Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is situated on the lands of the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabe, and the Wendat, and the treaty territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. We acknowledge them and any other Nations who care for the land (acknowledged and unacknowledged, recorded and unrecorded) as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land, referred to as Tkaronto (“Where The Trees Meet The Water”; “The Gathering Place”). Buddies is honoured to be a home for queer, trans and 2-Spirit artists on these storied and sacred lands that have been stewarded by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years before the arrival of colonial settlers.
Festival director’s note
Hey you!
I was thinking: maybe "to Rhubarb" is to be strategic and creative when challenging the way things are.
Maybe to RBB is to exercise that part of you that yearns for adventure.
Maybe it is to flex the muscle that keeps you curious about the world, yourself, your art, and your neighbour. To be able to Rhubarb as this year’s Festival Director, I had to keep challenging myself and my expectations of success — of the correct, the ideal — while pursuing the unachievable goal of the festival I had dreamed in my mind. That is the gift of this festival: it demands us to dream big and let go 100 times before we even arrive.
The 46th edition of the Rhubarb! Festival is possible only because artists, staff, funders, and audiences keep feeding their courage to try new things in new ways and refuse to succumb to all the pressures of creating, complying, winning, and achieving within the status quo.
In our unhinged and intense five days of Rhubarb! 46, we invite you to be surprised and delighted by the work you think might not suit you. ByungChul Han wrote that love (and I add connection) requires courage to accept self-negation and discover the other. In exchange for that small negation of what you want and what you know, this experience of the other gives your life passion, desire, and joy.
We invite you to engage with the other through different art forms, cultures,
Festival schedule
Please note that the schedule below is the order in which the shows will be presented, but the start times for each show will vary.
Wednesday, February 12 // 7PM
Chamber Transpophagic Manifest 90 minutes
Cabaret Rhubarb! After Dark 10:30PM – 12AM
thursday, February 13 // 7PM
Chamber Double Bill: Suburbia // mi historia que no es única two works – 50 minutes
Cabaret WEIGHT(LESS) 30 minutes
Chamber OUT 55 minutes
Cabaret Rhubarb! After Dark: Moskitto Bar 10:30PM – 2AM
Friday, February 14 // 7PM
Cabaret Biography of Harry Allen 30 minutes
Chamber bumbershoot 30 minutes
Cabaret Conversation//Connection 50 minutes
Chamber Arias of Seduction 60 minutes
Cabaret Rhubarb! After Dark: Trans Strip Night 10:30PM – 12AM
Saturday, February 15 // 7PM
Cabaret Primordial Chaos / all night/durational drop-in
Chamber Double Bill: Sola(r)stalgia // The Falls 45 minutes
Chamber FAST. FASHION. 45 minutes
Cabaret Rhubarb! After Dark 10:30PM – 12AM
Sunday, February 16 // 4PM + 7:30PM
Antechamber Coffee Chats with Festival Director Ludmylla Reis 4 – 5PM
Chamber Screen:Moves** 7:30 – 9:30PM
**Please note that Screen:Moves is PWYC by donation at the door with proceeds directed to Water First charity organization.
Project descriPtions
arias of seduction presented by operatika
A spectacular recital all about seductresses told through pole dancing, opera, and burlesque. The bratty bottoms if you will...
A folk tale, mental breakdown, and questionable history lesson all strapped into a pair of chaps. Follow a cowboy into a bar where he searches for companionship and meaning to the myths he’s been told.
Valentine Leger // performer
Oliver Pitschner // director
Content warning: smoke/fog, audience participation, mention of violence, toy pistol, loud/sudden noises.
Everybody knows something I don’t. I want to know what it is, and then use it as an input prompt to generate strange improvisational art. Grab a mic, and let’s talk about that thing you really love, but you don’t bring up readily in front of others because it’s just too specific and there’s no obvious way to work it into the conversation and most people aren’t going to get it anyway.
Trains? Bondage? Whale biology? I really, really want to hear why you care. Then we’ll make some art out of it. Put on some music, maybe grab a nice wine… It’ll be fun, I promise.
