Latest news with #EmmaDonoghue
CBC
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
How Emma Donoghue's debut musical stands up for immigrants both past and present
For Emma Donoghue's first musical, The Wind Coming Over The Sea, the award-winning Irish Canadian novelist wanted to explore the immigrant experience in Canada, both past and present. The Wind Coming Over The Sea is based on the true story of Henry and Jane Johnson, a young married couple who left Ireland in the 1840s in search of a better life. In her research, Donoghue discovered seven letters the Johnsons had written to each other, which served as her inspiration. "The love between them just burns off the pages," Donoghue says in an interview with Q 's Tom Power. "In some cases, a single letter would take months to write. They're dirty and they're tattered. And I can tell you, there's no source of all the sources I've used in my historical writing that moves me as much as this little handful of letters." WATCH | How an Irish famine footnote inspired Emma Donoghue's new musical: Donoghue is no stranger to immigration herself — she's emigrated to two countries in her life: first England and later Canada. She decided to tell the story of the Johnsons as a musical using traditional Irish folk songs because she says one of the most important things immigrants bring with them is their culture. The Wind Coming Over The Sea sheds light on the hope, courage and hardship the Johnsons as well as many other immigrants have experienced on their journey to a new land. With immigration frequently in the headlines right now, Donoghue knew from the onset that this production would be "a very political play to do in 2025," despite it being set nearly 200 years ago. "At every point, I was trying to find a timeless quality to a story of immigration because Lord knows it's relevant to today," Donoghue says. "There are several scenes where Henry meets vicious hostility from both Americans and Canadians about immigrants as germ-spreaders, as job-stealers, as undercutters of wages, as, you know, the alien and the other. And we see this in every newspaper today, so I felt it was crucial to make this play stand up and sort of speak for immigrants then and now." You can catch The Wind Coming Over The Sea at the Blyth Festival in Blyth, Ont., where it's running until Aug. 12.
CBC
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
How an Irish famine footnote inspired Emma Donoghue's new musical
The new musical The Wind Comes Over the Sea follows the lives of two Irish immigrants in the 1940s, brought back to life by letters that found their way to author and playwright Emma Donoghue. An Irish immigrant herself, Donoghue tells CBC's Eli Glasner she was drawn to the history, but the story also speaks to the present.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Boys in the Back Thursday 20250612
Florence Pugh praises 'sensitive' and 'considerate' director of her new film Florence Pugh has said the 'passion' director Sebastian Lelio brought to the set of The Wonder was 'exactly' what she needed at the time. Florence Pugh has said the 'passion' director Sebastian Lelio brought to the set of The Wonder was 'exactly' what she needed at the time. The British actress, 26, stars as Lib Wright in the adaptation of Emma Donoghue's novel directed by Chilean filmmaker Lelio – who won an Oscar for his 2017 feature A Fantastic Woman. 0:57 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
CBC
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
3 'diverse' historical fiction novels that transport you to another time
Ever since she was a child, CBC Books associate producer and columnist Talia Kliot has been drawn to historical fiction. While she enjoys stories set in eras or places she already finds intriguing, what truly captivates her is the genre's ability to introduce readers to unfamiliar histories and cultures. "I like to look for books that are part of different time periods and different places that I don't necessarily know so much about," said Kliot. "The stuff that we don't always cover in school, the places that I've never been, or never even thought of exploring." The 2025 CBC Poetry Prize is now open For Kliot, historical fiction is more than escapism; it's a way to learn about the world through the lens of personal stories and lived experience. On The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing, she shared three of her recent favourites — diverse novels set in different countries and time periods — and what she learned from them. The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue The Paris Express provides a vivid account of late 19th-century France, exploring the fears and desires of the time through a group of passengers — diverse in their social class, age and occupation, aboard the Granville-Paris express. The fascinating stories of the passengers, including a young boy traveling solo, a pregnant woman on the run, a medical student and the devoted railway workers, are woven around the central, suspenseful plot of a young anarchist on a mission. But this is no ordinary