Corey Payette (born January 5, 1987) is a Canadian theatre and film writer, songwriter, and director based in Vancouver, British Columbia.Sam Laskaris, "Oji-Cree man among inaugural cohort of prestigious writers program". Windspeaker, August 23, 2021.
Background A member of the Mattagami First Nation, Payette is of mixed Oji-Cree, Franco-Ontarian and Irish descent.Janet Smith, "Corey Payette and Dillan Chiblow prepare to premiere Indigi-queer drag musical Starwalker in East Van, where it's set". Stir, February 10, 2023. He grew up in New Liskeard, Ontario.
After studying music composition at York University, he moved to Vancouver.
Payette is the current artistic director of Urban Ink Productions. He is also founding artistic director of the Raven Theatre in Vancouver.
Career Theatre His first musical, Children of God, was an examination of the Canadian Indian residential school system.Ash Kelly, "Residential schools take centre stage in new musical production". CBC News British Columbia, May 17, 2017. It premiered at Vancouver's York Theatre in May 2017, followed by a two-week run at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.Marsha Lederman, "Review: Children of God is must-see theatre for Canadians". The Globe and Mail, May 2, 2017. The production embarked on a national tour through 2019. Of the original production's designation as a Canada 150 event, Payette said that he viewed the Canada 150 program as an opportunity to educate Canadians about aspects of their history that had been underrepresented.Deana Sumanac-Johnson, "Telling their stories or opting out: Indigenous artists on Canada 150". CBC News, February 7, 2017.
His second musical, Les Filles du Roi, premiered in 2018.Alexander Varty, "Settler history meets Indigenous culture in the new musical Les Filles du Roi". The Georgia Straight, May 9, 2018. It presented a feminist and indigenous spin on Canadian colonial history, telling the story of a French fille du roy who comes to New France in the 17th century, but finds her purpose in her connection with new Mohawk friends rather than in the traditional role of the filles du roy.Fiona Morrow, "Review: Musical Filles du Roi presents a true Canadian vision – fractured through European and Indigenous perspectives". The Globe and Mail, May 18, 2018. The production won several Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards in 2019, including awards for Payette for Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Sound Design in Small Theatre.
Later in 2018, he also premiered Sedna, based on an Inuit legend. The outdoor theatre production blended music with puppetry. It was performed by the Caravan Farm Theatre company in Armstrong."Puppets, music, and horse-drawn sleighs: North Okanagan play retells story of Inuit legend". CBC News British Columbia, December 9, 2018.
In 2023, he premiered Starwalker, a musical about an indigenous two-spirit character, a drag queen living in Vancouver.Stuart Derdeyn, "Corey Payette's new musical Starwalker explores the world of an Indigi-queer two-spirit drag queen character". Vancouver Sun, February 14, 2023. It marked his first time creating a musical around a contemporary story rather than one drawn from indigenous history.
Film In the 2010s, he composed music for an OMNI Television documentary about artist Amin Amir.
Stories That Transform Us, his documentary film about the history of the Urban Ink Productions, premiered at the 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival.Janet Smith, "In Stories That Transform Us, Corey Payette retraces 20 years of Urban Ink theatre accomplishments". Stir, October 4, 2021.
In 2022, he entered production on Les Filles du Roi, a film adaptation of the 2018 musical. It premiered at the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival.V.S. Wells, "Review: Corey Payette’s “Les Filles du Roi” blossoms from stage to screen". The Georgia Straight, October 6, 2023.
Starwalker, a film adaptation of the 2023 musical, premiered at the 2025 Inside Out Film and Video Festival.Nicholas Sokic, "Two Canadian world premieres set for Inside Out 2025". Playback, May 2, 2025.
Personal life He is out as LGBT.
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