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The Ward Cabaret: The sound of Toronto’s first cross-cultural community

by ERA Architects

Ward Cabaret

Cultural heritage is influenced and shaped by communities and their histories. In Toronto, this means much of the city’s cultural heritage is impacted by the multitudes of different communities that call it home.

One theatrical production is giving this cultural heritage a sound. The Ward Cabaret is back in Toronto after a sold-out run at last year’s Luminato Festival.

Presented by Juno-winning, Grammy-nominated musician and producer David Buchbinder, the first full production of this experience brings together musical influences and sounds from around the globe with a distinctly Toronto twist as it reimagines the vibrant music and stories of a community that was the first home for many Canadians.

Ward Cabaret performers

St John’s Ward, bordered by Yonge to the east, University to the west, Queen to south, and College to the north, was Toronto’s earliest significant immigrant enclave, from the late 19th to the mid 20th century. With Jewish, Irish, Italian, Chinese, African, and a number of other cultures living side by side in great density, the Ward has incredibly rich cultural stories for Toronto.

Many of these overlooked stories are captured in the books The Ward: The Life and Loss of Toronto’s First Immigrant Neighbourhood and The Ward Uncovered: The Archaeology of Everyday Life – both edited by ERA’s Michael McClelland — which served as inspiration for The Ward Cabaret.

The Ward Cabaret is a creative reimagining of how it would have sounded to walk the streets of this historic neighbourhood, with songs and melodies from communities around the world intermingling and influencing one another.

ERA is thrilled to be involved with such an amazing production that depicts life in one of Toronto’s first cross-cultural communities. The Ward Cabaret is running December 12-23 at the Harbourfront Centre. Get your tickets on the Harbourfront Centre’s website or find out more at wardcabaret.com. Bonus offer: Buy one ticket, get another free when you use the code WeAreTheWard241. Active until December 6.

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