Thanks to Jordan Campbell (STARLIGHT), Maddie Bautista, brawk hessel, Sooji Kim, the 23 Paprika Festival Team, Ava Patterson, Reid’s parents, and our closets.
Transpophagic Manifest is a courageous and thought-provoking work that challenges perceptions of gender non-conforming and transfeminine people. Through a radical expression of empowerment, Renata Carvalho subverts the obsessive scrutiny of trans bodies, distilling this gaze and transforming it into art, literature, and education. Presented with PuSh Festival.
Renata Carvalho // dramaturgy + performance
Luiz Fernando Marques (Lubi) // direction
Wagner Antônio // light
Cecília Lucchesi // video art
Juliana Augusta // operation and light adaptation
Corpo Rastreado // production
Risco Festival, MITsp e Corpo Rastreado // co-production
Corpo a Fora e FarOFFa // distribution
Content warning: needle use — no blood drawn, scars showing, full nudity, use of curse words. Fog, screams, repetitive sounds, audience participation.
soLa(r)staLgia
The sun is both considered an essential nurturer of life and a looming figure
in climate instability. Sola(r)stalgia explores “solastalgia,” a neologism that describes emotional distress resulting from the ongoing climate catastrophe. Unlike nostalgia, which is a longing for a place left behind, this is the pain experienced when our home environment is being degraded while still being home. A twenty-one foot cyanotype print that was exposed to the sun in twenty minute periods is unveiled as poses are held in meditation. These physical contortions aim to embody the internal manifestations of grief, warmth, performance, connection, and conversations that surround and reflect our collective responsibility and reciprocity toward the tortured environment. This work is presented with the support of Dancemakers.
sarah koekkoek // creator + performer
Susuanna Haight // collaborator
mi historia que no es única
A documentary performance study where a daughter processes her parent’s undocumented journey from El Salvador to North America; a ritual for reflecting on the micro tragedies that get rushed past due to the macro urgency of a civil conflict; the search for hope.
Jessica Esmeralda Zepeda // creator, performer
Omar David Rivero // sound designer, collaborator
Content warning: brief mention of war, incarceration, kidnapping, torture, coarse language, ethnic slurs, pregnancy, neonatal death. Audience participation. Loud noises, sounds overlapping. out
OUT is a defiant challenge to the status quo that bravely carves out a new kind of space, reclaiming and celebrating our queer future. This performance dances in solidarity alongside global 2SLGBTQIA+ movements, breaking down violent histories to imagine something new. Something liberated. Something delicious.
Ray Young // creator + director
Esme Allman // assistant director
Dwayne Church-Simms
Azara Meghie + Bambi Phillips Jordan
Hattie Gregory // producer
Anna Smith // production manager
Becky Plotnek // touring technician
Nao Nagai // lighting designer
Naomi Kuyck-Cohen
Mia Maxwell // costume designer
Naomi Jackson //
International touring co-produced by Here & Now — performance created in England.
Content warning: smoke/haze, flashing lights, strobes, loud noise, eating sounds, references experiences of transphobia and homophobia. Allergy alert: oranges.
primordiaL chaos /
Primordial Chaos is a durational adaptation of four fables from the Daoist classic ZHUANGZI. Through qigong, drone, chant and song, we attune to and commune with primordial chaos: the serpentine nothingness that precedes all existence. From this well of void, we draw up different infinities that offer us ways to live, think, and practice otherwise than we do. Audience members may come and go as they wish.
Fan Wu // creator
Jonathan Adjemian, Thom Gill, and Germaine Liu // collaborators
the faLLs
Two strangers — one of the land they stand on and one of land far away — meet at the edge of one of the wonders of the world, Or, an Indian named Dakota and an immigrant named Raven find common ground next to a casino, a huge plaster gorilla, and international waters.
Montana Adams // writer + performer
Robin Breiche // performer
(weIght)Less by ampLify coLLective
WEIGHT(LESS) is a creative conjuring that examines the perception of communal trauma. Weighted wearable art pieces represent invisible intergenerational sufferings related to Blackness, Indigenous-ness and the Femme identity. Commune with Amplify Collective and the energies of our ancestors as they generate space for release.
