Halifax’s 2b theatre company, the internationally acclaimed outfit known for its bold, original works, is celebrating 25 years of creation with a unique concert event, featuring a musical triple bill from past and present 2b collaborators.
We are so proud to represent Canada on the world stage. And to get to make shows with my musical heroes is a dream. I hope folks can come out and celebrate 25 years of 2b with these superstars. – Christian Barry
“Music is the most direct road to the heart,” says 2b artistic director Christian Barry in a media release. “2b prides ourselves on making shows that grapple with big ideas, but connecting with the human heart comes before everything else. That’s why music is such a big part of what we do.”
Titled 25 Years: The Music and the Muses of 2b theatre company, the performance will take place at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 — another local institution turning 25 this year — and will feature live sets from three musicians who have played key roles in 2b’s creative journey over the past quarter century.
Among those returning for this commemorative concert is Juno award-winning singer-songwriter Hawksley Workman, who first collaborated with 2b theatre with The God That Comes, an original adaptation of the ancient story of The Bacchae that premiered in March 2013 and toured the world until 2017.
Halifax’s Ben Caplan also takes to the stage, whose first 2b theatre collaboration is Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, the company’s biggest-ever touring hit, which has been performed more than 400 times in 37 cities around the world since its 2017 debut.
Rounding out the night is Halifax’s Aquakultre, the stage name of Lance Sampson, who rose to prominence after winning CBC’s 2018 Searchlight competition. 2b theatre’s newest show, featuring the genre-blending musician, will premiere in 2026.
Each of the three artists will perform selections from shows developed in collaboration with 2b, offering audiences a glimpse into the creative processes behind their work. CBC’s Jeff Douglas will host the evening and will interview the performers live onstage between sets.
“It’s kind of a shock. We started this company when we were kids, and I still feel like a kid,” says Barry. “We are so proud to represent Canada on the world stage. And to get to make shows with my musical heroes is a dream. I hope folks can come out and celebrate 25 years of 2b with these superstars.”
The concert is just one highlight in what has already been a banner year for 2b. Earlier this month, the company toured its critically acclaimed production Red Like Fruit at Toronto’s Luminato Festival, and later this summer, the show will head to the Edinburgh Fringe. Meanwhile, 2b’s internationally celebrated Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story is set for a run in Shanghai.
Tickets for 25 Years are available now through 2b theatre’s website at 2btheatre.com.