Huff
February 6 to February 17, 2024
Opening Night February 7
Auburn Stage
Written and Performed by Cliff Cardinal
Content Advisory: This production contains audience engagement, strong language, solvent abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic and sexual violence, death by suicide, explicit sexuality, and mature themes including: intergenerational trauma, the cycle of abuse, colonization, homophobia, sexual violence, and voyeurism.
Running Time: 70 minutes (no intermission)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Upcoming Shows & Tickets
A gripping, uneasy, and transformative solo production from Governor General Literary Award winner, Cliff Cardinal...
THE STORY
From Cliff Cardinal, multi-award-winning Cree writer, poet and actor, comes a darkly comedic solo production that tells the tale of Wind and his two brothers, who are caught in a torrent of solvent abuse and struggling to cope with the sudden death of their mother. Wind’s fantastic dream world bleeds into his haunting reality, as he’s preyed on by the Trickster through the hallways at school, the abandoned motel he loves more than home, and his own fragile psyche.
A theatrical breath of fresh air, the critically-acclaimed Huff has shocked audiences across North America with its biting humour, unflinching honesty, and ability to find laughter in the darkest places.
From the Stage Door
“This captivating tale of an off-grid mother solidifies Cardinal as one of the most talented and intriguing writers in the country.” – NOW MAGAZINE
"Shape-shifting Cliff Cardinal excels in this visceral tale of addiction, violence and abuse." —The Guardian
“It's not breezy theatre, but it is riveting.” – CBC
The Cast
CLIFF CARDINAL
Performer & Playwright
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Named by The Globe and Mail as a Canadian Cultural Icon in 2022, Cliff Cardinal is a polarizing writer and performer known for his black humour and compassionate poeticism. His solo theatre productions STITCH, HUFF, and CLIFF CARDINAL’S CBC SPECIAL have won numerous awards. He is an associate artist at Video Cabaret where he develops his new work. Born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, he studied playwriting at the National Theatre School of Canada and fronts the hilarious and nefarious Cliff Cardinal and The Skylarks.
Cardinal’s first multi-character play, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, opened Video Cabaret’s 2019 season at The Busy Street Theatre in Toronto with Cardinal himself directing. A workshop version of the script debuted at Summerworks ’13, where NOW Magazine said, “This captivating tale of an off-grid mother and her desperate children solidifies Cardinal as one of the most talented and intriguing writers in the country.”
Cardinal is best known for his one-man play HUFF, which he has performed over 200 times. This harrowing yet hilarious show about youth who abuse solvents, at high risk of suicide won the Buddies in Bad Times’ Vanguard Award for Risk and Innovation, two Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Outstanding Performance, Outstanding New Play), RBC’s Emerging Playwright Award, The Lustrum Award (which recognizes the greatest moments at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and was shortlisted for Amnesty International’s Freedom Of Expression Award. The production garnered a five-star review in The Guardian Observer titled “a hard-hitting tour de force.” HUFF has been published, translated into French, continues to tour and was released as a podcast by the CBC.
CLIFF CARDINAL AND THE SKYLARKS’ first recording, THIS IS NOT A MISTAKE was released in 2016 and their follow up GONNA BE FINE was released in 2020, both are available online. The band’s upcoming release, SUICIDAL VALENTINE was released in 2022. The song, Suicidal Valentine went to #6 on the Indigenous Music Countdown.
CLIFF CARDINAL’S CBC SPECIAL, a songwriter/storyteller performance, toured festivals in Ottawa, Calgary, St. Catharines, through Canada’s North starting in Yellowknife and won the Jon Kaplan Spotlight Award for the top performance at Toronto’s SummerWorks Festival.
Cardinal lives in Toronto.
Named by The Globe and Mail as a Canadian Cultural Icon in 2022, Cliff Cardinal is a polarizing writer and performer known for his black humour and compassionate poeticism. His solo theatre productions STITCH, HUFF, and CLIFF CARDINAL’S CBC SPECIAL have won numerous awards. He is an associate artist at Video Cabaret where he develops his new work. Born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, he studied playwriting at the National Theatre School of Canada and fronts the hilarious and nefarious Cliff Cardinal and The Skylarks.
Cardinal’s first multi-character play, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, opened Video Cabaret’s 2019 season at The Busy Street Theatre in Toronto with Cardinal himself directing. A workshop version of the script debuted at Summerworks ’13, where NOW Magazine said, “This captivating tale of an off-grid mother and her desperate children solidifies Cardinal as one of the most talented and intriguing writers in the country.”