Allie Amplify // costume design + creative director
Raye Sylver, Thrasher, Kage Wolfe // performers
Don Vaillancourt // sound designer
Content warning: explores themes of trauma.
suburbia
Is there a right way to be gay? Yes, there is. Modern dyke Mercedes Isaza Clunie has the answers to all your burning questions when it comes to being a perfect queer. Suburbia is a poetic clusterfuck full of rageful thoughts, power ploys, and language that is sure to make her GenX queer mom queasy.
This piece in development deals with the deep shame and inadequacy that comes up when you suck at having a good gay personality. Both inside the city and in its surrounding hamlets.
Mercedes Isaza Clunie // playwright + performer
Reena Goze // performer
Content warning: sexual content, language, mention of violence, homophobic slurs, blasphemy, blinking lights.
sunday ProGraMMInG
trans strip night // friday, february 14
Celebrate Valentine's day with Trans Strip Night hosted by MAC! Featuring a line-up of all trans artists, this is an event created for and by trans people, prioritizing our sexiness and art. Any form of strip is welcome, the weirder, raunchier, and gender-fucky the better. No experience required!
moskitto bar // thursday, february 13
Included price of your nightly Rhubarb! ticket, stick around after the scheduled programming to see a set by three members of the iconic Toronto-based band Moskitto Bar — their sound combines a beautiful and original mix of Ukrainian, Balkan, Iraqi Middle-Eastern, and French Celtic music.
sunday ProGraMMInG
coffee + conversation with LudmuyLLa reis
New to town? Want to get to know some of the folks who made the festival? Need to talk to someone else about the unhinged things you saw this week? Stop by for coffee, treats, and informal conversation about the festival. Bring your thoughts, questions, and inspirations.
screen:moves by rt coLLective
Screen:Moves is a program of short dance films created by artists from across Canada. Featuring works by: bluemouth inc., Arwyn Carpenter, Averil Dubois, Kendra Epik, Melanie Gordon, Raymond Helkio, Rubyyy Jones, Cameron Kletke, Jasmine Liaw, Matthew Morales, Jade Rocan, Monique Romeiko, Hannah Schallert, George Stamos, Surej Surendra, Kaya Tsurumi, and Rohee Uberoi.
FestIval credIts
Festival Lighting Designer
DARREN SHAEN
Head Technicians
KIT NORMAN, VAN WARD, EL PATEY, ANTHONY ALLAN, NATE GURARIE, RIVER OLIVEIRA, DIAMOND SREY
Festival Coordinators
LEXI SPROULE, LUCY MCPHEE, STEPHANIE TAYLOR
Crew
FRANK INCER, NICOLE EUN-JU BELL, LAURA SHAEN, JULIE M. LI, MIKE DOWDALL, MIKE GRDOSIC, LINDSAY MCDONALD, RIVER OLIVEIRA
thanK you
Paolo Collantes and Sharlanne McStay at the National Ballet School
Aidan Hammond at Theatre Passe Muraille Elisa at UV Pole and Cirque
A Buddies In BAd Times And nATive eArTh Performing ArTs Co-ProduCTion
there Is vIolence and there Is rIGhteous vIolence and there Is death or, the born-aGaIn croW
BY CALEIGH CROW DIRECTED
BY
JESSICA CARMICHAEL
MAR 9 – 29, 2025
A PodCAsT By viveK shrAyA, Co-ProduCed wiTh Buddies in BAd Times
I Won’t envy
FEATURiNG CONVERSATiONS WiTH PYTHiA + DENiM, ALOK, KiRAN RAi, PAUL SEPUYA, SARA QUiN, AND ALiCiA ELLiOTT
EPiSODES 1 + 2 OUT NOW!
Buddies In BAd Times PArTy-in-residenCe
A nighTwood TheATre ProduCTion in AssoCiATion wiTh Buddies in BAd Times
neW ho Queen
QUEER ASiAN LOVE
PRiDE ’25
sheddInG a sKIn
BY AMANDA WILKIN
DIRECTED BY CHERISSA RICHARDS
APR 22 – MAY 4, 2025
A Buddies In BAd Times PerformAnCe series In PArTnershiP wiTh fu-gen TheATre, Pnsnv, And PenCil KiT ProduCTions
GenreFucK.
