A powerful, disturbing and comic tale of family, love and despair
From Tuesday, April 23 to Sunday, April 28, Crow’s Theatre presents the Cunning Concepts & Creations production of Cliff Cardinal’s critically acclaimed, award-winning solo show Huff, returning to Streetcar Crowsnest for a special, one-week presentation.
Seven performances only!
Huff is the savagely funny and harrowing tale of Wind and his brothers as they struggle with their mother’s death, a reserve school system that’s failing them and a solvent-abuse problem. Wind’s fantastic, gas-induced dream world blurs his harsh reality in this entertaining and eye-opening tale.
“We have disparaging rates of youth suicide. Sexual abuse is a dark part of our national history. First Nation’s people are still fighting to reclaim parts of our culture that were stolen in genocide. Huff is a punk show. It’s a fuck you to a society that would put our little brothers and sisters’ backs against the wall. I wanted to throw a brick.”
– Cliff Cardinal, Writer & performer
Cliff Cardinal is a Toronto-based playwright known for his dark humour, compassionate poeticism and lauded solo shows Stitch, Huff, Cliff Cardinal’s CBC Special and William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, A Radical Retelling, for which he won the 2023 Governor General’s Literary Award in drama and which continues to tour under the revised title The Land Acknowledgement, or As You Like It.
On April 28, a live pre-show taping of CBC’s IDEAS inspired by the show
IDEAS at Crow’s Theatre presents a live taping of CBC Radio’s IDEAS “(Land) Back to the Future”, featuring Riley Yesno, on Sunday, April 28 at 10:30 AM ET ahead of the show’s last performance. Inspired by this show, Anishinaabe scholar Riley Yesno will explore Indigenous futurism and the connection between dreams and new realities. NOTE: Admission to the taping is free, but space is limited, and separate tickets are needed if you’ll also be attending the show afterwards. Reserve your spot here.
About Cunning Concepts & Creations
Cunning Concepts & Creations (CC&C) is a management/production/touring company founded by actor/producer Ryan Cunningham. CC&C is currently touring Cliff Cardinal’s DORA award-winning production of Huff across Canada and abroad.
About Crow’s Theatre
For 40 years, Crow’s Theatre has been a leading force in the Canadian theatre landscape, recognized for its provocative and award-winning theatre work. Crow’s Theatre is distinguished as a pre-eminent cultural organization for its far-reaching imagination, cultural exchange, and grassroots belief that the arts are essential to healthy and thriving communities. Recent celebrated productions include Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, The Master Plan, Uncle Vanya and Fifteen Dogs.
(Photo credits: Cliff Cardinal, photo by akipari.)
Event details
Hosted by: A Cunning Concepts & Creations production, presented by Crow’s Theatre
Type of event: theatre performance
Written & performed by: Cliff Cardinal
Directed by: Karin Randoja
Dates: Tuesday, April 23 – Sunday, April 28, 2024
Start times: Tuesday – Saturday @ 7:30 PM ET; Saturday & Sunday matinées @ 1:30 PM ET
Duration: Approximately 75 minutes (no intermission)
Cost: Tickets range from C$28.25 for Arts workers – $90.40 Premium reserved seating
Location: Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4M 2T1
Booking link: Book your tickets here.
Contact Details: Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4M 2T1, Canada; Box office: 647-341-7390 ext. 1010; boxoffice@crowstheatre.com, crowstheatre.com
Content warning: Explicit language, difficult themes and graphic scenes depicting sexual violence, addiction and suicide.
Accessibility: Streetcar Crowsnest accessibility info here.
Refund policy: Box office and ticket info here.
The script for Huff is available from Young W, in a single volume with Cardinal’s play Stitch.