MOBY: A Whale of A Tale

A Dora Award Winning musical adaptation of the epic novel by Herman Melville.
September 16-26th 2021, Dockside @ 585' Queen’s Quay West

Run time 1h 15 minutes Dockside.

A family Show, ages 5+

MOBY was honoured with 4 Dora Awards, sweeping the Theatre for Young Audience Category at the 2022 Dora Mavor Moore Awards

DORA AWARDS:
Outstanding Production - MOBY: A Whale of a Tale
Outstanding New Play - Written by Annie Tuma and Lena Maripuu
Outstanding Direction - Alex Montagnese
Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble - Amaka Umeh, Annie Tuma, Jamar Adams-Thompson, Lena Maripuu, Alex Millaire, Kaitlin Milroy

Art & Water was also nominated for:
Outstanding Achievement in Design - Gabriel Vaillaint

Climb aboard the Pequod and join the crew as they are led around the world by the infamous Captain Ahab in her vengeful search for Moby, the white whale. Ever since Ahab’s last encounter with this whale left her with a peg-leg, she has been obsessed with finding it - so beware, for once you board the ship you must heed her every whim...

This outdoor, dockside show takes place on Pirate Life’s Ship in Toronto's Harbour and is an adventure for the whole family! 

Exploring themes of friendship, fate, vengeance, death, and nature vs. humanity, this high seas drama is as grand as the ocean is wide. With goofy humour, heart as deep as the sea, and rollicking sea shanties led by a live band performing on board, kids and parents alike will be jumping out of their seats to sing and dance with the sailors! Join us at the dock for this mystical world premier.

Written by Lena Maripuu & Annie Tuma of Gorgon Theatre
Original music by: Moonfruits, Lena Maripuu & Annie Tuma

Featuring a live band: Moonfruits
Directed by: Alex Montagnese
Starring: Amaka Umeh, Annie Tuma, Jamar Adams-Thompson & Lena Maripuu

MOBY: A Whale of a Tale

Our story, adapted from Herman Melville's Moby Dick, takes place in 1840 - that’s 181 years ago. Back then, there was no electricity. There were only candles to light homes, and oil lamps to light streets at night. In order to have oil for the lamps, there was a big business of hunting whales to use their blubber to make the oil. In 1986, whaling was banned by the International Whaling Commission because whales were becoming endangered. However, many countries still hunt whales for commercial gain, and because of this, in addition to pollution and climate change, whales are still in danger of being extinct.

Some Indigenous communities around the world hunt whales for nutritional and cultural purposes. This is a different type of whaling than commercial whaling, because it is rooted in tradition and survival, and every single part of the whale is used. Blubber is eaten as a traditional meal.

In our story, the whaling ship on which the action takes place is named The Pequod. The origin of this name is from The Pequot, a Native American people of Connecticut, who in the 17th century became nearly extinct by white colonizers. 

We acknowledge the deep history behind humans and whales, the different origins of whaling, and the current environmental concerns our oceans face. 

MEET THE CREW