A young Chris Hadfield conquers his nighttime fears in The Darkest Dark stage adaption
At one point everyone’s been told not to be afraid of the dark. But for the imaginative nine-year-old at the centre of the new play The...
- Based on the book by Chris Hadfield with Kate Fillion
- Adapted for the stage by Jim Millan and Ian MacIntyre
- Director and playwright Jim Millan
Inspired by the internationally best-selling children’s book by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, The Darkest Dark is a timely new play for young audiences about overcoming your fears and embracing the unknown. The story is based on Commander Hadfield’s own experience as a child confronting his fear of the dark so he can one day travel to space.
From the imaginations of Commander Hadfield and acclaimed director/writer Jim Millan, this ground-breaking theatrical experience will weave magic, flight, movement and multimedia with theatre arts to create an enchanting planetary playground
Are you afraid of the dark? Nine-year-old Chris is too. At bedtime, the night closes in – full of shadows, creaks and the worst sorts of aliens. It’s 1969 and Apollo II is about to land on the moon. Space-loving Chris dreams of becoming an astronaut but watching history being made hangs in the balance if he can’t conquer his fear. What is truly out there – in the darkest dark?
Company
Young People’s Theatre (YPT) is North America’s oldest – and Canada’s largest – professional producer and presenter of theatre for young audiences. Over the past 55 years, YPT has staged many of the most important plays that form the canon of work for youth in Canada. YPT continues to develop new work and create partnerships with theatre companies across the country and around the world, and the enriched learning experiences of its Education & Participation Department provide young people with opportunities to develop their whole being.
Creative team
- Based on the book by Chris Hadfield with Kate Fillion
- Adapted for the stage by Jim Millan and Ian MacIntyre
- Director and playwright Jim Millan
- Co-writer Ian MacIntyre
- Magic consultant David Ben
- Set and costume design Anna Treusch
- Lighting design Bonnie Beecher
National Creation Fund investment
The National Creation Fund’s investment of $125,000 will allow YPT to bring the full creative and production team together for a proof-of-concept workshop, and additional time with the cast and magic consultant to fully test and finalize the integration of magic elements.
Credits
Development partners: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Geordie Theatre, Talk Is Free Theatre, and the Magicana Foundation.
Performance dates
Past performances
| Presented by Young People's Theatre | Feb 20 - Apr 2, 2023 | Young People's Theatre (Toronto) |
