Pay-What-You-Decide Performances (PWYD)
In past seasons, the first Sunday performance of each mainstage production, tickets have been available at Pay-What-You-Decide pricing. This season, to celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are offering tickets to this first Sunday performance at the original 1975 ticket price of $3.50. This reduced price is available starting at noon the day before the show. To purchase, use promo code: 1975 at checkout or mention “1975 price” when calling or visiting the box office.
What if I want to purchase tickets in advance for this matinee or pay more than $3.50? How do I do that?
You can purchase regular-priced tickets for the first Sunday performance at any time. To do so please visit the show page or contact the box office to purchase your tickets as usual. At 12 pm (noon) on Saturday, any remaining tickets for the Sunday performance can be purchased for $3.50. The promo code 1975 must be entered to access this price. If you’d like to donate to increase your ticket purchase you are welcome to do so and will be prompted in the online checkout process. You do not need to add a donation to purchase a ticket.
Pay-What-You-Decide Performances in 2024-2025
[Image description: An ink drawing of a man and a woman, bent and contorted to fit into a shoebox. The woman, left, is upside-down. Around them and between them are various articles from their tiny apartment including a teapot, broom, violin, cassette tape, and a smoking furnace. The drawing is coloured in various shades of pink.]
The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine
by Robert Morgan, Martha Ross & Leah Cherniak
directed by Geoff McBride
starring Maryse Fernandes & Drew Moore
Ernest and Ernestine are in puppy love. Then they move into a tiny basement apartment together. Can their love sustain cohabitation? A hometown team of Ottawa’s finest take on this Canadian comedy classic.
1975 priced show Sunday, September 29, 2 pm
Tickets are on sale at 1975 pricing starting Saturday, September 28th at 12 pm. Please either call, visit the box office in person or purchase online.
[Image description: An ink drawing of a soldier in a helmet; a notebook, pen, pencil, and paintbrush are tucked into the helmet. The soldier has a moustache and wears glasses. Words including Grendel and homesick are tattooed on his head. Around him float images including a boot, knife, moon, skull, poppies, and more. The image is coloured in various shades of green.]
Beowulf in Afghanistan
a World Premiere by Laurie Fyffe
directed by Kate Smith
A Canadian soldier harnesses the medieval Anglo-Saxon text of Beowulf as a life raft through the clash of conflict, and after. A world premiere, supported by GCTC’s Tributary Project.
1975 priced show Sunday, Nov 17, 2 pm
Tickets are on sale at 1975 pricing starting Saturday, November 16 at 12 pm. Please either call, visit the box office in person or purchase online.
[Image description: An ink drawing of three figures with objects appearing to be thrown or floating above them in the spirit of “anything goes”! The figure to the left wears scuba goggles, a mask, and cap, their arms are raised. The central figure wears a bird head mask, standing behind an oversized microphone. The figure to the right is wearing a space helmet, their arms are raised and their mouth is open. Text across the figures reads “improv”. The image is coloured in various shades of orange.]
FLOP! An Improvised Musical Fiasco
by Ron Pederson & Alan Kliffer
directed by Alan Kliffer
starring Hannah Spear, Jan Caruana & Ron Pederson
A Klif Entertainment production
The playwright quit, there’s no sheet music, the choreographer was cancelled and the director went into rehab. World-class performers scramble to create a miraculous new musical in this highwire act of skill, comedy, and desperation.
1975 priced show Sunday, Dec 15, 2 pm
Tickets are on sale at 1975 pricing starting Saturday, December 14 at 12 pm. Please either call, visit the box office in person or purchase online.
[Image description: An ink drawing of a female figure with bangs and shoulder-length hair. She wears a backpack with rolls strapped to her back. Her body is tattooed with images including a sun and moon, heart, house, a boy, as well as text including words such as love, courage, adventure, motherhood, and Covid19. The image is coloured in various shades of purple.]
Why It’s imPossible
A play about parenting in precarious times
co-created by Sophia Fabiilli & Zoë Sweet
by Sophia Fabiilli
directed by Evalyn Parry
starring Zoë Sweet
A SweetnFab Collective production
Beth is struggling to stay afloat as a single parent, a working professional, and the 45-year-old resident of her mother’s basement. As her child explores their gender, Beth confronts her idea of what a ‘good mom’ looks like, balancing the urge to protect her child with the desire to support her kid as their authentic self. Why It’s imPossible explores the complex relationship between mother and child, life’s transitions, and parenting in precarious times.
1975 priced show Sunday, Jan 26 at 2 pm.
Tickets are on sale at 1975 pricing starting Saturday, January 25 at 12 pm. Please either call, visit the box office in person or purchase online.
[Image description: An ink drawing in which four people, bodies not shown, are holding hands in a prayer circle. Their sleeves are patterned intricately with graphic designs of circles and waves inspired by Kuba and Super Wax Cloth. In the centre of the image is the flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Floating between the hands are images such as a church, cellphone, bible, lipstick, devil, and plane. The image is coloured in various shades of blue.]
Vierge
by Rachel Mutombo
directed by Dian Marie Bridge
a GCTC co-production with Black Theatre Workshop
Sixteen-year-old Divine’s only real friend is Jesus. When her family joins a new church she learns that the world around her is not as it seems. With heart and humour, Vierge follows four Congolese-Canadian girls as they navigate Christianity, virginity, and teenage hormones.
1975 priced show Sunday, March 23, 2 pm
Tickets are on sale at 1975 pricing starting Saturday, March 22 at 12 pm. Please either call, visit the box office in person or purchase online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the tickets $3.50 this year?
As a celebration of our 50th anniversary, we decided to switch our PWYD tickets to what it used to cost in 1975 when we first opened to attend a show at GCTC.
Why do you offer lower ticket prices?
We want everyone to be able to attend theatre and not have any financial barriers in the way of attending.
I want to pick a higher price for my ticket. How do I do that?
You can purchase regular priced tickets for the first Sunday performance up to the Saturday before at noon. After this, all remaining tickets will be available for $3.50. You'll have the opportunity to pick the regular price during check-out if you prefer. If you’d like to donate to raise your ticket price for attending you are welcome to do so and will be prompted in the online checkout process.