The Canada’s National Arts Centre is set to host its first ever NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival. Here’s what you can expect.
The NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival will host ten events over 11 days, featuring two concerts from Popular Music and Variety’s Fridays at the Fourth series, two free panels and the Spoken Word presentation The Old Black Maple, will hold two performances. To check out the entire festival, check out the schedule below or visitwww.nac-cna.ca/en/series/hip-hop-theatre-festival-2023.
NAC HipHop Theatre Festival PlaylistThe NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival debuts tomorrow in Ottawa! In support of the festival, the NAC has teamed up with CapCityHipHop to curate a Spotify playlist featuring artists such as Charron, City Fidelia, Lia Kloud, Slayverii, and more, who will be performing at the eleven-day event from January 31st to February 10th, 2024. The festival will revolve around the text-based essence of hip-hop, opening with a free monumental Hip Hop Cypher. Subsequent performances will encompass battle rap, spoken word, staged readings, panels, concerts, and virtual events, all aimed at broadening our perspective on how we view and experience theatre at its core. Stream and follow the playlist on Spotify.
The Cypher Wednesday, January 31, 8 p.m. Peter A. Herrndorf Place – FREE
One of hip hop’s most exciting displays of spontaneity, skill and creativity, the cypher is the official kick-off to the 10-day festival that pays homage to the genre’s theatrical roots. Rap’s answer to improv theatre, cyphers feature rappers taking turns as they share stanzas and verses in a real-time jam session. MCs City Fidelia, Fletcher G, ConcreteRose LaDon, Aspects and Slayverii along with DJ MusicByJayel will showcase a wide range of creative styles, sub-genres, and flows.
Can I Kick It Too?: An exploration of Queerness in Hip Hop
Thursday, February 1, 1 p.m. Peter A. Herrndorf Place in person and online – FREE
Freedom: A Mixtape – Live and Unpluggedb current Performing Arts Thursday, February 1, 8 p.m. Azrieli Studio
This multidisciplinary work blends original songs, stories, poems, anecdotes, and spoken word pieces from artists around the Niagara Region. Originally conceived as a digital compilation album, this will be its in-person premiere.
Dangerous Minds: In Conversation with the Hip Hop Headucatorz Saturday, February 3, 1 p.m. Peter A. Herrndorf Place in person and online – FREE
The Old Black Maple Saturday, February 3, Azrieli Studio 7 p.m. 9:30 p.m. – Black Out Night Performance
Anchored by rhyme, word play, and storytelling, spoken word is a powerful medium that blends poetry and performance. These artists have plenty in common with rappers—with some poets counting themselves as both—finding their creative homes in complex cadences and improvisation, with or without a beat. Co-curated and hosted by poets Rose-Ingrid Benjamin and Joshua “Scribe” Watkis, they and artists Ikenna Onyegbula, Brandon Wint, Jadyn Hardie-Bardy, and Ottawa’s Poet Laureate MayaSpoken will bring their words to life with a series of creative live readings.
Twisted Created and Performed by Charlotte Corbeil–Coleman and Joseph Jomo Pierre Wednesday, February 7, 8 p.m., Fourth Stage
How do text messages and a Charles Dickens classic from 1838 connect in the modern era? In this reimagining of Oliver Twist, TWISTED follows Ollie and Nancy, roles reprised by the show’s playwrights Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman and Joseph Jomo Pierre, as they navigate the gritty streets of Toronto.
Brotherhood: The Hip Hopera Created and Performed by Sébastien Heins Thursday, February 8, 8 p.m., Azrieli Studio
After twin rap stars CashMoney and MoneyPussy get into a car accident that kills one of the siblings, this unique one-man production follows the other as he grapples with his new identity and life outside of a close-knit duo.
The training ground for many of the world’s best lyricists, rap battles see speed and braggadocio take center stage as skilled wordsmiths compete by crafting verses in real-time, each hopefully better than their opponent’s. In celebration of Canada’s 45 years of Hip Hop history, this all-star rap battle will close out NAC’s inaugural Hip Hop Theatre Festival.
Hosted by Organik Charron vs Cali Smoov A Ward vs 100 Bulletz PORICH vs Apex Joey Gambello vs NBS
Fridays At The Fourth Popular Music and Variety’s Fridays At The Fourth is excited to introduce emerging Hip Hop artists from across Canada to the stage as part of NAC’s inaugural Hip Hop Theatre Festival.
DijahSB and Charmaine with Lia KloudFriday, February 9 8:30 p.m. Fourth Stage