Cardinal is best known for his one-man play HUFF, which he has performed over 200 times. This harrowing yet hilarious show about youth who abuse solvents, at high risk of suicide won the Buddies in Bad Times’ Vanguard Award for Risk and Innovation, two Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Outstanding Performance, Outstanding New Play), RBC’s Emerging Playwright Award, The Lustrum Award (which recognizes the greatest moments at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and was shortlisted for Amnesty International’s Freedom Of Expression Award. The production garnered a five-star review in The Guardian Observer titled “a hard-hitting tour de force.” HUFF has been published, translated into French, continues to tour and was released as a podcast by the CBC.
CLIFF CARDINAL AND THE SKYLARKS’ first recording, THIS IS NOT A MISTAKE was released in 2016 and their follow up GONNA BE FINE was released in 2020, both are available online. The band’s upcoming release, SUICIDAL VALENTINE was released in 2022. The song, Suicidal Valentine went to #6 on the Indigenous Music Countdown.
CLIFF CARDINAL’S CBC SPECIAL, a songwriter/storyteller performance, toured festivals in Ottawa, Calgary, St. Catharines, through Canada’s North starting in Yellowknife and won the Jon Kaplan Spotlight Award for the top performance at Toronto’s SummerWorks Festival.
Cardinal lives in Toronto.
Creative Team
Karin Randoja
Director
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Karin Randoja is a director based in Toronto. She is also an actor, teacher and singer/composer. For over 30 years she has specialized in creating and directing original devised performances, including (Everyone I Love Has) A Terrible Fate (Befall Them); Cliff Cardinal’s CBC Special; This is the Point; Gertrude and Alice; Jacinto; huff; Brotherhood:The Hiphopera; Breakfast and Clean Irene and Dirty Maxine. Karin is a proud founding member of Primus Theatre and The Independent Aunties. Her work has received numerous Canadian and International awards and has been seen in Australia, Denmark, England, India, Italy, France, Japan, Mozambique, Scotland and across the US. As a teacher/director, she has taught at Humber College, The Centre for Indigenous Theatre, Brock University and The National Theatre School of Canada, of which she is also a graduate.
Karin Randoja is a director based in Toronto. She is also an actor, teacher and singer/composer. For over 30 years she has specialized in creating and directing original devised performances, including (Everyone I Love Has) A Terrible Fate (Befall Them); Cliff Cardinal’s CBC Special; This is the Point; Gertrude and Alice; Jacinto; huff; Brotherhood:The Hiphopera; Breakfast and Clean Irene and Dirty Maxine. Karin is a proud founding member of Primus Theatre and The Independent Aunties. Her work has received numerous Canadian and International awards and has been seen in Australia, Denmark, England, India, Italy, France, Japan, Mozambique, Scotland and across the US. As a teacher/director, she has taught at Humber College, The Centre for Indigenous Theatre, Brock University and The National Theatre School of Canada, of which she is also a graduate.
Alex Williams
Sound Design
Alex Williams is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist: filmmaker, designer, writer and actor. He is currently an Instructor at OCAD University and a PhD candidate in Cinema and Media Studies at York University. Alex holds a BFA from Emily Carr University and an MFA from York University. He has taught and coached designers at the National Theatre School of Canada and Sheridan College. His film work, which includes The Pass System, an investigative documentary into the six-decade Canadian policy of segregation of First Nations people, screened widely across the country.
For Theatre: (selected) (Everyone I love has) A Terrible Fate (Befall Them) (VideoCabaret/Crow’s) Huff (Native Earth Performing Arts/Cunning Concepts and Creations), Honour Beat (The Grand), Kiss (Canstage/ARC/Theatre Smash), Fare Game (Theatre Passe Muraille), Four Chords and a Gun (Starvox), Ghost: The Musical (Starvox), Return Home (Salish Sea), The Love Project (Standup Dance), Trout Stanley (Heart in Hand), You are Here (Horseshoes and Handgrenades), The Heiress (Chemainus).
For Theatre: (selected) (Everyone I love has) A Terrible Fate (Befall Them) (VideoCabaret/Crow’s) Huff (Native Earth Performing Arts/Cunning Concepts and Creations), Honour Beat (The Grand), Kiss (Canstage/ARC/Theatre Smash), Fare Game (Theatre Passe Muraille), Four Chords and a Gun (Starvox), Ghost: The Musical (Starvox), Return Home (Salish Sea), The Love Project (Standup Dance), Trout Stanley (Heart in Hand), You are Here (Horseshoes and Handgrenades), The Heiress (Chemainus).
