Scott Jia

I just stepped out of SHOWSTOPPER at Soulpepper, and I am utterly spellbound.

What starts as a chaotic dark comedy about an egomaniac TV showrunner quickly spirals into something incredibly moving. Stripped of a writers' room, Aster takes on every role themselves—spiraling through isolation before fighting to regain a grip on reality alongside an assistant-therapist in a beautiful, hope-filled race against time to silence their inner demons.

The story takes a profound turn that completely caught me off guard, brilliantly revealing that true healing doesn't come from public validation, but from the quiet discipline of self-discovery and the bravery to let go.

It’s a spectacular debut that strikes a massive chord regarding mental wellness and humanity. Highly recommend catching it before it closes on July 10th!