Episode 152 with Corey Payette and his musicals

Rue Atateken

Corey Payette is an interdisciplinary storyteller, writer, composer, and director in theatre and film. He is a member of the Mattagami First Nations, with French Canadian and Irish ancestry, living on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl'ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. Known for his large-scale musical creations, Payette challenges public notions of musicals by incorporating Indigenous perspectives, sparking conversations for social change. His work addresses themes like colonization, Indigenous language revitalization, cultural healing, and reconciliation. Payette's collaborative and community-engaged approach highlights long-unheard stories, earning him the 2021 BC Award for Reconciliation. Since 2014, Payette has been the Artistic Director of Urban Ink, and he has held various roles with English Theatre at Canada’s National Arts Centre, Full Circle: First Nations Performance, and the Talking Stick Festival. He was instrumental in establishing the Indigenous Theatre department at the National Arts Centre. Payette writes music and lyrics and directs his productions. His original musical "Children of God" has toured Canada, and his second musical "Les Filles du Roi" premiered in 2018, with a film adaptation released in 2023. "Sedna," co-created with Reneltta Arluk and Marshall McMahen, premiered in 2018. In 2023, his musical "Starwalker" premiered at the York Theatre. He is developing "On Native Land" and has a new commission from the Stratford Festival. As a director, Payette's credits include "Moonlodge," associate director for "A Christmas Carol," and his film directing debut with "Stories that Transform Us." He also directed the concert film "Guide My Way" and the feature film "Les Filles du Roi." Corey holds a B.F.A. in Music Composition from York University and composed the score for the documentary "AMIN AMIR." He has served as Grand Chief of the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance and on the board of the Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society. Payette has released three musical albums and published scripts and songbooks for "Children of God" and "Les Filles du Roi." He has received the John Hirsch Prize, Fleck Fellowship, four Ovation Awards, and two Jessie Awards. He lives in East Van with his husband Marshall and their tuxedo cat Mabel.