Student Matinee

The Secret to Good Tea

By Rosanna Deerchild

Mar 25 - 27, 2025
Babs Asper Theatre 1 Elgin Street Ottawa Canada
© Rémi Thériault
Family programming Indigenous arts Theatre

  • In-person event
  • English
  • Ages 15+
  • ≈ 2 hours  and  30 minutes  with intermission
Performance options Start time Language Availability
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 11:00 am English Reserve
Thursday, March 27, 2025 11:00 am English Reserve

This performance is presented by NAC Indigenous Theatre.

Gwynn is a local radio host. Her mother, Maggie, has a story. 

Maggie has spent a lifetime building a wall between herself and her memories—as well as between herself and her inquisitive, journalist daughter. 

Now, with a pot of steaming hot tea as the only thing between them, Maggie and Gwynn work to dismantle that wall, uncovering Maggie’s story in a journey of laughter, revelation, understanding, and the bond of a mother and daughter. 

The Secret to Good Tea is a vibrant, intimate, and cheeky family portrait based on playwright Rosanna Deerchild (CBC Unreserved) and her own mother. Fresh from a world premiere in its home province of Manitoba, Deerchild’s powerful first play is set to make its Ontario debut at the Grand Theatre, before gracing the stage of the National Arts Centre. Renae Morriseau, who directed the play’s world premiere, returns to Deerchild’s work once again and will direct this compelling story.

Total running time for this performance is 2 hours and 30 minutes (including a 20 minute intermission).

Financial assistance

Arts Alive has limited financial assistance available to support schools who would not otherwise be able to participate in our school programming due to economic barriers. Schools in need may request financial assistance directly through the registration form, to help cover the cost of tickets to student matinees or applicable workshops offered by the NAC. Learn more

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Learning and engagement at Canada’s National Arts Centre is made possible through the support of many generous individuals and organizations from across the country. Arts Alive is generously supported by the Azrieli Foundation, the Government of Nunavut, Canadian North, Calm Air, The River Philip Foundation, The Turnbull Family Community Building Foundation, and The Thomas Sill Foundation. Thank you also to Grant and Alice Burton, Canada Life, A Donor-Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Ottawa, Friends of the NAC Orchestra, Donors to the NAC Foundation's Future Fund, The Janice and Earle O’Born Fund for Artistic Excellence, and the donors and sponsors of the NAC’s National Youth and Education Trust, the primary resource for youth and education funding at the National Arts Centre.