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AGE RECOMMENDATIONS & WARNINGS


The detailed content warnings relate to areas of a production that might negatively impact some audience members. Spoiler alert: the details and context section will reveal key parts of the play, which may affect your experience of the show.

It is the nature of theatre that some elements of a production are a work in progress until the show is in front of audiences. For the most accurate information, please visit our website closer to Opening Night.
 

 

A GUIDE TO THE RATING SYSTEM:

General (G): content is suitable for all ages

Parental Guidance (PG): show may include content unsuitable for some audiences

Mature (M): recommended for older teens and adults

FOR SCHOOLS:

Ksenia Broda-Milian, our Education & Enrichment Manager, has recommended school years for each production. To learn more about a production’s suitability for school audiences, please email her at kbrodamilian@royalmtc.ca.

FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS/CAREGIVERS:

You know your young people best. It is your decision about which shows to bring young people to see. Please remember: Royal MTC is an adult theatre that occasionally features family-friendly programming. When considering bringing a young person to the theatre, please consider the show’s running time in addition to any content warnings.

Still unsure about the suitability of a show for your child after checking this page? Feel free to contact our Box Office at 204 942 6537 or send an email.
 


Click on the show image or title for detailed content information >>
 

Mainstage Shows


Life-of-Pi-300h.jpg Elf-300h-(1).jpg Murder-on-the-Orient-300h-(1).jpg

Rogers-v-Rogers-300h.jpg The-Last-Wife-300h.jpg Rubaboo-300h.jpg

Life of Pi • Elf – The Musical • Murder on the Orient Express

Rogers v. Rogers • The Last Wife • Rubaboo – A Métis Cabaret
 

Warehouse Shows


Wonderful-Joe-300h.jpg A-Number-300h.jpg 

Holland-300h.jpg In-the-Shadow-Beyond-the-Pines-300h.jpg

Wonderful Joe • A Number

Holland • In the Shadow Beyond the Pines
 


MAINSTAGE

 

Life of Pi


WARNINGS: Rated PG for mature content, stylized violence, depictions of animal ferocity & death. Theatrical haze, flashing lights, loud sounds.

Parental Guidance – aspects to consider: mature and potentially distressing content. Not recommended for younger children. 
  • No strong language or sexual content.
  • Violence.
  • Scenes of simulated animal ferocity, fighting and attacks, depicted by life-like puppets.
  • Depictions of animal death, murder and implied cannibalism.
  • Scenes featuring a storm and shipwreck.
 


ELF – THE MUSICAL


WARNINGS: Suitable for general audience but please consider the running time when determining suitability for younger children. Loud volume levels from live orchestra.

General Audience – aspects to consider:
  • No strong language or sexual content.
  • Reference to unplanned pregnancy, unknown parentage.
  • The script is quite true to the movie, so if that is not a good fit for your child/family, the musical is unlikely to be as well.

Details and context – may contain spoilers!
  • Substances: The elves' constantly rhyming causes Santa to sing that he "needs more Xanax."
  • Intimacy: Santa explains to Buddy that Buddy's mother, Susan Welles, passed away soon after his birth and Buddy was put in an orphanage. Susan was dating Walter Hobbs in college, and he never knew she was pregnant. Two characters kiss. Buddy eventually gets married and sings that they "did a special kind of hug... and now we have a kid."
  • Violence: Buddy asks Jovie if she would like a hug; Jovie asks Buddy if he'd like to be punched in the throat. When Buddy accuses the department store Santa of being a fake, Fake Santa asks "how would you like to be dead?" and they fight. Fights are carefully choreographed by a fight director and practiced each day. 
  • Ableism: Throughout the show, Buddy is called crazy, insane, a lunatic, an idiot, etc.
  • Other: Walter denies that Buddy is his son until proven by a DNA test. 
 
 

MUrDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS


WARNINGS: ​Mature content, occasional strong language; loud noises, flashing lights, haze.

Parental Guidance – aspects to consider:
  • Reference to and depictions of weapons, stage violence and murder, probable use of theatrical blood. 
  • Reference to suicide. 
  • Ethnic stereotypes of the 1930s time period e.g. someone is “exotic” or “hot-blooded.”
  • Alcohol use.

Details and context – may contain spoilers!
  • Language: Infrequent use of "hell," "da*n," "son of a b*tch," "Go***mn," "bej*sus"
  • Substances: Faux alcohol is drunk, but no intoxicated characters are portrayed. 
  • Violence: A passenger says that another with a terrible singing voice should be shot and put out of her misery. There is a murder that takes place on the train and a brief reenactment once the ending of the mystery is revealed. A person stages a shooting and lies in a pool of blood. A dagger covered in blood is shown. Gunshots are heard; there are references to guns and stabbings. A passenger on the train harasses another passenger and it ends with a slap, and there is a brief physical altercation towards the end - these moments have been choreographed with the assistance of a fight director.
  • Reference to murder and suicide: discussion of the past kidnapping and murder of a five-year-old girl; the play opens with audio of her room being broken into and her scream. No depiction or vivid description but it is mentioned that "they found her dead, murdered, in the woods." Discussion of the fact that mother of the girl died in childbirth as well as the baby, the father "could not live with what had happened and ended his life"  and a housemaid accused of being involved also died by suicide. Early in the play, Poirot recalls a crime he has just solved as an actor portrays his memory: the man shoots himself in the head with a gun.
  • Stereotypes: Italians and Hungarians are referred to as "hot-blooded." Istanbul is called "exotic."
  • Sex and romance: no nudity. A few humourous, suggestive sexual innuendos. Mrs Hubbard relays that she caught her former husband "in bed with that redhead." Romantic couples share some kisses. These are choreographed moments with parameters established with the support of an intimacy coordinator. 

