AWKWARD HUG

“...beautiful, gentle solo show...Bring someone you love.” - Kathleen Oliver (The Georgia Straight)

In the summer of 2009, Cory Thibert was a quiet 19-year-old living in his parents’ basement. He was working as a server to pay his college tuition, spending time with his animal-loving girlfriend, and starting a theatre company with his best friend. When the Ottawa Affordable Housing Unit informs his parents that they have to move out of the only home Cory has ever known, it sets in motion a series of events that uncover the truth about what has set his family apart, and force Cory to find his voice...with a scream.

With laugh-out-loud humour and heartbreaking honesty, AWKWARD HUG transports us to the discomfort of navigating adulthood for the first time. Through masterful storytelling and intimate reflection, Cory explores what constitutes “normal” in our world, and how having two parents with (dis)abilities forces his family outside those margins.

ENLIGHTENING. CAPTIVATING. IMPACTFUL.

★★★★★ “engaging from start to finish...Awkward Hug delivers in every way” - Vue Weekly
★★★★★ “This spectacular coming-of-age story will make you laugh, cry and everything in between.” - GigCity
★★★★1/2 "Sensitive, sharp & never sappy" - Winnipeg Free Press
★★★★ "Beautiful & tender" - CBC Manitoba
★★★★ "Beautifully crafted...with ebbs and flows between humour and heartache" - Theatre in London
NNNN "Charming & poignant" - Now Magazine Toronto
”MUST SEE!” - Broadway World Montreal
“This one’s the real thing. Go see it.” - Colin Thomas

BEST OF VANCOUVER THEATRE 2018 - Vancouver presents
WINNER - BEST STORYTELLING / SPOKEN WORD SHOW - Victoria BC
WINNER - BC TOURING COUNCIL AWARD - Vancouver BC
WINNER - Spirit of the Fringe - Tilee Awards (London, ON)
Runner Up - BEST SOLO SHOW - VIctoria BC
NOMINEE - Best English Production - Frankie Awards (Montreal, QC)
NOMINEE - THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT’s CRITICS CHOICE AWARD - Vancouver BC
NOMINEE - Best Visual Identity - Frankie Awards (Montreal, QC)
CRITICS PICK - Now Magazine (Toronto, ON)
SOLD OUT - Winnipeg, EDMONTON, Victoria.

Director & Stage Manager: Linnea Gwiazda
Writer & Performer: Cory Thibert
Dramaturgy: TJ Dawe
Sound Design & Composition: Gary Thibert | dumbpop (Matthew Ariaratnam)
Lighting Design: Keagan Ada-Jane Elrick
Photography/marketing design: LOG Creative Bureau
Produced by O Albatross

Runtime: 70 mins, no intermission. Talkback available after show / in lobby or theatre.

For any questions, booking information & tech rider please contact Cory at corytbear@gmail.com.
Please see: EPK, TEASER TRAILER & ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE.