NAC English Theatre presents: Hip Hop Theatre Festival
January 31 - February 10
National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street
Price: some events free, some ticketed, some online
January 31 - February 10
National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street
Price: some events free, some ticketed, some online
Curated by Rose-Ingrid Benjamin with Nina Lee Aquino and NAC Popular Music and Variety
Emerging in the 1970s from disenfranchised Black communities in the Bronx, hip hop has deeply influenced Canadian culture for over four decades. The five elements of deejaying, emceeing, graffiti, breaking and knowledge characterize hip hop not only as a musical genre but a lifestyle and culture – a highly performative art form boasting a rich history of international events which pay homage to hip hop’s inherently theatrical foundation. Inspired by this reality, the NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival invites you to join us as we celebrate the power found at this intersection.
The eleven-day 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.
NAC English Theatre is excited to join in the tradition of Hip Hop Theatre festivals being presented around the globe. We hope our unique NAC take on this tradition helps audiences cultivate a deeper respect and admiration for hip hop as a distinct and vibrant theatrical form.
The Cypher
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Jan 31, 2024 - 8 PM EST
Peter A. Herrndorf Place
Ages 16+
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/393197793200593
Can I Kick It Too?: An exploration of Queerness in hip hop
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 1, 2024 - 1 PM EST
Peter A. Herrndorf Place
Ages 13+
Free
How do queer artists thrive in an artform that has historically been unwelcoming—even hostile—to people who identify as LGBTQ+? Four Canadian artists sit … https://www.facebook.com/events/728392559171909/
Freedom: A Mixtape - Live and Unplugged
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 1, 2024 - 8 PM EST
Azrieli Studio
Ages 16+
Tickets
This multidisciplinary work blends original songs, stories, poems, anecdotes, and spoken word pieces from artists around the Niagara Region. Originally conceived as … https://www.facebook.com/events/1475568419966809
Asuquomo with S.O.A.P.
Presented by NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 2, 2024 - 8:30 PM EST
Fourth Stage
Tickets
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/412891357730127
Dangerous Minds: In Conversation with the Hip Hop...
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 3, 2024 - 1 PM EST
Peter A. Herrndorf Place
Free
Focused on bringing hip hop into the classroom as a teachable tool, the Hip Hop Headucatorz are a collective of DJs, producers, emcees, breakers and graffiti artists … https://www.facebook.com/events/833987378505889
The Old Black Maple
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 3, 2024
Azrieli Studio
Ages 16+
Tickets
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/694269659438952
Twisted
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 7, 2024 - 8 PM EST
Fourth Stage
Ages 18+
Tickets
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/908611067530696
Brotherhood: The Hip Hopera
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 8, 2024 - 8 PM EST
Azrieli Studio
Ages 16+
Tickets
After twin rap stars CashMoney & MoneyPussy get into a car accident that kills one of the siblings, this unique one-man production follows the other as he … https://www.facebook.com/events/1070357547542079
DijahSB + Charmaine with Lia Kloud
Presented by NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 9, 2024 - 8:30 PM EST
Fourth Stage
Tickets
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/3714308995513379
Cold Heat
Presented by NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival in collaboration with Charron
Feb 10, 2024 - 7 PM EST
Azrieli Studio
Ages 18+
Tickets
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/1856055631526689
Emerging in the 1970s from disenfranchised Black communities in the Bronx, hip hop has deeply influenced Canadian culture for over four decades. The five elements of deejaying, emceeing, graffiti, breaking and knowledge characterize hip hop not only as a musical genre but a lifestyle and culture – a highly performative art form boasting a rich history of international events which pay homage to hip hop’s inherently theatrical foundation. Inspired by this reality, the NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival invites you to join us as we celebrate the power found at this intersection.
The eleven-day 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.
NAC English Theatre is excited to join in the tradition of Hip Hop Theatre festivals being presented around the globe. We hope our unique NAC take on this tradition helps audiences cultivate a deeper respect and admiration for hip hop as a distinct and vibrant theatrical form.
The Cypher
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Jan 31, 2024 - 8 PM EST
Peter A. Herrndorf Place
Ages 16+
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/393197793200593
Can I Kick It Too?: An exploration of Queerness in hip hop
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 1, 2024 - 1 PM EST
Peter A. Herrndorf Place
Ages 13+
Free
How do queer artists thrive in an artform that has historically been unwelcoming—even hostile—to people who identify as LGBTQ+? Four Canadian artists sit … https://www.facebook.com/events/728392559171909/
Freedom: A Mixtape - Live and Unplugged
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 1, 2024 - 8 PM EST
Azrieli Studio
Ages 16+
Tickets
This multidisciplinary work blends original songs, stories, poems, anecdotes, and spoken word pieces from artists around the Niagara Region. Originally conceived as … https://www.facebook.com/events/1475568419966809
Asuquomo with S.O.A.P.
Presented by NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 2, 2024 - 8:30 PM EST
Fourth Stage
Tickets
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/412891357730127
Dangerous Minds: In Conversation with the Hip Hop...
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 3, 2024 - 1 PM EST
Peter A. Herrndorf Place
Free
Focused on bringing hip hop into the classroom as a teachable tool, the Hip Hop Headucatorz are a collective of DJs, producers, emcees, breakers and graffiti artists … https://www.facebook.com/events/833987378505889
The Old Black Maple
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 3, 2024
Azrieli Studio
Ages 16+
Tickets
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/694269659438952
Twisted
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 7, 2024 - 8 PM EST
Fourth Stage
Ages 18+
Tickets
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/908611067530696
Brotherhood: The Hip Hopera
NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 8, 2024 - 8 PM EST
Azrieli Studio
Ages 16+
Tickets
After twin rap stars CashMoney & MoneyPussy get into a car accident that kills one of the siblings, this unique one-man production follows the other as he … https://www.facebook.com/events/1070357547542079
DijahSB + Charmaine with Lia Kloud
Presented by NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Feb 9, 2024 - 8:30 PM EST
Fourth Stage
Tickets
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/3714308995513379
Cold Heat
Presented by NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival in collaboration with Charron
Feb 10, 2024 - 7 PM EST
Azrieli Studio
Ages 18+
Tickets
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 … https://www.facebook.com/events/1856055631526689