As winter transforms into spring, life wakes up in the North. Mother Bears pass on knowledge to their cubs in order for them to thrive on their own. Awaken - so to speak - connects “cubs” (new and aspiring artists) to “mother bears” (experienced artists).

Each year since 2020, Gwaandak Theatre has presented the Awaken Festival - featuring in-person and digital workshops, cultural presentations, performance showcases, and more - all in an effort to celebrate the different ways we can gather and connect. This hybrid festival (with both in-person and online events) is curated for Indigenous and Northern artists as well as interested members of the public. Everyone is welcome!

Each year at Awaken, we present three national Performance Showcases as part of our festival line-up with in-person presentations taking place at our host venue, the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. We also host the Awaken Theatre Gathering on the final Sunday, which is a one-day conference where local and national artists can meet, form connections, and learn from other theatre creatives. We invite you to join us this spring in Whitehorse YT and Online to learn, share, and Awaken new beginnings within yourself and your community!