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ROGERS V. ROGERS


WARNINGS: Mature content, strong language.

Mature – aspects to consider:
  • Strong language. 
  • Content may not resonate with younger audiences. Recommended for older teens or adults.
  • This is a new play, so check the show page closer to start date for more details please.

Details and context – may contain spoilers!
  • Language: Frequent use of "f*ck," "sh*t," "ass;" infrequent use of "hell," "Go***mn," "jag off"
  • Death and dying: Mention that a character's father died of an anerysm and there was "blood everywhere." Brief description of a character dying in hospital ("then he collapsed. Half an hour later your father was dead.") Another character's parent dies and he gieves, prepares for the funeral.
  • Substances: Mention that a character's parent was "a drunk"
  • Body shaming: refererence to a character's weight and eating habits, mention of a character destroying food so he doesn't eat it, a character calls his son a "fat fuck"
  • Sex and romance: mention of a dating couple getting pregnant
  • Other: use of the phrase "career suicide" and an action is "equivalent to setting yourself on fire in front of parliament"
 


THE LAST WIFE


WARNINGS: Mature content, strong language.

Parental Guidance – aspects to consider:
  • Reference to sexual violence/rape, other violence, murder and execution. 
  • Sexual themes and suggestive content. 

Details and context:
  • Language: includes use of "f*ck" and "d*mn" and infrequent use of "sh*t, "bastard," "b*tch," "piss," "ass," "bugger," "slut," and "Go***mn;" reference to "the f***ing Catholics" and the princesses as bastards.
  • Sex and romance: A couple plans to be together after the woman's husband dies. King Henry mentions that he has the authority to declare whether a girl is a virgin. Reference to a woman's dress "showing off her rack." Kate was raped when her home was invaded; this is mentioned and the word rape used three times through the show.  Reference to Henry "keeping his erections more consistent." A man is "making morning visits to (a child's) bedroom before she's dressed." Couples passionately kiss. Kate takes Henry to bed, TBD what kind of intimacy will be portrayed (no nudity).  Kate and Thom "begin to make love" - TBD what kind of intimacy will be portrayed. Any of these moments are choreographed with parameters established with the support of an intimacy coordinator.
  • Gore: Henry has a festering wound on his leg; refers to his leg rotting. TBD whether anything will be shown onstage.
  • Violence: Henry grabs Kate by the neck. Henry beats Thom. Refernce to the fact that, as in history, Henry VIII had wives executed; Kate refers to this as murder. 
  • Substances: Characters, as historically accurate, drink faux wine. Intoxication is portrayed. 
  • Other: Henry asks whether Kate aborted or miscarried a child. Henry refers to Bess as "born of a whore."
 


Rubaboo – A MÉtis Cabaret


WARNINGS: Mature content, occasional crude language.

General – aspects to consider:
  • There are a few heavy topics touched on, without depiction of distressing events, but overall the show's tone is joyful.
  • Mention of alcohol 
  • Reference to death of animals
  • Discussion of residential schools and impacts of abuse – not explicit – in a memorial song.

Details and context – may contain spoilers!
  • Language: crude but not profanity; story told of how Nanabush "got a scabby arse"
  • Substances: mention that a relative of the performer "drank hooch" and "snuffed tobacco;" reference to "drunks and beggars." 
  • Violence: reference to the real things experienced by Indigenous peoples such as “the mounties coming with a noose” as punishment for hunting
  • Animal death: there is a song in which the performer's memere killed a goose and wrung its neck
  • Residential schools: A memorial song about residential schools tells of children dragged from parents, implies abuse ("why won't he leave me alone") and the death of children but is not specific or explicit.
  • No distressing events depicted but racism, death of Louis Riel, and other historical truths mentioned in storytelling.

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WAREHOUSE

 

WONDERFUL JOE


WARNINGS: Adult audiences only; children under the age of 16 will not be admitted. Mature content & strong language, including reference to sexual violence.

Mature
 
 

A NUMBER


WARNINGS: Mature content, flashing lights, occasional strong language.

Mature – aspects to consider:
  • References to suicide 
  • References to alcohol 
  • References to neglectful and abusive parenting
  • References to animal abuse
  • Content may not resonate with younger audiences. Recommended for older teens or adults.

