the moors
by jen silverman
april 8th - april 19th, 2026
tickets on sale february 24th!
“The moors are a savage place.”
A young governess arrives at a mysterious manor on the remote Moors of England after exchanging many letters with the master of the house. But when the door opens, the only residents are his spinster sisters, a maid (or is it two maids?), and a lovelorn mastiff pining for a far-flung moor-hen. But when there seems to be no child to care for, she’s left to wonder why she has been brought here. The Moors is a dark comedy about love, desperation, and the dangerous results of yearning to be seen for too long. Drawing inspiration from classic Victorian Gothic novels by the Brontë sisters, but twisting the genre to become something weirder and wilder, The Moors is undeniably queer and unmistakably modern.
Jen Silverman is a critically acclaimed playwright whose bold, darkly comedic work has been captivating audiences around the world. They are a three-time MacDowell Fellow and a two-time Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist. Their play, The Roommate, played on Broadway in 2024, starring Mia Farrow and Patti Lupone. Toronto audiences will recognize their play Witch in this year’s Soulpepper season.
Directing this production is Toronto’s Bryn Kennedy, an alumnus of the Stratford Festival’s Langham Directors Workshop (and recipient of the Jean Gascon Award for Emerging Director) and Musical Stage Co.’s Apprentice Program. Bryn’s directing credits include her new interpretation of Rosamund Small's Vitals (Nominated Outstanding Solo Performance, My Entertainment Awards) or her direction of new speculative fiction play, JANE by Camille Intson, which sold out its run in the inaugural Tarragon Theatre Greenhouse Festival. She has also held assisting positions with prolific Canadian directors Jackie Maxwell, Peter Pasyk, and, currently, with Crow’s Theatre’s Artistic Director, Chris Abraham.
“The Moors is a play that draws me in deeper every time I revisit it. I can’t wait for audiences to join us in this strange world and experience the unexpected humour, deft twists and shocking heartbreak that this play harbours. And I am thrilled to be working with Riot King, a community-minded company that has made a name for itself proving that you don’t need big resources to make a big impact.”