Land, Place, Home
A new performance created by newcomers to Canada about what it means to exist in this place.
Land, Place, Home is returning this Fall!
In 2025, Open Heart Arts Theatre, HFTco, and ABRAR Trauma and Mental Health Services launched Land, Place, Home, a storytelling and performance project for newcomers, refugees, and immigrants in Hamilton. After months of talking, writing, creating, and connecting, participants shared their stories with sold-out audiences at Frost Bites 2026.
The response was incredible. Audiences connected deeply with the work, and many newcomer artists asked how they could get involved. We're thrilled to share that Land, Place, Home is returning this November!
This free workshop series invites newcomers, refugees, and first-generation immigrants to explore storytelling, creative writing, and performance in a welcoming, supportive environment. No previous artistic experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to create alongside others. Participants will have the opportunity to develop original stories and, if they choose, perform as part of Frost Bites Festival 2027.
Interested? Add your email via the Google Form linked below and we'll let you know as soon as workshop registration opens!
Creators/Performers:
Elie Assaf, Pravash Pandey, Wend Yasen
Director:
Ahmad Meree
Land, Place, Home is a co-production between Open Heart Arts Theatre, Hamilton Festival Theatre Company, and ABRAR Trauma and Mental Health.
Production History
Land, Place, Home at Frost Bites 2026
Since Spring 2025, this ensemble of newcomers have been talking, writing, playing, and moving—shaping the stories they want the world to know. The result is a rich collection of voices and experiences about this new circle of friends and how they exist here in this place. No matter where you come from or how you got here, we hope these stories speak to you.
Set & Costume Design:
Jenna Bakri
Sound Design:
Vik Arunmozhi
Spring 2025
Open Heart, HFTco and ABRAR circulate a call for participants and run a five-week workshop series with the focus on ensemble-building and identifying themes for exploration.
Four of the Spring workshop participants, Elie, Wend, and Pravash, participate in online writing sessions with playwright and director, Marie Beath Badian
Summer 2025
Fall 2025
Stage Management:
Sofia Smith
Writing Facilitation:
Marie Beath Badian
The ensemble gathers for dramaturgical workshops with director, Ahmad Meree, to flesh out script ideas and explore staging concepts.
Winter 2026
Performers, director, and the full creative team comes together to rehearse and prepare for the premiere of Land, Place, Home at HFTco’s Frost Bites in February.
Land, Place, Home is supported by
Special thank you to Dan Penrose at the Player’s Guild of Hamilton, and Patrick Brennan and Lisa Zielger at McMaster University.