Vierge show poster

Vierge

April 8–30 2023, Mainspace Theatre

#ftVierge

Running Time: 1 hour & 45 minutes with no intermission

Written by Rachel Mutombo
Directed by Natasha Mumba

A Factory Production | World Premiere

Virgins…with a few exceptions.

Sixteen-year-old Divine, doesn’t really fit in anywhere, and her only real friend is Jesus (Christ) — that is, until her family joins a new church and through the other girls in her youth group she discovers the world around her is not as it seems. Filled with an abundance of heart and humour, Vierge follows four Congolese Canadian teenage girls as they journey to navigate between the pressures of Christianity, virginity and teenage hormones.

A stunning new work about faith, community, and sex from one of Canada’s most exciting new writers that is sure to leave audiences tearing up one moment and laughing out loud the next.


COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AT FACTORY

Please visit our COVID-19 page to view the current protocols in place at Factory.

Masked Performances

The following performances will require all audiences members to be masked while inside the building and for the duration of the performance:

  • Friday April 14 at 8PM
  • Thursday April 20 at 8PM
  • Thursday April 27 at 8PM


Congolese Market

Throughout the opening weekend of Vierge, we invited our friends at the Taste of Kongo to organize a Kongo Market. There will be local vendors representing black-owned businesses for clothes, accessories, snacks and many more.

  • Friday, April 14 (2:00pm-8:00pm)
  • Saturday, April 15 (12:00pm-8:00pm)
  • Sunday, April 16 (12:00pm-6:00pm)

Entrance is FREE!

Ticket Pricing

Tickets at the $0 price option will be available to book beginning Thursday March 30, 2023.

We believe theatre should be accessible to all who want to participate. That is why we’ve introduced a sliding scale ticket model with a $0 option. Tickets prices for Vierge range from $15 – $60, and include a limited number of $0 tickets for every performance. Audiences are invited to select the ticket price option that works best for them to experience theatre at Factory.

All ticket fees and taxes are included in the advertised price – no extra charges at checkout.

If you have questions about our tickets, please visit our FAQ page or contact the Factory Box Office at boxoffice@factorytheatre.ca.


Content Warning

The play includes depictions of, and conversations about sexual assault and teenage alcohol use.


About the Playwright

Rachel Mutombo

Rachel Mutombo is an award-winning actor and writer who has bounced between Toronto and Montreal for most of her life. An acting graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, some pre-pandemic theatre performance credits include Antigone:方 (Young People’s Theatre) and School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play (Obsidian Theatre/Nightwood Theatre). Rachel was also featured in the recurring role of Darby Gruss on Freeform’s The Bold Type.

As a freelance writer, Rachel has had essays and articles published by CBC and Intermission Magazine. Vierge is Rachel’s first full length play, and was recently awarded 1st prize at Infinitheatre’s annual playwriting competition. She is also developing a theatre for young audience play at YPT, Homeroom, which won this year’s Tom Hendry TYA award. Rachel is beyond thrilled to be making her Factory debut — especially with this play and this incredible team of artists.


About the Director

Natasha Mumba

Natasha Mumba is a Zambian born, Toronto based multi-disciplined artist. She is a graduate of the Acting program at The National Theatre School of Canada as well as the previous Apprentice Artistic Director at Factory Theatre through the generous support of the Metcalf Foundation. She recently had the pleasure of being a Directing Fellow at Why Not Theatre’s ThisGen program, as well having the pleasure of developing her skills in dramaturgy at The Pan-African Dramaturgical Lab hosted by South African company Vrystraat. Her directing credits include; Driftwood Trafalgar: Balance; Factory Theatre: Lady Sunrise (Assistant Director); YPT: The Water Gun Song and Cassius; Studio 180: Gone to see a Man about a dog.


Cast & Creative Team

Yvonne Addai

Grace Katende

JD Leslie

Sarah Katende

Kudakwashe Rutendo

Bien-Aimé Ilunga

Shauna Thompson

Divine Kabamba

Rachel Forbes

Set and Props Designer

Joyce Padua

Costume Designer

Jareth Li

Lighting Designer

Andrew Johnson

Sound Designer

Virgilia Griffith

Assistant Director & Movement Director

Matt McGeachy

Dramaturge

Ada Aguilar

Stage Manager

Anna Spencer

Assistant Stage Manager

Thadea Berezny

Head of Props

Stephanie Wierzbicki

Head of Wardrobe

Samira Banihashemi

Assistant Lighting Designer

Claudia Kabambi

Hair and Makeup Coordinator

Kamambuko Vianga

Cultural Consultant

Sarah Shippobotham

Dialect Coach

Louisa Zhu

Fight Director


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