Press Release | Persephone Theatre’s Queermunity Theatre Festival Back for Fifth Time

Saskatoon, SK – Persephone Theatre’s Queermunity Theatre Festival is back to help the community celebrate Pride Month.

“We’re excited to have a fifth year of Queermunity at Persephone,” said Olivia Swerhone-Wick, Associate Producer and co-organizer of the event. “Queermunity is a space for young artists in our community to come together, feel joy, celebrating themselves, their identity and be heard.”

Last year, in addition to the founding event of the 48-Hour Queermunity Theatre Race, the Queermunity Theatre Festival expanded to include a play reading of a queer work – both of which will continue this year.

The play reading will be for Witch by Jen Silverman and will take place in the BackStage Stage on May 30 at 7 p.m. Witch is about a charming devil who is bargaining for souls in exchange for villagers’ darkest wishes. The villager labelled a “witch” by the others, Elizabeth, should be an easy target, but her soul is not easily bought.

“I love playwright Jen Silverman’s writing and sense of humour. Their play Witch is a dark comedy about how to save the world and ourselves – and whether or not we should,” said Artistic Director Heather Cant. “For me, queer theatre is about subverting and disrupting perspectives. Witch is going to make us think deeply about how long we will let the daily horrors persist. Is that level of systemic change possible, or should we let it all burn?”

The reading of Witch will be followed the next weekend by the fifth annual 48-Hour Queermunity Theatre Race, June 4-6, 2026, and will feature local performers: Carol Greyeyes, Kevin Moxley, Joshua Beaudry, Grahame Kent, Mitchell Larsen, and Leze Pewapsconias.

Participants for the 48-Hour Theatre Race assembled their own teams, and will receive an inspiration package before being given just 48-hours to create a 10-minute performance they will perform in front of a live audience. This year’s teams, featuring both new and returning participants, are: The Shenanigays, Indecisive Idiots, The Chokecherries, and Missed Opportunities.

This year, as the MC and host of the 48-Hour Queermunity Theatre Race, Persephone is pleased to welcome fabulous local theatre artist, educator, and comedian, Laura Negraeff.

“After participating on one of the inaugural Queermunity 48-Hour Theatre Race teams, I am thrilled to be participating again—this time as the host! When I first got involved, I had never had my writing performed onstage, so to go from zero to performing an original theatre piece in less than two days was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time,” Negraeff said.

“Some of the people I met during that first experience have remained friends to this day and the enthusiasm from the audience and Persephone team encouraged me to continue writing and performing new work ever since. I can’t wait to see what this year’s teams have in store!”

On June 4, teams will meet to receive inspiration packages, which will contain three to five items they need to incorporate into their play. In 48 hours, they will then need to write and rehearse a 10-minute performance.

“The Queermunity Theatre Race is entering its fifth year and we are so excited to have one of our teams, The Chokecherries, back for their fifth year,” said Kristi Friday, Artistic Associate of Youth Programming and co-organizer of the event.

“One of The Chokecherries’ team members, Nissan Gordon, recently said, ‘This fifth year means a lot to us and this event has been a big part of our lives for so long. Thanks again to you guys for making it such a great time.’ Hearing that feedback makes us glad we can continue offering this event.”

The public can join in on the fun to watch he performances on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. – where the audience can experience the product of the participants’ hard work and join in the celebration of Pride Month.

Tickets to the performances are $15 in advance, with Pay What You Choose available at the door. All proceeds from ticket sales are donated to support Saskatoon Pride Home.

Pride is a celebration of the 2SLGBTQIA+ members of Saskatoon’s community. Pride is also a protest, which ensures the fight for equal rights and visibility for all genders and sexualities continues. Social stigma still impacts the lives of trans and queer people around the world and Persephone believes celebrating Pride is one way we can all work towards eradicating the stigma.

More information can be found about the 48-Hour Queermunity Theatre Race at persephonetheatre.org/shows/play/fifth-annual-queermunity-theatre-race/ and about Witch at https://persephonetheatre.org/shows/play/witch/

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For more information or to book an interview, please contact:
Jodi Schellenberg, Director of Marketing & Communications
306-384-2126 ext. 237
[email protected]