Vierge
written by Rachel Mutombo
directed by Dian Marie Bridge
a GCTC co-production with Black Theatre Workshop
March 18 – 30, 2025
Up next at Ottawa’s GCTC, Vierge explores faith and friendship
Great Canadian Theatre Company will close its 24-25 50th Anniversary Season with Vierge – from award-winning Montreal playwright Rachel Mutombo.
Running March 18-30 at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre, Vierge is directed by Dian Marie Bridge and is a co-production with Montreal’s Black Theatre Workshop.
Vierge explores the world through the lens of four Congolese-Canadian teenagers. Sixteen-year-old Divine’s family joins a new church, where she makes new friends and learns that the world around her is not as it seems. The girls navigate Christianity, virginity, and teenage hormones with a mix of humour and heart.
“I am excited to highlight a talented young writer such as Rachel. She brings a fresh Black voice to the stage.” says director Dian Marie Bridge. “Vierge explores Black life beyond trauma, power dynamics, the influence of the church, and the often hidden challenges faced by young Black girls. This work confronts memory, internalized blame, and predatory behaviour, capturing a too-soon coming of age with depth and authenticity.”
Mutombo is an award-winning actor and writer and an acting graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada. Vierge, her breakout play, was awarded first prize in Infinitheatre’s Write-On-Q playwriting competition as well as recently being shortlisted for the Quebec Writers’ Federation Prize for Playwriting.
“I wrote this play to celebrate and honour the resilience, the courage and the hilarity of African women,” says Mutombo. “In the face of adversity, we rise, we find joy, we dance, we laugh.”
Vierge will run for two weeks at GCTC’s Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre. Get your tickets now at gctc.ca/vierge!
Vierge
written by Rachel Mutombo
directed by Dian Marie Bridge
a GCTC co-production with Black Theatre Workshop
Cast
Espoir Segbeaya – Divine
Symantha Stewart – Bien-Aimé
Joy Mwandemange – Sarah
Seeara Lindsay – Grace
Artistic Team
Dian Marie Bridge – Director
Ravyn R. Bekh – Assistant Director
Zoe Roux – Set & Lighting Design
Georges Michael Fanfan – Costume Design
Elena Stoodley – Sound Design
Danielle Skene – Stage Manager
Corey Weiser – Apprentice Stage Manager
Shopdogs – Production Management/Technical Direction
Charlotte Castel – Design Assistant
Sarah Shippobotham – Dialect Coach
Zach Counsil – Fight Director
ABOUT GCTC
GCTC is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season in 2024-25, continuing to foster, produce and promote excellent theatre that provokes examination of Canadian life and our place in the world. GCTC aims to increase the diversity on its stages and in its creative teams, as well as to make its work inclusive for more audiences and deepen their experience. GCTC continues to embrace artistic risk and ensure a wide range of theatrical experiences.
ABOUT BLACK THEATRE WORKSHOP
Black Theatre Workshop (BTW) is Canada’s longest-running theatre company dedicated to the works of Black and diasporic communities. BTW’s mission is to promote and produce outstanding theatre that educates, entertains, and inspires. Black Theatre Workshop pushes boundaries and inspires dialogue to increase people’s understanding of cultural differences, perspectives, and experiences. BTW encourages individuals to step outside of their comfort zone, through its honest representation of Black culture and society. BTW is Black, bold, and brave storytelling.