This holiday production invites guests to step into Narnia, both figuratively and literally: the doors to the Young Centre for the Performing Arts are being transformed into a wardrobe for the occasion. The show is a co-pro with Crow’s Theatre and Bad Hats Theatre, a local company whose kid-friendly adaptations of Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland have swept the Dora Awards in recent years. The similarly gilded cast includes award-winning Filipina Canadian actor and musician Belinda Corpuz as Lucy and Landon Doak, of Shazam and Murdoch Mysteries fame, as Edmund. In the lobby, animated decorations and a giant Christmas tree set the mood before one meets Tumnus. Soulpepper, November 18 to December 28
Scarborough-raised metalworker Ranbir Sidhu has been commissioned by some of the biggest names in hip hop: an OVO-branded table of his adorns Drake’s home, and two of his futuristic paper airplane–shaped desks have found their way to the offices of Jay-Z’s record label. Now, after 20 years of honing his craft, Sidhu is getting his first solo show at the AGO—and one put together by the museum’s chief curator, no less. Made of reflective metal twisted into futuristic forms, this collection of sculptures incorporates Sikh history and iconography to reflect both Sidhu’s heritage and his visions of the future. AGO, opens December 11
Before there was Bruce Lee, there was Ip Man, the movie star’s mentor and the person credited with bringing a contemporary version of kung fu to the wider world. That mission is dramatized in this high-octane mix of dance, acrobatics and martial arts, which traces Ip Man’s story back to 1950s Hong Kong. Created in 2022 with the support of the city of Shenzen, it broke box office records in China and received global praise for its smart staging, revolving sets and lighting tricks. Meridian Hall, December 16 to January 4
Ever since he graduated from Tyler, the Creator’s rap group, Odd Future, in 2013, Earl Sweatshirt has been hailed as an oddball visionary of the craft. His latest album, August’s Live Laugh Love, only boosted that reputation. Always a trickster, he skipped the album’s launch party and sent an Asian American rapper named Gary Underpants to cover his songs. Sweatshirt is set to play History to promote the new record—and this time, the man on the stage should be him. History, December 8
Forget the dreams of sugarplums. Featuring actor, musician and music director Beau Dixon and his backing rock band, this cover show of all the biggest holiday hits promises a high-energy musical medley fit for all ages. Dixon is well-known in Toronto’s theatre scene, having won Dora Awards for both his plays and his acting. Under his direction, the sleepy carols are out and the Joni Mitchell, Julie Andrews and Stevie Wonder bangers are in, making for a performance that will stir creatures all through the house. Soulpepper, December 12 to 28
If Canadian indie-rock idol Mac DeMarco has seemed absent lately, it’s because he’s been holed up pruning olive trees on his remote seaside farm in BC. It’s one of a few major lifestyle changes for the goofy rocker known for his fondness for cigarettes and alcohol—both of which he’s given up. A similar transformation pervades his latest record, Guitar, which was released in August and features DeMarco playing every instrument, including guitar, keyboard and drums. Notably, most of the songs have lyrics, which differentiates this album from his last EP, 2023’s One Wayne G, a nine-hour-long, 199-song, mostly instrumental tribute to Wayne Gretzky. DeMarco will be off the farm and touring the world until next June, and he’s playing two nights in town on the way. Massey Hall, December 8 and 9
You’re feeling awake, very awake: Colin Mochrie is taking a break from his improv-meets-hypnosis comedy tour to host a New Year’s Eve bash at Massey Hall. Its headliner is Mike Rita, a Toronto comic who has played Just for Laughs and was recently declared one of the most influential Portuguese Canadians of the past 70 years by that country’s president. Yuk Yuk’s founder Mark Breslin will curate the rest of the set list for this late-night laugh fest, which conveniently wraps before the stroke of midnight—allowing both revellers and sleepyheads to ring in the new year just as they please. Massey Hall, December 31
The folks at the Bata Shoe Museum like to call their work the wild west of fashion scholarship: footwear, as it turns out, is a notoriously under-researched topic. This retrospective on famed Italian shoe designer André Perugia is the first of its kind, featuring everything from turquoise fetish boots to Picasso-inspired sandals. Perugia was an eveningwear mastermind who pioneered the thin metal heels that led to the stiletto. He was so in demand that his customers had to order a minimum of six pairs, custom-made to their measurements. We caught up with curator Nishi Bassi for a sneak peek at four of Perugia’s most daring designs. Bata Shoe Museum, until April 2027
Photo courtesy of the Bata Shoe Museum
Devoré pumps
Pumps came back into fashion in the ’30s as part of a conservative backlash against flapper excess. Perugia’s take features black suede with holes burned through to reveal a vibrant satin under-layer, a technique known as devoré.
Photo by Rachael Reid
Picasso replica
From the 1930s onward, Perugia went abstract, playing with form and structure to create truly unique silhouettes. This Picasso-inspired heel presaged modern trends: a Schiaparelli pair went viral in 2021 for its faux toes, but Perugia did it 70 years earlier.
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Photo by Rachael Reid
Gold leatherwork heels
While only the very well-heeled could afford an original pair of Perugias, fashionistas of lesser means in the ’20s could buy knock-offs. These, however, are the real deal. “The leatherwork is so detailed,” says Bassi. “Perugia did not half-ass anything.”
Photo courtesty of the Bata Shoe Museum
Form-fitting boots
Perugia designed these leg-wrapping turquoise boots for French actor Andrée Spinelly in the early 1920s. “The intricate lacing and tightly contoured ankles are a nod to 19th-century fetish wear,” says Bassi.
Anthony Milton is a freelance journalist based in Toronto specializing in long-form magazine writing. He previously worked as an assistant editor at Toronto Life, where he launched the Front Row newsletter. He regularly contributes all sorts of stories to the magazine, including deep dives on sports, business and housing as well as short-form commentary on our ever-changing city, from its obsession with cherry blossoms to its maddening NIMBYism. His work has also appeared in Maclean’s, Ricochet, TVO, the Trillium and more.
