THEATRE PREVIEW

MARCH 2026 | Volume 261

 

Itai Erdal's Soldiers of Tomorrow brings warmth and wit to tense subject matter

The Cultch will be presenting Soldiers of Tomorrow, an upfront reflection on the actions of an Israeli soldier, May 6–10, 2026 at the Historic Theatre. Creator and performer Itai Erdal shares deeply personal insight into the occupation of Palestine, the conditions leading to the Gaza genocide, and the effects on the next generation — or, the "soldiers of tomorrow."

As Erdal says: "Growing up in Israel I was always told that the Arabs all ran away in 1948, and that's why we took their homes. My history books never mentioned any of massacres or the ethnic cleansing. Displacing three quarter million Palestinians was the first crime, the second crime, was lying about it for 75 years. When I found out the truth I was very angry so I wrote this play in an effort to tell the truth, and take some responsibility for my actions in the military."

Soldiers of Tomorrow was made to explore Erdal's reckoning, dismantling years of the filtered version of history he lived. The show premiered in August 2023. But by October 2023, the context of Erdal's performance and the conversations surrounding it had changed dramatically.

A reading with Muslim community members was held in 2024. Asking the audience whether or not they saw harm in presenting this play, one response stood out – "I see harm in not doing it. We must hear from the oppressor at this time."

According to Erdal, in that moment, he realized his role had shifted — from someone promoting peace to someone acknowledging responsibility and documenting the atrocities that have happened thus far.

Erdal, founder of The Elbow Theatre and six-time Jessie award winner, has made a name for himself presenting work that confronts pressing sociopolitical issues. Soldiers of Tomorrow made its Vancouver debut and won the coveted Lustrum Award at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe in the months leading up to the war on Gaza. Now more than ever, this piece offers an urgent, honest, and profoundly human perspective on the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians.

★★★★★ "Erdal is gentle, sensitive and engaging" —British Theatre Guide

"Soldiers of Tomorrow is a reminder of how powerful first-person stories can be onstage...Adding to the experience here, of course, is [Erdal's] blunt honesty and openness" —Janet Smith, Stir

Produced by: The Elbow Theatre (Vancouver)
Written by: Itai Erdal with Colleen Murphy 
Directed by: Anita Rochon
Performed by: Itai Erdal 
Music written and performed by: Emad Armoush 
Set design by: Brian Ball
Lighting design by: Alan Brodie

WHEN: MAY 06–10, 2026

EVENING PERFORMANCES, 7:30 PM
Wed, May 6 — Opening
Thurs, May 7
Fri, May 8
Sat, May 9

MATINEE PERFORMANCES, 2:00 PM
Sat, May 9
Sun, May 10

Talkbacks following every performance and an Active Listener on site.

WHERE: Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables St., Vancouver, BC

TICKETS: Tickets from $35. Tickets on sale now through The Cultch's Box Office: 604-251-1363 or https://thecultch.com/event/soldiers-of-tomorrow/  

ABOUT THE ELBOW THEATRE:
The Elbow Theatre dissects the human condition. They develop shows that question accepted truths. Their productions engage our audiences with the realities of our world. Through process and production, The Elbow presents theatre that promotes caring for, and understanding of, each other. The Elbow Theatre was founded in 2012 by ItaiErdal and is based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

ABOUT THE CULTCH:
Since 1973, The Cultch (formerly the Vancouver East Cultural Centre) has been one of Vancouver's most diverse and innovative arts and cultural hubs. The organization operates three theatrical venues, a gallery, and various ancillary spaces in the heart of East Vancouver. Offering dynamic contemporary works in theatre, dance, music, and the visual arts, The Cultch brings world-class presentations to thousands of citizens each year through its own programming and rental opportunities for community users. The non-profit's purpose is to provide a venue for performance, serving a diverse and engaged public, creating space for artistic experimentation and development, and building an audience for cutting-edge local, national, and international work.

 

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