Allan Day
Technical Director
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Allan is a Toronto Based theatre technician, lighting designer and technical director. He is a member of IATSE 58, I've been the head of lighting at the Fleck Dance theatre for 11 years.
Recent design credits include: a co-design with John Leberg for Bach at Liepzig (Theatre Athena),A Christmas story (church of the Holy Trinity), Women Fully Clothed (Wintergarden), A man called Pablo (Ford Centre), Clifford The Big Red Dog (Tech. Director U.S. Tour 2005), Armigetiton, Invasion free since 1812, and Bush-league Justice (Second City Toronto), Rock.Paper.sistahz II (b currant Theatre Passe Muraille), WAIORA (Maori Dance Company NZ. Dancemakers) Afterall (Centre for Indigenous Theatre), Circus Dreams (Set, Lighting, Tech. Director Desrosiers Dance Theatre, Tour 2001). Technical Director credits include: Unity: 1918 (Randolph Academy) Thoroughly Modern Millie, Into The Woods (Randolph Academy), Cabaret, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oklahoma, Oliver, Waiting for Godot (St. Andrews College), Sly verb and Persephone’s lunch (Toronto Dance Theatre Canada Tour 2003), Ffida for 2 years, and many tours with Tanglewood Entertainment around north America. He also works in rigging and television lighting. Allan would like to thank The Younge Centre, Dan Baker, Melinda Jerginson, Chris Prideaux , our 2 excellent interns and his girlfriend Ashley for all their help. As well as Vincent for his continuous support.
Allan is a Toronto Based theatre technician, lighting designer and technical director. He is a member of IATSE 58, I've been the head of lighting at the Fleck Dance theatre for 11 years.
Recent design credits include: a co-design with John Leberg for Bach at Liepzig (Theatre Athena),A Christmas story (church of the Holy Trinity), Women Fully Clothed (Wintergarden), A man called Pablo (Ford Centre), Clifford The Big Red Dog (Tech. Director U.S. Tour 2005), Armigetiton, Invasion free since 1812, and Bush-league Justice (Second City Toronto), Rock.Paper.sistahz II (b currant Theatre Passe Muraille), WAIORA (Maori Dance Company NZ. Dancemakers) Afterall (Centre for Indigenous Theatre), Circus Dreams (Set, Lighting, Tech. Director Desrosiers Dance Theatre, Tour 2001). Technical Director credits include: Unity: 1918 (Randolph Academy) Thoroughly Modern Millie, Into The Woods (Randolph Academy), Cabaret, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oklahoma, Oliver, Waiting for Godot (St. Andrews College), Sly verb and Persephone’s lunch (Toronto Dance Theatre Canada Tour 2003), Ffida for 2 years, and many tours with Tanglewood Entertainment around north America. He also works in rigging and television lighting. Allan would like to thank The Younge Centre, Dan Baker, Melinda Jerginson, Chris Prideaux , our 2 excellent interns and his girlfriend Ashley for all their help. As well as Vincent for his continuous support.
Jennifer Stobart
Stage Manager
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
A veteran of live theatre, having stage managed over 170 professional productions, in
theatres both grand and modest, Jennifer has toured coast to coast in Canada and the
United States several times, to Dublin, Ireland, London, England, Sydney, and Perth
Australia, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Most recently, she stage managed Everyone I
Love Has A Terrible Fate Befall Them with Video Cabaret, The Chronicles of Sarnia
with Blyth Festival Theatre, The Christie Pits Riots with The Hogtown Collective, The
Land Acknowledgement with Mirvish Productions & Crow’s Theatre, As You Like It, a
Radical Re-telling by Cliff Cardinal in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Peterborough,
Ottawa, and New York City, our place with Cahoots Theatre & Theatre Passe
Muraille, huff with Neptune/Prismatic Theatre in Halifax, Dreaming Roots with The
Yukon First Nations Arctic Arts Summit, in Whitehorse. As always she sends her love
to her Mom, her adventuring travelling companion.
A veteran of live theatre, having stage managed over 170 professional productions, in
theatres both grand and modest, Jennifer has toured coast to coast in Canada and the
United States several times, to Dublin, Ireland, London, England, Sydney, and Perth
Australia, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Most recently, she stage managed Everyone I
Love Has A Terrible Fate Befall Them with Video Cabaret, The Chronicles of Sarnia
with Blyth Festival Theatre, The Christie Pits Riots with The Hogtown Collective, The
Land Acknowledgement with Mirvish Productions & Crow’s Theatre, As You Like It, a
Radical Re-telling by Cliff Cardinal in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Peterborough,
Ottawa, and New York City, our place with Cahoots Theatre & Theatre Passe
Muraille, huff with Neptune/Prismatic Theatre in Halifax, Dreaming Roots with The
Yukon First Nations Arctic Arts Summit, in Whitehorse. As always she sends her love
to her Mom, her adventuring travelling companion.
