MurMur Theatre Company Launches in Calgary with Sci-Fi Reimagining of Classic German Play
Calgary's newest theatre company, MurMur Theatre, will celebrate its launch event on Friday, January 2, 2026 at Haus of SpanicArts. Instead of a full production premiere, the evening offers a first public artistic showing inspired by the company’s upcoming debut performance: a sci-fi reimagining of Georg Büchner's 19th-century masterpiece Woyzeck.
This presentation showcases the company’s research, visual language, and early staging explorations, offering audiences an intimate glimpse into the world of the future full production scheduled for late 2026.
Founded by director Rita Rebetskaya and stage designer Polina Kaulio, MurMur Theatre creates visually driven, emotionally charged performances that boldly reinterpret classic plays and contemporary works. The company's approach blends European theatre traditions with Calgary's dynamic arts community.
"We're building something that speaks through the body, atmosphere, and visual storytelling," says Rebetskaya. "This launch is an invitation to experience theatre that's raw, intimate, and unafraid to take risks."
"In Woyzeck, the scenography doesn’t illustrate the story — it shapes how we experience it," says Kaulio. "By working with a minimal, fragmented environment, we let the space carry its own quiet dramaturgy, allowing the audience to feel the tension and instability at the core of the piece."
The evening will feature:
Live scenes exploring themes of power, control, and desire through a futuristic lens
Intimate, immersive staging with performances happening just steps from the audience
Post-show celebration with Calgary's art community, including drinks and music
While Woyzeck tells the story of a soldier crushed by authority and circumstance, MurMur Theatre's developing adaptation reframes the narrative as a psychological sci-fi experiment, stripping away traditional staging in favor of movement, mood, and minimalism. This presentation marks the first public look into the creative research behind the future full production.
The production brings together award-winning Canadian and international artists. Twice Canada Screen Award nominee Warren Sulatycky, who worked as director observer with renowned director Robert Lepage, leads the cast alongside Kennedy Center Award-winning playwright and actor Maxim Vinogradov. Grace Fedorchuk, a Feme Sole Award recipient with credits on Netflix (My Life with the Walter Boys) and Amazon Prime, joins Belarusian dance artist Darya Ivanova and multidisciplinary artist Nikhat Saheb. Sound design comes from electronic musician Dana Saifullina (any given angle), with multimedia design by Vitalii Melnychek (Lawenda), and lighting design by Matt Lévesque, known for his atmospheric, minimalistic approach to shaping immersive performance worlds.