montreal arts calendar 2025 FTA festival transamériques Hatched Ensemble photo by Val Adamson

Hatched Ensemble, coming to FTA. Photo by Val Adamson

Arts & Life

Montreal Arts Calendar for Spring 2025

by Savannah Stewart

The most promising plays, dance productions and exhibitions in Montreal this season.

The Arts Calendar for Spring 2025 features the most promising plays, dance productions, visual art exhibitions and multimedia experiences happening and launching in Montreal in April and May.

Bad Girls Only

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts presents Bad Girls Only, an exhibition exploring how women became linked to sin through iconic prints and drawings from the Early Modern period. Featuring works by Albrecht Dürer, Hendrick Goltzius, Jacob Matham and Hieronymous Wierix, the show critiques the lasting impact of associating women with the Seven Deadly Sins. Interactive features will also invite visitors to consider how notions of sin still influence self-perception and to what extent the seven sins are still tied to womanhood today. Bad Girls Only is at the Museum of Fine Arts (1380 Sherbrooke W.) through Aug. 10

Jordan

The latest play from Geordie Theatre, directed by Jimmy Blais and written by Yvette Nolan, reimagines Jordan River Anderson as a superhero confronting healthcare challenges that Indigenous children face. The piece highlights the creation of Jordan’s Principle and the fight for justice within Indigenous communities. A relaxed performance will take place on Sunday, April 6, at 1 p.m., with reduced sound and lighting effects and freedom of movement for audience members. Suitable for ages six and up, Jordan was developed with Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal. Jordan is at Centaur Theatre (453 St-François-Xavier), April 3–13

Montreal Clown Fest

Sold-out shows, panel discussions, improv and a talent show MCed by Montreal’s drag star Uma Gahd — the eighth edition of the Festival des clowns de Montréal is sure to get you laughing. With a different event scheduled every day, the festival promises variety, including international acts and kid-friendly performances. Montreal Clown Fest takes place at various venues, April 4–12

DIRT

DIRT pushes the boundaries between street dance and contemporary movement with a distinctive signature style. This striking piece brings together five virtuoso performers in a raw and powerful expression that critiques humanity’s conquering relationship with the planet. Blending puppetry with conceptual hip hop, choreographer Elon Höglund creates a profound meditation on our ancestral connection to the earth. The result is an unforgettable fusion of movement and meaning, challenging audiences to rethink their bond with nature. DIRT is at Agora de la danse’s Édifice Wilder (1435 de Bleury #102), April 9–12

[guāng yīn] The Lightest Dark Is Darker Than the Darkest Light

Nien Tzu Weng’s latest creation intertwines movement and memory in a dreamlike, immersive performance. After 15 years in Canada, Weng retraces her past, seeking to understand why she left Taiwan in the first place. Drawing on ancient Taoist concepts of yin and yang, Weng deconstructs her own movement practices, blending inner and outer worlds, and merging physical and virtual spaces. The performance unfolds as a layered dreamscape where dance, gestures, luminous robots and evocative scenery intertwine, inviting audiences to journey through time and identity. [guāng yīn] The Lightest Dark Is Darker Than the Darkest Light is at MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance), April 9–12

Triptych

The Belgian company Peeping Tom is staging Triptych, a surreal trilogy that blends dance, theatre and cinema in a hyperrealist, genre-defying experience. Directed by Gabriela Carrizo and Franck Chartier, the performance challenges perceptions of time and space, immersing the audience as voyeurs of haunting, intimate dramas. The trilogy unfolds in three confined spaces — a parlor filled with locked doors, a boat cabin and a flooded, abandoned restaurant — where tormented characters grapple with forces beyond their control. Seamless set changes unfold like film scenes, amplifying the eerie, dreamlike atmosphere with unsettling soundscapes. Renowned for its raw physicality and inventive storytelling, Triptych pushes the boundaries of contemporary performance art. Triptych is at Place des Arts’s Théâtre Maisonneuve (260 de Maisonneuve W., 2nd floor), April 16–19