Jackie Chau
Set and Costume Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Jackie has worked as a set and costume designer across Canada and her work has toured internationally. In addition, she is a production designer and art director for film and television. Selected theatre design credits include: Sexy Laundry (Theatre Aquarius) Annie Mae’s Movement, The Place Between, Salt Baby, Almighty Voice and His Wife, Giiwedin, Tombs of the Vanishing Indian, From Thine Eyes, HUFF (NEPA), Antigone Insurgency, Someone is Going to Come, Talking Masks, Like the First Time, Charge of the Expormidable Moose, Ubu Mayor, Smyth/Williams, Music Music Life Death Music (One Little Goat), Gas Girls, Cake (New Harlem Productions), The Making Of St. Jerome (eastBOUND Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (TD Dream in High Park/Can Stage), Zadie's Shoes (Factory Theatre), Brown Balls, Mixie and the Halfbreeds (Fu-Gen), The Swearing Jar (Prairie Theatre Exchange), Dirty Butterfly (Bound to Create), Fish Eyes Trilogy (Nightswimming), Canada 300 (Watermark Theatre), Cannibal! the Musical (Starvox Entertainment), Twist Your Dickens (Second City Chicago/Toronto), Mini Me Makeover – Designer and Co-host (CBC Kids/Expect Theatre), Moment, Pomona, Dissidents, Human Animals (ARC Theatre), KISS (ARC/Theatre Smash/Can Stage), Cowboy Versus Samurai, 39 Steps, Oraltorio, Yellow Rabbit (Soulpepper), and The Komagata Maru Incident (Stratford Festival). Jackie was named in NOW magazine's Top 10 Theatre Artists of 2009 and has received 8 Dora nominations for outstanding set and costume design.
Jackie has worked as a set and costume designer across Canada and her work has toured internationally. In addition, she is a production designer and art director for film and television. Selected theatre design credits include: Sexy Laundry (Theatre Aquarius) Annie Mae’s Movement, The Place Between, Salt Baby, Almighty Voice and His Wife, Giiwedin, Tombs of the Vanishing Indian, From Thine Eyes, HUFF (NEPA), Antigone Insurgency, Someone is Going to Come, Talking Masks, Like the First Time, Charge of the Expormidable Moose, Ubu Mayor, Smyth/Williams, Music Music Life Death Music (One Little Goat), Gas Girls, Cake (New Harlem Productions), The Making Of St. Jerome (eastBOUND Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (TD Dream in High Park/Can Stage), Zadie's Shoes (Factory Theatre), Brown Balls, Mixie and the Halfbreeds (Fu-Gen), The Swearing Jar (Prairie Theatre Exchange), Dirty Butterfly (Bound to Create), Fish Eyes Trilogy (Nightswimming), Canada 300 (Watermark Theatre), Cannibal! the Musical (Starvox Entertainment), Twist Your Dickens (Second City Chicago/Toronto), Mini Me Makeover – Designer and Co-host (CBC Kids/Expect Theatre), Moment, Pomona, Dissidents, Human Animals (ARC Theatre), KISS (ARC/Theatre Smash/Can Stage), Cowboy Versus Samurai, 39 Steps, Oraltorio, Yellow Rabbit (Soulpepper), and The Komagata Maru Incident (Stratford Festival). Jackie was named in NOW magazine's Top 10 Theatre Artists of 2009 and has received 8 Dora nominations for outstanding set and costume design.
Michelle Ramsay
Lighting Design
For the Grand Theatre: MARY'S WEDDING, THE LADIES FOURSOME, THE MOUNTAINTOP, TITANIC.
Michelle Ramsay is an award-winning lighting designer for dance, theatre and opera.
Previous designs include: The Tempest (Theatre Rusticle); The Waltz (Factory Theatre); Women of the Fur Trade (Stratford Festival); Little Shop of Horrors (Capitol Theatre); Beautiful (Arts Club); Prison Dancer the Musical (Citadel Theatre); Redbone Coonhound (Tarragon Theatre/Imago Theatre); Martyr (ARC); The First Stone (New Harlem); The Doctors Dilemma (Shaw Festival)
Michelle has received eight Dora Awards, a SATAward, the 2008 Pauline McGibbon Award, and was a finalist for the 2021 Siminovitch Prize. She is on the Board of the Associated Designers of Canada
Michelle Ramsay is an award-winning lighting designer for dance, theatre and opera.
