Dog Days: Canadian Premiere

Name: Dog Days
Start: 2026-11-18T19:30:00
End: 2026-11-18T22:00:00
Location: Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre

A rock opera by composer David T. Little and librettist Royce Vavrek

Co-produced by Tapestry Opera and Against the Grain Theatre

November 18 - 29, 2026

Performance Overview

Run Time

Language

Genre

Content Advisory

Approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes
(including intermission)

Performed in English with English surtitles

Contemporary opera / rock opera

Ableism including ableist slurs, abuse (familial/sibling) alcoholism, cannibalism, disordered eating, drug use (marijuana), fatphobia, gun violence, sexual harassment of a minor, starvation, strong language

About Dog Days

Dog Days is a contemporary opera that combines classical vocals with dark ambient noise and amplified electric guitars. Set during a fictional wartime blackout, the story follows a rural working-class family attempting to survive amidst military collapse and severe food shortages. The psychological drama explores human resilience, desperation, and moral breakdown when social structures disintegrate.

Critically acclaimed by The New York Times, this Canadian premiere marks a major collaboration between American composer David T. Little (Soldier Songs, JFK) and Canadian librettist Royce Vavrek (Angel’s Bone, Listen, Quiet).

Brief Synopsis

In the wake of an unspecified war on American soil, a family’s world shrinks to basic survival. 13-year-old Lisa forms a complex bond with a man in a dog suit. Her family faces a moral descent: as traditional society dissolves, they must decide what parts of their humanity they are willing to sacrifice to stay alive.