Pounding the Pavement 

Discover Montreal’s vibrant history through the lens of local photographers at this captivating street photography exhibition. Featuring over 400 photos from the 19th century to today, the exhibit showcases diverse perspectives on the city’s urban fabric, from public arenas and protest sites to local culture and architecture. Hosted at the McCord Stewart Museum, Pounding the Pavement brings together established artists, hidden talents and underrepresented voices, offering a rich visual journey through Montreal’s complexity, contradictions and charm. Pounding the Pavement is at the McCord Museum (690 Sherbrooke W.), April 18–Oct. 26

Festival 100Lux

Montreal festival 100Lux celebrates street dance and hip hop culture with a dynamic lineup of local and international talent for its 13th edition. The festival’s week-long program features performances, battles, workshops, parties, and conferences, spotlighting the vibrant intersection of dance and music. Highlights include the Syncopated Rootz workshops and party featuring workshops by Hurrikane (NYC) and Chester Whitmore (NYC), plus a dance night with DJs Namco, Sovann and Blackgold. Festival 100Lux takes place at various venues, April 21–27

Hocus Pocus

Choreographer Philippe Saire’s Hocus Pocus promises a whimsical, surreal journey that blurs the line between reality and illusion, presenting a playful spectacle for all ages. Set in a mysterious frame defined by floating neon lights, two dancers, Lucas and Claus, embark on fantastical adventures. As bodies, faces and props appear and vanish like magic, the performance transports audiences from the clouds to the ocean depths. Expect dreamlike scenes and a soundtrack to match, contortionist escapes, wacky flying machines and encounters with fantastical aquatic creatures. Hocus Pocus is at Place des Arts’s Cinquième Salle (175 Ste-Catherine W.), April 22–26

Chaque jour se tenir entre les trous

Interdisciplinary artist Sylvie Cotton presents a performance that explores breathing as a universal experience. Blending storytelling, imagery, objects and movement, Cotton reimagines respiration as more than just a physical act — it’s a shared breath that transcends time and history. Breathing becomes a poetic and political gesture, carrying both nourishment and pollution, kindness and revolt. Through this contemplative piece, Cotton reflects on the interdependence of all living beings and the subtle power of life’s continuous flow. Chaque jour se tenir entre les trous is at Agora de la danse’s Édifice Wilder (1435 de Bleury #102), April 23–26 

a hole is a hole is a hole is

A tragicomic dance performance that challenges self-perception and societal norms. Set around a lavishly decorated table, guests are drawn into existential musings disguised as small talk: identity, legacy and queerness in a world grappling with global destruction. Inspired by Audre Lorde’s concept of “biomythography,” the performance weaves personal narratives into myth, blending choreography, confessions and vows. It’s an immersive family gathering where stories of coming out are revisited and reframed with humour and reflection. a hole is a hole is a hole is is at MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance), April 24–26

Our Little Secret: The 23andMe® Musical

Written by and starring Noam Tomaschoff, this Segal Theatre production tells the wild, true story of Tomaschoff’s shocking DNA discovery: he’s not an only child, but one of more than 35 siblings scattered around the globe. Blending comedy, drama and a range of musical styles, with music by Ryan Peters and direction by Tracey Erin Smith, the show captures Tomaschoff’s journey from disbelief to acceptance, delivering a message about family and identity. Our Little Secret: The 23andMe® Musical is at the Segal Centre (5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine), April 27–May 18

CARCAÇA

In CARCAÇA, choreographer Marco da Silva Ferreira explores the place of dance in contemporary society and in our understanding of the communities we are a part of. Known for his background in urban and club dancing, the self-taught Portuguese artist blends street dance forms of Afro-American heritage like voguing and house dance with the rhythmic traditions of Portuguese folklore. Performed by 10 dancers and two musicians — a percussionist and an electronic musician — CARCAÇA is a high-energy performance that reclaims local symbols and challenges the erasure of cultural specificity in an increasingly globalized world. CARCAÇA is at Théâtre Maisonneuve (260 de Maisonneuve W.), April 30–May 3

