What to see, do, hear and read in Toronto this December

A holiday-themed big top performance

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring—except for the mimes, clowns and acrobats. Cirque du Soleil’s first holiday-­themed show transforms the classic poem “A Visit From ­St. Nicholas” into ’Twas the Night Before..., a fable about a jaded girl who falls back in love with the magic of the season. With dazzling acrobatics, colourful characters and costumes, and a soundtrack of rejigged holiday classics, the production promises to be a great show for all ages. It premiered in Chicago in 2019 and makes its Toronto debut this month. Meridian Hall, December 12 to January 3

A Céline Dion–inspired musical comedy

Almost 30 years after the film’s release, it’s impossible to separate James Cameron’s Titanic from Céline Dion’s ballad “My Heart Will Go On.” So it’s perfectly natural that the not-quite-unsinkable ship is the vehicle for a Dion-inspired musical comedy, Titanique, which retells Jack and Rose’s story in campy, madcap style. The original production premiered in LA in 2017. The Canadian iteration, directed by co-writer Tye Blue, is a collaboration between Mirvish and Montreal’s Segal Centre for Performing Arts. Québécois triple-threat Véronique Claveau stars as the Queen of Power Ballads. CAA Theatre, December 5 to January 12

A showcase of Czech talent

It’s a big year for Czech music: 2024 marks a century since the birth of composer Bedřich Smetana, who is honoured with a nationwide celebration in the fourth year of every decade. Now in his sixth season, Czech Philharmonic conductor Semyon Bychkov and his orchestra are making their Koerner Hall debut with two classic pieces, Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. Koerner Hall, December 7 and 8

An insightful novel about modern families

A weekend with the in-laws can be either a relaxing getaway or a recipe for calamity. Weike Wang’s new novel, Rental House, skews toward the latter. The book follows college sweethearts Keru and Nate, whose relationship has overcome their ­differences—Keru’s parents are strict Chinese immigrants; Nate’s white, rural working-class family is more than a little xenophobic. When the couple invites both of their families on vacation in New England, they’re faced with a series of crises. With sharp wit and insight, Wang’s novel explores the complications of modern kinship. Out December 3

A deep dive into the meaning of colour

Despite those winter blues, nature is a multi­coloured place. That’s the focus of the ROM’s latest exhibition, Nature in Brilliant Colour, a kaleidoscopic exploration of the rainbow through a series of colour-coded rooms. First created by Chicago’s Field Museum, the experience is enhanced by the ROM’s collection and features more than 200 specimens, including minerals and gemstones, Instagram-worthy wall projections, and trippy soundscapes. ROM, opens December 14

An indie pop singer’s sophomore tour

English actor and songwriter (and fiancée of Robert Pattinson) Suki Waterhouse earned the pop equivalent of a knighthood this past August, when she opened for Taylor Swift at the Wembley Stadium stop of the Eras Tour. It’s a major sign of approval for the artist, whose recording career began just two years ago with the release of her first two albums, I Can’t Let Go and Milk Teeth. This past September, Waterhouse released Memoir of a Sparkle­muffin (which takes its name from a tiny neon-hued Australian spider). Now, she brings her ethereal vocals and synth-meets-folk sound to Toronto. History, December 15

A prolific folk rock group’s homecoming

Led by singer-songwriter Tony Dekker, Great Lake Swimmers are one of the best touring bands in Canada. The acclaimed indie group, founded in Wainfleet, Ontario, in 2003, celebrated their 20th anniversary last year with their eighth album, Uncertain ­Country. Then, in October, they released In Pieces: An Acoustic Retrospective, a collection of scaled-back songs that spans their career. The band kicked off a tour across the US, Europe and Canada this fall, with Toronto—their home base—as the final stop. Longboat Hall, December 12

An exploration of creativity and obsession

Australian author Ella Baxter’s latest novel centres a malevolent stalker, a plot point that’s drawn from real life. After Baxter’s IRL stalker wrote her violent letters, the author poured her fear and anger into a manuscript to cope. The resulting story, Woo Woo, follows a conceptual artist who is driven to neurosis while putting together a challenging exhibition—and dealing with a stalker of her own. Throughout the ordeal, the artist’s bizarre alter-egos—a baby puppet and the ghost of American artist Carolee Schneemann—appear to offer guidance. Out December 3

An immersive survey of hip-hop culture

Originally developed by the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Saint Louis Art Museum, The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century—a touring show about the power, influence and contradictions of hip hop—is coming to the AGO just in time to commemorate the genre’s 50th anniversary. Divided into six themed sections, the multimedia exhibition features paintings, film, sculpture and fashion by more than 65 contemporary artists including Derrick Adams, Stan Douglas, Deana Lawson and Hank Willis Thomas. We caught up with AGO curator Julie Crooks for an inside look. AGO, December 4 to April 6

Black Power Hank Willis Thomas, an interdisciplinary artist and photographer, explores the irony of commercializing Black culture in his work. In this piece, says Crooks, the grill is simultaneously a flashy symbol of the bling era, a message about the struggle for racial equality, and a sly comment on the commodification of hip hop and rap music.

Cardi B Unity A young Cardi B sits for a portrait by Hassan Hajjaj, a Moroccan photographer known for his use of African textiles—like the one that forms the starry background.

Street Shrine 1: A Notorious Story (Biggie) At five feet tall, this urn is unmissable. “It reflects the stature of Biggie himself,” says Crooks. It’s part of the exhibition’s Ascension section, which examines how fallen members of the hip-hop community have been remembered. Here, artist Roberto Lugo combines the high art of ancient Greek design with a mural-style depiction of the American rapper.

Extensions In this still from a short film, German-born Ghanaian artist Yvonne Osei captures the art of hair-braiding. The woman’s extensions drag behind her, stopping traffic as she walks through Asafo, in south-central Ghana. “This kind of hair-braiding originated in Africa, came with the slave trade and has continued for more than 300 years,” says Crooks. The woman’s braids highlight the literal and metaphorical weight of that tradition.

Closed Forming one half of a diptych titled Open/Closed, this oil painting is a self-portrait of artist ­Monica Ikegwu, who wears a red puffer jacket similar to the one popularized by Drake’s “Hotline Bling” video. “The bare shoulder is a way for her to represent herself as she likes,” says Crooks. “She’s controlling our access to her body, which is meaningful in hip hop, a world that can be raunchy and misogynistic.”