Previous designs include: The Tempest (Theatre Rusticle); The Waltz (Factory Theatre); Women of the Fur Trade (Stratford Festival); Little Shop of Horrors (Capitol Theatre); Beautiful (Arts Club); Prison Dancer the Musical (Citadel Theatre); Redbone Coonhound (Tarragon Theatre/Imago Theatre); Martyr (ARC); The First Stone (New Harlem); The Doctors Dilemma (Shaw Festival)
Michelle has received eight Dora Awards, a SATAward, the 2008 Pauline McGibbon Award, and was a finalist for the 2021 Siminovitch Prize. She is on the Board of the Associated Designers of Canada
Ryan Cunningham
Producer & Production Manager
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Ryan is Nēhiyawi/Cree/ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐃ from Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta) who’s family comes from The Michel Band First Nation. Ryan has worked as an actor, producer, writer, director, manager and event creator for over 25 years. His company, Cunning Concepts & Creations, produces and tours the Award winning production, HUFF written and performed by Cliff Cardinal. Originally produced by Native Earth Performing Arts under the Artistic Direction of Ryan Cunningham. Most recently Ryan has acted in: Julius Caesar (Crows Theatre), The Garneau Block (Citadel Theatre), AN OCTOROON, Madness of King George, Grand Hotel, Oh What a Lovely War (Shaw Festival). Ryan can be seen playing the role of Darcy Douglas in all 5 seasons of the award winning APTN series, BLACKSTONE. An alumni of the RBC Director Development Residency at Canadian Stage and current Artist in Residence at the Canadian Stage-University of Toronto: BMO Lab. Ryan has been nominated for the KLM Hunter Artist Award and the inaugural Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize.
In 2009 Ryan co-founded Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts with Christine Sokaymoh Frederick. Edmonton's first professional Indigenous theatre company. Ryan served as the founding Artistic Director for 5 years and co-produced the annual RUBABOO International Indigenous Arts Festival. Both AAPA and RUBABOO, celebrated their 12th-year Anniversary this year. From 2014 – 2017 Ryan had the honour of serving as Artistic Director at Native Earth Performing Arts after working for the company for 10 years as an artist and administrator.
With over 25 years of professional work experience in management, administration, production and artistic roles in Theatre, Film, TV, Events Management and Promotions: Ryan is committed to focus his expertise to the world of art and culture. Ryan’s Artistic leadership career currently focuses on supporting organizations and events that showcase Aboriginal art, artists, culture and education through the arts. Since taking artistic leadership roles at Native Earth Performing Arts and with the establishment of Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts: advocacy for Indigenous Culture and Art is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the work I do and the projects I support.
Ryan is Nēhiyawi/Cree/ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐃ from Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta) who’s family comes from The Michel Band First Nation. Ryan has worked as an actor, producer, writer, director, manager and event creator for over 25 years. His company, Cunning Concepts & Creations, produces and tours the Award winning production, HUFF written and performed by Cliff Cardinal. Originally produced by Native Earth Performing Arts under the Artistic Direction of Ryan Cunningham. Most recently Ryan has acted in: Julius Caesar (Crows Theatre), The Garneau Block (Citadel Theatre), AN OCTOROON, Madness of King George, Grand Hotel, Oh What a Lovely War (Shaw Festival). Ryan can be seen playing the role of Darcy Douglas in all 5 seasons of the award winning APTN series, BLACKSTONE. An alumni of the RBC Director Development Residency at Canadian Stage and current Artist in Residence at the Canadian Stage-University of Toronto: BMO Lab. Ryan has been nominated for the KLM Hunter Artist Award and the inaugural Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize.
In 2009 Ryan co-founded Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts with Christine Sokaymoh Frederick. Edmonton's first professional Indigenous theatre company. Ryan served as the founding Artistic Director for 5 years and co-produced the annual RUBABOO International Indigenous Arts Festival. Both AAPA and RUBABOO, celebrated their 12th-year Anniversary this year. From 2014 – 2017 Ryan had the honour of serving as Artistic Director at Native Earth Performing Arts after working for the company for 10 years as an artist and administrator.
With over 25 years of professional work experience in management, administration, production and artistic roles in Theatre, Film, TV, Events Management and Promotions: Ryan is committed to focus his expertise to the world of art and culture. Ryan’s Artistic leadership career currently focuses on supporting organizations and events that showcase Aboriginal art, artists, culture and education through the arts. Since taking artistic leadership roles at Native Earth Performing Arts and with the establishment of Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts: advocacy for Indigenous Culture and Art is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the work I do and the projects I support.
