The Festival
Urban Ink and The Cultch’s TRANSFORM Cabaret Festival is unlike any other festival in the world. With a focus on empowering Indigenous artists and encouraging the collaboration with non-Indigenous artists, we build relationships and bring communities together to create lasting social change and groundbreaking performance. We believe in a future that is more equitable for Indigenous peoples and by sharing stories, engaging in ongoing conversations, and building relationships we will further our collective efforts towards truth and reconciliation. Featuring local and international Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists in a variety of performance styles including theatre, music, drag, burlesque, circus, comedy and everything in between.
This year, our artists will be taking over our stages for seven explosive days of bold, uncompromising, political, and interactive performances all created for a digital experience you won’t want to miss! Now, more than ever, this festival is a platform for IBPOC artists to self-determine the stories they share and how they want to share them with the world. We can’t wait for you to join us!
“This festival is unlike any other. It is a joyous experience, and whether you’re experiencing it digitally at home or in the theatre—that joy is infectious and is something we all need right now. With our extraordinary line up of brilliant collaborating artists, there has never been a better moment to engage with these stories and perspectives and to emerge, transformed.”
—Corey Payette | Artistic Director, Urban Ink
“In just three years the festival has become a catalyst for Indigenous artists to make brave new works and build relationships with each other. When I see the projects that these creators are leading and how they are engaging makers seen in the two previous festivals I am blown away. As I see the early edits for the coming shows I am in awe of the visions these artists bring to the screen.”
—Heather Redfern | Executive Director, The Cultch