SNOW IN MIDSUMMER DELIVERS A GHOSTLY REIMAGINING OF A LEGENDARY TALE
 
Part Murder Mystery, Part Thriller Takes Audiences on a Chilling Adventure

October 15, 2024 – OTTAWA (Canada). “This tense, emotional and at times eerie production shows how well a good ghost story can grip an audience.” – John Law, Niagara Falls Review 
 
After making its triumphant Canadian premiere this summer at the Shaw Festival, Snow in Midsummer arrives at the NAC, perfectly timed for the Halloween season. 

Dou Yi, a young widow wrongfully executed for murder, has cast a chilling curse on her town: a summer snowfall and a devastating drought will befall the townspeople. Three years later, a wealthy businesswoman arrives in the parched and locust-plagued town to revive its failing factory. When her daughter encounters a haunting apparition, the townspeople are compelled to confront their buried, harrowing past. 

Blending elements of ghost story, murder mystery, and family drama, this adaptation of a 13th-century Yuan Dynasty drama by acclaimed playwright Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig brings an ancient Chinese classic boldly into the present. Snow in Midsummer is a gripping folktale which juxtaposes redemption against revenge and delves into the depths of injustice and trauma to explore the lengths people will go to for love. 

Experience the suspense as the Azrieli Studio is transformed into the round, immersing the audience in the story's unexpected twists and turns. This contemporary thriller, which explores both corporate and personal greed, promises to be an utterly spellbinding encounter. 

Directed by NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Nina Lee Aquino and powered by a dynamic ensemble and brilliant creative team, Snow in Midsummer will lead audiences on a gripping and spine-chilling journey.

“Critic’s Pick. Snow in Midsummer will tug at your heartstrings.” – J. Kelly Nestruck, The Globe and Mail
 
SNOW IN MIDSUMMER – OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 9 AZRIELI STUDIO 
 
An NAC English Theatre presentation of the Shaw Festival Production.
 
Written by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig; Based on the classical Chinese drama The Injustice to Dou E That Moved Heaven and Earth by Guan Hanqing; Directed by Nina Lee Aquino; featuring Cosette Derome, Manami Hara, Eponine Lee, Richard Lee, Michael Man, John Ng, Travis Seetoo, Donna Soares, Jonathan Tan, Kelly Wong, Lindsay Wu; Set Design by Camellia Koo; Costume Design by Joanna Yu; Lighting Design by Michelle Ramsay; Original Music and Sound Design by John Gzowski; Fight Designer Richard Lee; Stage Manager Jane Vanstone Osborn; Assistant Stage Manager Sang-Sang Lee. 
 
PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION 

For more information and showtimes, please visit: https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/35941
 
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS   
 
The National Arts Centre Foundation would like to thank the Official Hotel Partner Ottawa Embassy Hotel & Suites. Special thank you to the Dr. Kanta Marwah Endowment for English Theatre.   
 
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE    
 
The National Arts Centre is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. The NAC presents, creates, produces, and co-produces performing arts programming in various streams — the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety — and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists from across Canada. The NAC is located in the National Capital Region on the unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation.