Ottawa Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations

Review: VIERGE at Great Canadian Theatre Company
by Courtney Castelino - March 21, 2025

What did our critic think of VIERGE at Great Canadian Theatre Company?...

Review: Orpheus Musical Theatre's Production of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL
by Courtney Castelino - March 02, 2025

This production highlights what Orpheus does well: quality vocals, simple, yet effective sets, and great chemistry among the cast that keeps the audience invested....

Review: THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION at Ottawa Little Theatre
by Courtney Castelino - February 28, 2025

Tackling the stage adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption would be a daunting task for anyone, so it was with equal parts anticipation and apprehension that I approached the theatre for the opening night performance at Ottawa Little Theatre....

Review: Compagnie Virginie Brunelle's FABLES at the National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - February 28, 2025

Fables is a co-production between the National Arts Centre and Montreal’s Compagnie Virginie Brunelle that is presented as a series of tableaux, where embattled women become larger than life in their grandeur, strength, and resilience....

Review: GISELLE at Ottawa's National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - January 31, 2025

​​​​​​​Giselle may be dubbed 'the ballerina's Hamlet' because of the complexity of the title role, but Tirion Law effortlessly tackles the challenges and uses them to showcase her talent as principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada....

Review: SALESMAN IN CHINA at National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - January 21, 2025

NAC English Theatre presents the Stratford Festival’s production of Salesman in China, written by Canadian playwrights, Leanna Brodie and Jovanni Sy for two weeks only at the National Arts Centre. Arthur Miller’s acclaimed play, Death of a Salesman, was written in 1949. The story is about Willy Loma...

Review: QAUMMA at National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - January 17, 2025

What did our critic think of QAUMMA at National Arts Centre?...

Review: Outerbridge Magic's MYSTERIES OF THE KEYHOLE HOUSE at Ottawa Little Theatre
by Courtney Castelino - January 03, 2025

Isn't Ottawa magical at this time of year with all the glistening snow, twinkle lights, and vanishing acts? Yes, you heard that right. Ted and Marion Outerbridge, the duo behind Outerbridge Magic, are getting Ottawa's new year off to a magical start with their Mysteries of the Keyhole House at Ottaw...

Review: Broadway Across Canada's Presentation of MJ THE MUSICAL at the National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - January 01, 2025

What did our critic think of Broadway Across Canada's Presentation of MJ THE MUSICAL at the National Arts Centre?...

Review: Ottawa Musicals' THE HUMBUG HUSTLE at Great Canadian Theatre Company
by Courtney Castelino - December 30, 2024

What did our critic think of OTTAWA MUSICALS' THE HUMBUG HUSTLE at Great Canadian Theatre Company?...

Review: Pierre Brault's A CHRISTMAS CAROL: SOLO at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe
by Courtney Castelino - December 18, 2024

What did our critic think of A CHRISTMAS CAROL: SOLO at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe?...

Review: FLOP! AN IMPROVISED MUSICAL FIASCO at Great Canadian Theatre Company
by Courtney Castelino - December 13, 2024

What did our critic think of FLOP! AN IMPROVISED MUSICAL FIASCO at Great Canadian Theatre Company?...

Review: BEAR GREASE at National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - December 11, 2024

What did our critic think of BEAR GREASE at National Arts Centre?...

Review: ON THE FARCE DAY OF CHRISTMAS at Ottawa Little Theatre
by Courtney Castelino - December 07, 2024

What did our critic think of ON THE FARCE DAY OF CHRISTMAS at Ottawa Little Theatre?...

Review: NAC Dance's Presentation of Les Grands Ballet Canadiens' THE NUTCRACKER
by Courtney Castelino - December 07, 2024

What did our critic think of NAC Dance's Presentation of Les Grands Ballet Canadiens' THE NUTCRACKER?...

Review: Toto Too Theatre's Presentation of THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at The Gladstone
by Courtney Castelino - November 30, 2024

What did our critic think of THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at The Gladstone?...

Review: BEOWULF IN AFGHANISTAN at Great Canadian Theatre Company
by Courtney Castelino - November 18, 2024

What did our critic think of BEOWULF IN AFGHANISTAN at Great Canadian Theatre Company?...

Review: Orpheus Musical Theatre's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
by Courtney Castelino - November 17, 2024

What did our critic think of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY at Orpheus Musical Theatre?...

Review: DANGEROUS LIAISONS at Kanata Theatre
by Courtney Castelino - November 07, 2024

Kanata Theatre opened its 56th season this week with Dangerous Liaisons, a steamy historical play set in pre-Revolutionary France, written by Christopher Hampton and directed here by Sarah Hegger. The play is based upon a novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, entitled Les Liaisons Dangereuses, publis...

Review: SNOW IN MIDSUMMER at the National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - November 03, 2024

What did our critic think of SNOW IN MIDSUMMER at National Arts Centre?...

Review: GUILTY CONSCIENCE at Ottawa Little Theatre
by Courtney Castelino - November 01, 2024

Arthur Jamison (David McIntyre) wants nothing more than to kill his wife. A criminal attorney by profession, as he obsesses on the couch in his New York City townhouse, he realizes he has a big problem. ...

Review: Ovation Productions' INTO THE WOODS at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe
by Courtney Castelino - October 28, 2024

Ovation Productions presents one high quality musical theatre show per year in Ottawa. Last year’s presentation of Cabaret was outstanding, and I had high hopes for Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods this year. This production shares its run with Broadway Across Canada’s presentation of Disney's The ...

Review: DISNEY'S THE LION KING at National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - October 26, 2024

What did our critic think of DISNEY'S THE LION KING at National Arts Centre?...

Review: Chamber + Silent Tides + Bolero X at Ottawa's National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - October 18, 2024

What did our critic think of Chamber + Silent Tides + Bolero X at National Arts Centre? Read the review. ...

Review: FIRST METIS MAN OF ODESA at National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - September 21, 2024

What did our critic think of FIRST MÉTIS MAN OF ODESA at National Arts Centre?...