“Feels like an antidote to the present moment.” —BroadwayWorld

Nathan, a young Indigenous climate activist, is found dead after a protest in amiskwacîwâskahikan, the heart of Canada’s oil patch. His sister Monique and her partner Eddy, whose livelihoods depend on the oil industry he opposed, find themselves at odds with Sarah, Nathan’s girlfriend, and Eleanor, his mentor, who seek to turn his tragedy into fuel for their activism. Meanwhile, a wise-cracking owl bears witness from above as competing truths, heated accusations, and personal grievances bring their community to a boiling point.

Award-winning playwright Matthew MacKenzie deftly crafts a provocative and deeply human drama that explores the tensions between activism and exploitation, conviction and compassion. Asking who has the right to speak on behalf of a person, movement, or community, Strife bravely confronts the complexities of a polarized world and envisions pathways toward integrity, understanding, and progress.