Ridge
“Poignant and Sobering” - Globe and Mail (Top 10 Arts Pick of 2020)
“A remarkable show—the best theatre piece about World War One since Billy Bishop Goes to War.” - Jerry Wasserman, Vancouver Plays
Often called the “battle that made Canada,” Vimy Ridge resulted in over 10,000 Canadian casualties. Through direct storytelling, verbatim theatre, and live music, Brendan McLeod and The Fugitives examine misconceptions and varying perspectives around the battle, while drawing parallels to other formative events in our nation’s past. Featuring inventive musical interpretations of WWI soldier songs – which were recognized with the 2022 JUNO nomination for Best Traditional Roots Album – Ridge is a vivid, kinetic ride through history, as well as an intimate, personal examination of our connection to the past that passionately argues against the exploitation of young lives.
Ridge is now available for on demand viewing
“In my life, I have never seen a piece of theatre that addresses the realities of war in a way that seems so clear-eyed to me. So I am deeply grateful to Ridge. There’s sorrow and anger in this show, but also beauty, relief, and genuine honour in its honesty.”
“Serves to give the sacrifices of those who served and died a human dimension beyond mythology.”
“Riveting...The way history was meant to be told.”