Rose by Tomson Highway
March 25, 2026 — April 4, 2026
| Location: | Babs Asper Theatre - NAC 1 Elgin Street Ottawa Canada |
| Cost: | 15 |
From Tomson Highway, award-winning Indigenous playwright of The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing, comes the musical Rose, the deeply moving and fiercely funny third chapter in his acclaimed “rez” cycle. NAC Indigenous Theatre is honoured to bring to the stage the professional world premiere!
Set on the fictional Wasaychigan Hill Reserve, the stories of three Roses bloom. The first Rose has just become chief, determined to assert her authority while preserving the integrity of her Indigenous culture. The second Rose’s pursuit of women’s liberation ended tragically seven years ago on her Harley. The third Rose never had the chance to live, leaving a deep wound in the heart of her mother, Emily Dictionary.
Emily, leader of the “Rez Sisters” motorcycle gang, is haunted by the ghosts of two lost Roses—a lover and a child. When Big Joey enlists the Sudbury Mafia to build a multi-million-dollar casino on the Rez, threatening the very soul of the community’s cherished hall, Emily, her fellow bikers, and Chief Rose must rally together to protect what matters most.
Blending Highway’s signature wit with poignant music, Rose reveals the bonds that hold a community together—and the courage needed to protect them.