journey. The story unfolds on the day of the infamous 1895 French railway disaster. Donoghue is an Irish Canadian writer whose books include the novels Landing, Room, Frog Music, The Wonder, The Pull of the Stars, Learned by Heart and the children's book The Lotterys Plus One. Room was an international bestseller and was adapted into a critically acclaimed film starring Brie Larson. Talia Kliot says: "Trains in this period are new, they're exciting. [They] are the hot commodity. It connects all of Europe, the whole country. [Donoghue] just plops you in the head of each [of] the perspective of each of the characters... they all have such distinct personalities and perspectives. The humanness and the stuckness of all of them on this train really shines through, through the jumping of perspectives." In Finding Flora, Scottish newcomer to Canada, Flora, escapes her abusive husband to the Alberta prairie, determined to rebuild her life. But when a hostile government threatens their land and her violent husband is on the hunt for her, Flora forms a bond with her neighbours — a Welsh widow with three children, two American women raising chickens and a Métis woman training wild horses. United, the women come together to face their challenges. Elinor Florence is an author, journalist and member of the Métis Nation of B.C. Her debut novel was Bird's Eye View, and her second novel, Wildwood, was one of Kobo's Hundred Most Popular Canadian Books of All Time. Florence holds degrees in English and journalism. She grew up in Saskatchewan and currently lives in Invermere, B.C. Talia Kliot says: "It's really powerful to see these people of different backgrounds who don't necessarily all get along super well at the beginning, because they don't want to be lumped in together as the 'women homesteaders [who] all need help.' They want to prove that they can do it on their own, but end up finding such a powerful community and togetherness in the work that they're doing." The Immortal Woman by Su Chang In the novel The Immortal Woman, Lemei's daughter, Lin, struggles with distancing herself from her Chinese heritage while studying in America. At the same time, she is taken aback by her mother's increasing nationalism toward China — this shift is especially surprising considering her mother had once been a student Red Guard leader who had witnessed the atrocities of the Tiananmen Square protests. Su Chang is a Chinese Canadian writer born and raised in Shanghai. The Immortal Woman is her debut novel. Her writing has been recognized in numerous contests, including Prairie Fire's Short Fiction Contest, the Master Review's Novel Excerpt Contest and the Canadian Authors Association Toronto National Writing Contest, among the others. Talia Kliot says:"I really like how you're learning about history and a time period that, like, I really didn't know a lot about, but you're learning it through humans, through stories, through people that you can relate to. We're learning about politics, but you're getting such a human perspective, and this mother-daughter relationship that mothers and daughters can certainly relate to."
Hamilton Spectator
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
10 of the most promising theatre productions this summer outside of Toronto, Stratford and Shaw
The Toronto theatre season might be winding down, but that doesn't mean there's nothing happening on stages this spring and summer. And I'm not talking about the Stratford and Shaw festivals, which should obviously already be on your to-do list. Just a couple of hours from the GTA you'll find plenty of entertaining plays and musicals, including a few world premieres. Here's a roundup of some buzzy shows in Ontario that, combined with a picnic lunch or B&B stay, would make a perfect day trip or weekend escape. Who: Emma Donoghue Where: Blyth Festival in Blyth The Dublin-born and now London, Ont.-based Emma Donoghue is best known as the author of the bestselling novel 'Room,' which was made into an Oscar-winning film and adapted for the stage several years ago. Now she's debuting a folk musical about Henry and Jane Johnson, a real-life couple who left the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s to settle in Southwestern Ontario. Landon Doak ('Peter Pan,' 'Alice in Wonderland') and Shelayna Christante (Bad Hats Theatre's 'Narnia') star as the couple, and both will sing traditional songs and Irish ballads in this poignant work, directed by Blyth's artistic director, Gil Garratt. From June 26 to Aug. 12. Visit for details. Who: Cale Crowe and Genevieve Adam Where: Capitol Theatre in Port Hope Toronto theatregoers will recognize writer/actor Genevieve Adam from her historical dramas 'Dark Heart,' 'Heartless' and 'Deceitful Above all Things.' Now she's teamed up with Anishnaabe singer/songwriter Cale Crowe for 'Rez Gas,' a musical about a man (John Wamsley from '1939' ) who leaves his reservation to pursue a music career, only to return home. Young People's Theatre's Herbie Barnes directs a cast that includes Cheri Maracle, Jonathan Fisher and Dillan Chiblow. From Aug. 22 to Sep. 7. Visit for details. Who: Rebecca Northan Where: Here for Now Theatre in Stratford Is there anything Rebecca Northan can't do? The Dora Award-winning creator of international hit 'Blind Date,' alum of both Stratford and Shaw festivals, and one-third of the recent Toronto Theatre Critics' Award-winning ensemble for 'Goblin:Macbeth' now presents a new comedy. 