Details and context – may contain spoilers!
  • Suicide: Discussed, not depicted. We first hear that the mother (never seen onstage) died in a car crash but then it's revealed she died by suicide - "she was a person under a train." The father asks his son if he'd like him to kill himself, and that he'd do it for his son. Late in the play the father mentions another character has killed himself. 
  • Abusive parenting, abandonment: Discussed, not depicted. After the mother's death, the toddler son shouted at night but would not get out of bed because he was scared of what the father would do to him. The father "was in no condition to hear you" and would ignore him or leave the house. The son "nearly stopped speaking" and eating, and the father would put him in the cupboard to try to make him. One day the father "cleaned him up and said take him into care."
  • Substances: discussion of the father's alcoholism and genetics of addiction. Faux alcohol is drunk onstage; no intoxication portrayed. A bar cart with bottles of faux alcohol and other drinking-related props is present onstage through the whole show.
  • Animal abuse: mirroring how the father treated his son, a character relays a story about shutting a dog in a room, hitting it with a chair and belt, and having it euthanized when it bit someone. 
  • Violence: a character asks if another character has a child "because if he had I'd kill it." A murder takes place offstage - referenced that one character has killed another; the father asks for details but is not given any. A character behaves in a physically threatening way towards another, and mentions hitting someone who needs 3 stitches.  
  • Death and dying: a character briefly mentions being fascinated by an ancient civilization who buried their dead in the walls of a cave and may have buried people alive. The father grieves his wife and sons. 
  • Language: two uses of the word "f*ck," one "b*tch," one "sh*t."

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HOLLAND


WARNINGS: Mature content, strong language.

Parental Guidance – aspects to consider:
  • Suggestive humourous content
  • Theatrical violence and threats with a weapon
  • Explores the sometimes difficult realities and potential harms of navigating various systems and institutions as a disabled person or caregiver, which some may find triggering
  • Told from the perspective of adults so may resonate more with older teens and above. 

Details and context – may contain spoilers!
  • Language: use of the words "f*ck" (not in a sexual way), "sh*t/bullsh*t," "ass," and "screwing around." Infrequent exclamations of "Jesus."
  • Violence: A character is kidnapped and shown tied up on several occasions. A character verbally threatens another with a gun (which does not exist). A character threatens to shoot others with a nail gun and brandishes it throughout the show. The nail gun goes off accidentally and shoots another character, and stage blood is used. A character hits another in the face with an iron. There are other instances of physical altercations. All of these are staged with the assistance of a fight director. 
  • Sex and romance: A character recieves texted photos that she consented to of a man's balls and she and another character discuss them; it is later revealed that the man sending the sexts is married. A husband and wife kiss, shed clothing items and get ready to have sex but stop when she has a panic attack; couples may share other kisses. These are choreographed moments with parameters established with the support of an intimacy coordinator. A character says that she has made a sex tape. Having lice is compared to having a sexually transmitted disease. 
  • Substances: A character lies and says that another made her "eat mushrooms and cocaine." A character asks for another to buy her tequila as a way to cope with finding out she has lice. Three characters drink faux beers onstage on two occasions; no intoxication portrayed.
  • Ableism: the parents of a disabled child face abuses of power, attitudinal barriers, and institutional and beaureaucratic obstacles. 
  • Other: Police officers perform interrogations. The first scene involves parents checking each other for lice - they find them.
 

IN THE SHADOW BEYOND THE PINES

WARNINGS: Mature and potentially frightening content, strong language. This is a new script and changes are continually being made; please check in close to opening for the most accurate details.

Parental Guidance – aspects to consider:
  • Brief implied reference to suicide
  • Brief reference to abusive parenting
  • Reference to violence
  • Character is injured offstage and stage blood is used
  • Reference to residential schools starving children
  • A few gory descriptions; mention of cannibalism

Details and context – may contain spoilers!
  • Language: use of "ass," "sh*t", "f*ck," and "hell," infrequent use of "d*ck," "piss," "b*tch"
  • Suicide: reference to a character's death by overdose and the characters don't think it was an accident.
  • Abusive parenting: mention of a parent threatening their child with a knife and throwing them out of the house.
  • Frightening stories: the context of the play is a disconcerting atmosphere with events that are scary to the characters; stories are told about supernatural beings existing in the woods and seemingly possessing humans: a car being chased and the driver is traumatized; story of Swift Runner is told which involves a man killing and eating his wife and children, then being hung; stories of creatures who kill and eat others: a family including a baby in one instance; 13 people in another, and could not be killed by hanging or burying it alive. Description of burning the creature and its screams. 
  • Gore: A character injures himself splitting wood offstage, and may re-enter with stage blood on his leg and holding a bloody axe. The wound is discussed. Some descriptions of cannibalism and creatures who gnaw off their own body parts to satisfy hunger.
  • Residential Schools: Discussion of children in "the schools" (residential schools) being used for "nutritional experiments" and starving.
  • Substances: mention that a character used his lighter for weed; faux cigarettes smoked onstage, a character mentions wanting a beer, discussion of someone's addiction, comparing it to a hunger. 

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