What does it take to belong somewhere? A passport? A citizenship certificate? A willingness to embrace a new culture, language and set of expectations?
And who gets to decide when you’ve done enough?
These are the questions at the heart of UNCIVILIZED, a provocative new play making its world premiere at Theatre Passe Muraille, running October 13 to 24.
Written and performed by Syrian-Canadian playwright Ahmad Meree, the production takes something most people would consider painfully ordinary, a bureaucratic interview, and transforms it into a theatrical examination of identity, assimilation and the meaning of being Canadian.
The premise is deceptively simple.
Mohammad sits in front of a camera, answering questions. What begins as a routine interview gradually becomes something far more personal, as the questions move beyond paperwork to examine culture, belonging and the expectations placed on newcomers.
Using live camera work, multimedia projections and sharp humour, Meree turns the familiar rituals of bureaucracy into an uncomfortable question: when does the process of becoming a citizen begin to feel like having to prove your humanity?
The story draws directly from Meree’s own experiences.
Originally from Aleppo, Syria, Meree came to Canada as a refugee in 2016 after establishing himself as an actor, playwright and director in Syria and Egypt. His earlier production, Adrenaline, explored displacement and the experience of leaving home, earning a 2020 Dora Award nomination and touring nationally and internationally.
With UNCIVILIZED, he turns his attention to what happens next.
Rather than focusing on the dangers of escaping conflict, the play examines the sometimes bewildering process of building a new life, navigating immigration systems and finding acceptance in a society that may still see you as an outsider.
It’s a subject with particular resonance in Toronto, a city that celebrates its diversity while continuing to navigate complex questions about immigration, identity and inclusion.
But don’t expect a conventional political drama.
Meree approaches the material with humour, exposing the absurdities and contradictions of systems that attempt to measure something as deeply personal as belonging.
Directed by Radwan Taleb, the production features Meree alongside performer Shannon Pitre, with projections, sound and theatrical design helping to transform a seemingly ordinary interview into something more imaginative and unsettling.
The world premiere also marks Meree’s return to Theatre Passe Muraille, which presented Adrenaline in 2020. This time, the production is a collaboration between Theatre Passe Muraille and 7Spices Theatre, the Toronto-based collective Meree co-founded to support Arab and Southwest Asian and North African performing artists.
For audiences interested in original Canadian theatre that tackles contemporary issues without sacrificing creativity or humour, UNCIVILIZED offers a compelling reason to visit Theatre Passe Muraille this October.
At just 60 minutes, the production promises a concentrated theatrical experience built around a question that reaches well beyond immigration paperwork.
What does it really mean to belong, and why should anyone have to prove it?
Performance and ticket information
UNCIVILIZED
October 13-24, 2026
Opening night: October 16
Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson Avenue, Toronto
Running time: 60 minutes, no intermission.
Tickets: Pay-What-You-Can-Afford pricing of $20, $45 or $70, plus a $2.50 service fee.
English- and Arabic-captioned performances are scheduled for October 18 and 24, with a mask-mandatory performance on October 21.
Content advisory: Mentions of war, racism and strong language. Suggested age 13+.
👉 Tickets and performance schedule: https://www.passemuraille.ca/uncivilized/
Main image photo credit: Andy Wright Photography & Design
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