'Stick Around' is about a woman in her mid-40s who seeks life advice from her mother, who's been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Directed by Kevin Kruchkywich, the play is loosely inspired by Northan's own personal experience during the last eight weeks with her mother. So expect a mix of laughter and tears when the play helps inaugurate the company's brand new venue. From May 28 to June 8. Visit for details. Who: Norm Foster Where: Orillia Opera House in Orillia Back in the early aughts, Norm Foster — considered Canada's most prolific and most produced playwright — wrote 'The Love List,' about two middle-aged men who were searching for the ideal woman. Now Foster is creating gender parity in 'A Woman's Love List,' a new comedy about two women who write down all the qualities they want in a man … and he suddenly appears. From July 3 to 18. Visit for details. Who: Megan Murphy Where: 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook Audiences at the outdoor 4th Line Theatre know to expect works that draw on the history and heritage of the rural region just southwest of Peterborough. Megan Murphy's 'Wild Irish Geese' tells the story of Irish people who left poverty in the old country (see also 'The Wind Coming Over the Sea,' above) to settle in Scott's Plains, later renamed Peterborough. The company's managing artistic director, Kim Blackwell, directs this premiere production. From July 29 to Aug. 30. Visit for details. Who: Robert Harling Where: Capitol Theatre The film adaptation is a beloved classic, so why doesn't Robert Harling's comedy drama — about a group of women in the American South — get more professional revivals? Well, never you mind. Just take the 401 to Port Hope to see Courtney Ch'ng Lancaster's production, featuring Raquel Duffy, Belinda Corpuz, Carolyn Fe, Brenda Robins and — as the play's mother/daughter combo — Deborah Drakeford and Charlotte Dennis, who are mother and daughter in real life. Remember to bring tissues. From July 18 to Aug. 3. Visit for details. Who: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice Where: Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend and Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge Even if you caught the recent 50th-anniversary revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's groundbreaking musical, you might want to check it out again in this Drayton Theatre production. Especially with stars like Stratford leading man Robert Markus as Jesus, Shaw Fest vet Emily Lukasik as Mary Magdalene and original 'Come From Away' Broadway cast member Lee MacDougall as Pontius Pilate. They're joined by Christopher Ning (a standout in the recent off-Mirvish production of 'Titanique' ) and Jade McLeod ('Jagged Little Pill' North American tour). From June 11 to 28 and July 3 to 27. Visit for details. Who: Mark Crawford Where: Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque Like Foster, prolific actor/writer Mark Crawford's comedies are hugely popular yet rarely get produced in Toronto. (The only professional production we've seen is 'Bed & Breakfast' at Soulpepper .) So it might be worth the trek east to the gorgeous Thousand Islands area to see this side-splitting comedy about the lead-up to a wedding, with a cast that includes Shaw regular Emily Lukasik, Amelia Sargisson ('Red Velvet') and 'Come From Away' actor Kyle Brown, all directed by the Dora-winning Cherissa Richards. From Aug. 22 to Sept. 14. Visit for details. Who: Annabel Fitzsimmons, Alison Lawrence and Mary Francis Moore Where: County Stage Company in Prince Edward County I was a huge fan of Annabel Fitzsimmons, Alison Lawrence and Mary Francis Moore 's play 'Bittergirl' when it premiered way back in 1999. The show, about finding the humour in getting dumped, was turned into a book several years later and then, eventually, a musical featuring songs from the 1960s and '70s. Even the Mirvishes helped develop it. The show has been produced across the country, but never in Toronto. Prince Edward County isn't too far from the GTA. So grab your besties, order tickets and hope you don't run into your exes during intermission or at the neighbouring wineries. From July 18 to Aug. 13. Visit for details. Who: Anne Chislett Where: Blyth Festival Anne Chislett's moving drama set in a small Amish community on the eve of the Second World War premiered at the Blyth Festival in 1981 and won the Governor General's Award two years later. Productions of this Canadian classic are rare, so don't miss this opportunity to see it performed at the festival's atmospheric outdoor Harvest Stage, directed by Severn Thompson and with a cast headed by two of stalwarts of the theatre scene, Randy Hughson and Michelle Fisk. From July 3 to Aug. 23. Visit for details.
