Toronto Theatre

Toronto’s Top Theatre Groups: Where to Catch the Best Shows

Toronto has a great theatre scene with lots of different shows to enjoy. Whether you like classic plays, bold and avant-garde performances, or stories about different cultures, there’s something for everyone. Below, we review six of the top theatre companies in Toronto. Each one brings something special to the city’s art world. If you live in Toronto or are just visiting, these theatres offer great entertainment and a chance to see some of the best Canadian shows.

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

📍 Address: 12 Alexander Street

📞 Phone: (416) 975-8555

🌐 Website: buddiesinbadtimes.com

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre started back in 1979. It’s a big deal in Toronto because it focuses on shows about LGBTQ+ life and culture. In fact, it’s the biggest and oldest queer theatre company in the whole world! That’s pretty cool.

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

What They Do:

  • They put on plays that talk about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experiences.
  • They’re not afraid to do shows that might shock some people or make them think differently.
  • They give new actors and writers a chance to show their stuff.

Some of their shows include:

  • “Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools” – a play about the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people
  • “PIG” – a provocative show about desire and power
  • “The Gay Heritage Project” – a fun look at queer history

How to Visit:

  • You can find them at 12 Alexander Street in Toronto.
  • If you use a wheelchair, you can get in easily.
  • You can buy tickets online, call them, or go to the box office.
Against the Grain Theatre

Against the Grain Theatre

📍 Address: 157 Carlton Street, Toronto

📞 Phone: (647) 367-8943

🌐 Website: againstthegraintheatre.com

Against the Grain Theatre started in 2010. They do opera, but not the kind your grandma might know. They take old operas and make them new and exciting, often performing in unexpected places like bars or parks.

What Makes Them Special:

  • They mix opera with other kinds of music and theatre.
  • They often work with different types of artists to create unique shows.
  • Their performances feel more like fun events than stuffy old operas.

Shows they’ve done:

  • “La Bohème” – performed in a bar instead of a big theatre
  • “Figaro’s Wedding” – a modern take on Mozart’s classic
  • “AtG’s Messiah” – a new version of Handel’s famous music

Plan Your Visit:

  • Their office is at 157 Carlton Street, but shows happen in different places.
  • They make sure people with disabilities can enjoy the shows too.
  • You can get tickets on their website or by calling them.

Theatre Passe Muraille

📍 Address: 16 Ryerson Avenue

📞 Phone: (416) 504-7529

🌐 Website: passemuraille.ca

Theatre Passe Muraille has been around since 1968. Their name means “theatre beyond walls” in French, which fits because they like to break the rules of traditional theatre. They focus on new plays by Canadian writers.

Theatre Passe Muraille

What They’re Known For:

  • They create a lot of new plays instead of just doing old ones.
  • Sometimes the actors and writers work together to make a play.
  • They like to tell stories about different cultures and social issues in Canada.

Examples of their shows:

  • “The Drawer Boy” – a famous Canadian play about friendship and memory
  • “Served” – a play about restaurant workers
  • “Saving Pluto” – a fun show about the planet Pluto

Visitor Info:

  • Go to 16 Ryerson Avenue to find them.
  • People in wheelchairs can get in, and they have special shows for people who are deaf or blind.
  • You can buy tickets online, on the phone, or at the theatre.
Crow’s Theatre

Crow’s Theatre

📍 Address: 345 Carlaw Avenue

📞 Phone: (647) 341-7390 ext. 1010

🌐 Website: crowstheatre.com

Crow’s Theatre is in a part of Toronto called the East End. They moved into a brand new building called Streetcar Crowsnest in 2017. They do both new plays and old favorites, making them a go-to place for all kinds of theatre lovers.

Why People Like Them:

  • They mix up new plays with classics everyone knows.
  • They have shows for grown-ups and for families with kids.
  • Their new building is really nice and has good technology for cool effects.

Some of their productions:

  • “The Seagull” – a famous play by Chekhov, but done in a new way
  • “Ghost Quartet” – a spooky musical about love and whiskey
  • “Children of God” – a powerful musical about Indigenous people in Canada

Coming to See a Show:

  • The address is 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto.
  • The whole building is easy to use if you have a wheelchair.
  • You can park your car right there.

Blue Bird Theatre Collective

🌐 Website: bluebirdtheatrecollective.com

Blue Bird Theatre Collective is pretty new, starting in 2013. But they’ve quickly become known for doing really creative and unusual shows. They often make up their own plays instead of using scripts that already exist.

Blue Bird Theatre Collective

What’s Special About Them:

  • They tell stories about many different cultures.
  • They mix theatre with dance, music, and sometimes even circus skills.
  • The actors and writers work together to create the shows.

Types of shows they do:

  • “Maanomaa, My Brother” – a play about two friends from Ghana
  • “Bush of Ghosts” – a story about immigration using West African storytelling
  • They also do workshops and smaller shows to try out new ideas

Seeing a Blue Bird Show:

  • They perform in different places, so check their website to find out where.
  • Each show might be set up differently, so ask about accessibility if you need it.
Factory Theatre

Factory Theatre

📍 Address: 125 Bathurst Street, Toronto

📞 Phone: (416) 504-9971

🌐 Website: factorytheatre.ca

Factory Theatre has been around since 1970. They only do plays written by Canadians, which makes them really important for Canadian writers and actors. They’ve helped start the careers of many famous Canadian playwrights.

What They Do Best:

  • Every single play they do is by a Canadian writer.
  • They do brand new plays and also new versions of older Canadian plays.
  • They like to show stories about all the different people who live in Canada.

Examples of their work:

  • “Salt-Water Moon” – a love story set in Newfoundland
  • “Bombay Black” – a mysterious play about an Indian dancer
  • “The Waltz” – a play about Filipino-Canadians

Visiting Factory Theatre:

  • Find them at 125 Bathurst Street, Toronto.
  • People who use wheelchairs can get in easily.
  • You can buy tickets in lots of ways – online, by phone, or at the theatre.

Planning Your Theatre Trip

  1. Look at the theatre’s website to see what plays they’re doing now.
  2. If you’re a student or don’t have much money, ask if they have cheap tickets.
  3. Sign up for emails from the theatres to hear about special deals.
  4. Get there early so you can look around and maybe have a snack before the show.

How to Help Toronto’s Theatres

  1. Go see lots of shows!
  2. Tell your friends when you see a good play.
  3. If you have time, you could volunteer at a theatre.

Toronto has so many great theatres, and these six are just some of the best. Each one offers something different, so you can find plays that match what you like. Maybe you’ll enjoy the LGBTQ+ stories at Buddies in Bad Times, or the new take on opera at Against the Grain. Or you might prefer the all-Canadian shows at Factory Theatre.

Going to these theatres is a great way to have fun, learn new things, and support the arts in Toronto. Each time you see a play, you’re helping keep Toronto’s theatre scene alive and exciting. So next time you’re wondering what to do for a night out, why not try one of these theatres? You might discover your new favourite thing to do in the city.