Tout s’effondre

Helen Simard’s Tout s’effondre explores the poetry of falling and rebirth. Featuring nine dancers and a musician, Simard’s show reflects on both physical and symbolic falls, revealing the raw beauty of collapse while balancing between virtuosity and vulnerability. This piece delves into the human condition — order and chaos, action and inaction, the individual and the collective — and the constant reinvention of humanity. Tout s’effondre is at Agora de la danse’s Édifice Wilder (1435 de Bleury #102), May 7–10 

For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again

A new production of Michel Tremblay’s For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, en anglais,  breathes fresh life into a classic of Quebec theatre. Directed by Alice Ronfard and starring Ellen David and Emmanuel Schwartz, this beloved play honours Tremblay’s mother — the spirited, witty woman who inspired his passion for storytelling. Set in working-class Montreal of the 1950s and ’60s, the play blends humour and nostalgia, capturing the complex bond between mother and son. Originally premiering at Centaur in 1998, the English version of the play became a hit across Canada and the U.S. For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again is at Centaur Theatre (453 St-François-Xavier), May 13–June 1

Les Nocturnes du MAC

Celebrate the MAC’s 60th anniversary in style with the legendary Nocturnes, back in a fresh format with the Société des arts technologiques (SAT). Enjoy performances, creative workshops, local artists, DJs and a new family-friendly afternoon experience, curated by Mojeanne Behzadi. The evening program includes a collaboration between singer-songwriter Elisapie and artist Caroline Monnet, with Hologramme, as well as DJs from Laylit and additional music by the MUTEK festival. Les Nocturnes du MAC takes place At SAT (1201 St-Laurent) on May 17

Festival TransAmériques

The 19th edition of FTA will showcase the work of 200 choreographers, directors, performers, and designers from 23 countries, presenting “multiple visions of the world through powerful, moving and sometimes disturbing dance and theatre shows.” Among the shows is the North American premiere of danses vagabondes, a new solo piece by dance legend Louise Lecavalier; AUTOGYNEGAMY, ie. the actual wedding of local artist and LGBTQ2IA+ icon Elle Barbara featuring music, dance, multimedia and revisionist Bible stories amid the architectural splendour of Très-Saint-Rédempteur church; Taverna Miresia – Mario Bella Anastasia, a wordless play evoking his father’s absence while paying tribute to the women who have shaped his life; and the celebratory C la vie, a free closing show in Parc La Fontaine’s Théâtre de Verdure by Burkinabè choreographer Serge Aimé Coulibaly. Festival TransAmériques takes place at various venues, May 22–June 5 

Millepertuis

Choreographer Sovann Rochon-Prom Tep presents a solo performance that blends exuberance with surrender. The work showcases the personality, charisma and overflowing energy of street dance virtuoso Walid Hammani (aka Waldo). A deeply personal creation for his friend and collaborator, Millepertuis shifts from euphoria to calm, revealing the contradictions and depths of the self. Walid, a master of popping and electro, moves through poignant trance-like states, with flamboyant costumes, lighting and music crafting a world where his vulnerabilities slowly come to light. Like the St. John’s Wort flower — bright yellow with hidden red ink — the performance unveils the complex layers beneath the surface. Millepertuis is at Agora de la danse’s Édifice Wilder (1435 de Bleury #102), May 23–June 2

drip or drown

Jai Nitai Lotus reimagines the hip hop concert with drip or drown, a multidimensional performance blending music, spoken word, dance, visual projections and performance art. Set within a portable studio and multiple stages, the show reflects on the artist’s ongoing quest for self-knowledge and individuality. With socially conscious lyrics and introspective themes, Lotus challenges the audience to consider how identity evolves and how fear shapes authenticity. Joined by his mentees, he opens space for reflection on whether we are defined by those around us or by our own journey. A raw, thought-provoking experience that celebrates the fluidity of identity. drip or drown at the MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance) from May 30–31

For more art events in Montreal, please visit our daily To-Do List and Event listings. This article was originally published in the April 2025 issue of Cult MTL.

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Posted in Arts & Life

by Savannah Stewart

Contributing editor for Arts
Savannah Stewart is a freelance journalist and Managing Editor at The Rover. She is passionate about community reporting and is happiest writing about art, language and culture in Montreal.