Far from home, three Caribbean migrant workers face their first Canadian winter while staffing a bustling Christmas market. As they navigate long shifts, harsh weather, and the mounting pressures of the holiday rush, each is driven by distinct hopes and ambitions that collide as Christmas draws near. Razor-sharp, funny, and unflinching, The Christmas Market explores resilience, desire, and the costs and possibilities of holding onto your own path in an unfamiliar land.
News & Reviews
“Critics’ pick: One of the best new plays of 2025”
—Globe and Mail
“Lingers in the mind long after the final curtain call…This thoughtful new play at Crow’s Theatre humanizes the migrant workers that Canada forgets.”
—Toronto Star
“The Christmas Market is an unexpected, engrossing, multi-layered gift to thinking theatregoers.”
—Sesaya Arts
About the Author
Kanika Ambrose is a two-time Dora Award winning playwright, opera librettist, and screenwriter. Her plays our place and Truth both earned Dora Mavor Moore Awards for “Outstanding New Play,” in 2023 and 2024, respectively. She is a graduate of Canadian Film Centre’s Bell Media Primetime TV Program (2022-2023). Other notable works include the play Moonlight Schooner (Necessary Angel/Canadian Stage, 2025), the opera Of the Sea (2023) with composer Ian Cusson (Tapestry Opera/Obsidian Theatre), and the concert The Big Easy: Music of New Orleans (2024) (Soulpepper). Kanika was the writer of two pieces on the Juno nominated classical album Known to Dreamers: Black Voices in Canadian Arts Song (2021) (Canadian Art Song Project), as well as Tak-tak-shoo with composer Rene Orth (Opera Philadelphia). She has been in residence at Obsidian Theatre Company, Cahoots Theatre and Tarragon Theatre. Kanika is Associate Artistic Director of Necessary Angel Theatre Company.