is
supported by The Canadian Race Relations Foundation.
ABOUT GEORDIE THEATRE:
Geordie Theatre is Montreal’s leading English-language professional theatre for audiences of all ages, entertaining and engaging the imaginations of children and their families since 1980. Geordie celebrates the art of theatre and its impact by working with emerging and established artists from various disciplines and cultural backgrounds to create theatre that is thought-provoking, relevant, and enchanting, inspiring dialogue between communities, children, and parents as well as teachers and students of all ages.
ABOUT CAROUSEL THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE:
Carousel Theatre for Young People (CTYP) empowers young people and families through meaningful, imaginative, and accessible theatrical experiences. The productions CTYP create and present engage youth, families, and educators in live theatre and platform stories for and about communities that are underrepresented; they develop emotional literacy, stimulate community, encourage growth, and inspire minds in a unifying experience. CTYP focuses on introducing young minds to new ideas and enabling them to talk about them.
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.