NEVER WALK ALONE BY JULIE PHAN GONER BY MARIKISCRYCRYCRY REINA BY AUGUSTO BITTER BIJURIYA BY GABRIEL DHARMOO
MAY 14 – 31, 2025
CHECK OUT BUDDIESINBADTIMES.COM/EVENTS OR @TALLULAHSCABARET FOR UPCOMiNG EVENTS tallulah’s cabaret WED – SUN, 6:30PM – 12AM + your fAvouriTe queer BAr
abuddIes In bad tIMes theatre
opened at the Carrefour International Theatre Festival in Québec City before transferring to the Royal Court Theatre in London. In 2020 Martin was awarded the Nyssen-Bansemer Theatre Prize
Artistic Director TED WITZEL
Director of Finance + Development KRISTINA LEMIEUX
Operations Coordinator MASON MCDONALD
Production Manager REBECCA VANDEVELDE
Producer
AIDAN MORISHITA-MIKI
Marketing Manager KATIE CLARKE
Social Media Coordinator OLYA GLOTKA
Hosting Lead BYZMUTH FFRENCH
Facility Manager PAUL THERRIEN
Tallulah’s Cabaret Manager AL THOMAS-HALL
Rentals Coordinator
KATHERINE TEED-ARTHUR
Chamber Coordinator AMBER PATTISON
Publicity
KATIE SAUNORIS | KSPR
Hosting Team
CONI AGURTO, MAX COWAN, HANNAH KENNEDY, DIVINE MARKS-OWUSU, MAC MCCALLUM, LESLEY NICHOLLS, ASHER ROSE, SARAH ROWE, SIWAR SORIA, MAIREAD STEWART, DANNY SYLVAN
Head of Security
AIDAN MCKENDRICK
Bar Personnel
RICHARD BELL, CHARLEE BOYES, ANDREW DESABRAIS, DANIEL HOANG, RONNIE LÉGÈRE, ASHER ROSE
Residency Program Artists
BILAL BAIG
CELIA GREEN
JULIE PHAN 潘家雯
HEATH V. SALAZAR
Emerging Creators Unit Director AMANDA CORDNER
Board of Directors
SEDINA FIATI
JESSE GRIFFITHS
ALEXANDER HUTCHISON
MICHAEL MAN
ANU RADHA VERMA
ALEX RAND
buddIes coMMunIty oF donors
LEGACY CIRCLE
Ed Cabell + Roy Forrester
John Alan Lee
Russell Mathew + Scott Ferguson
Richard McLellan
Adam Morrison + James Owen
Jim Robertson + Jim Scott
VISIONARIES ($5000+)
Fabio Mascarin Foundation
The Estate of George Grant
The Estate of Dr. Beverly Harris
The Kingfisher Foundation
Metcalf Foundation
Pride and Remembrance Foundation
HEROES ($2500+)
Elephant Shoes Foundation
House of Beida
The KM Hunter Charitable Foundation
Martha LA McCain
LEADERS ($1000+)
Ed Cabell + Roy Forrester
Carol Dilworth
Andrew Gillespie
Paul Hartwick
William Hodge + Robert Wylie
Jim Lawrence + David Salak
Lydia Leatherdale + Mike Cox, in memory of Calvin Cox
Richard McLellan
NIgE Gough Shine On Foundation
Oldfield Management Inc.
Brian Sambourne
Peter Taylor
Greg Tranah
David Wong + Dennis Yu
Woody’s on Church
ADVOCATES ($500+)
Mark Aikman + Gustavo Cerquera Benjumea
Emily Derr
Philip Doiron
Philip Gazaleh
Sean Hillier
Richard Isaac
Kent James
Sarah Kaplan and Anita McGahan
Karim Karsan + John Rider
Montana Kimel
Stephen McGregor + Tony De Franco
Aidan Morishita-Miki
Adam Morrison and James Owen
Option Properties (Canada) Inc.
Paul Petro
Smokestack Studio
J.R.Tennyson.
Michael David Trent
Anu Radha Verma
R. Howard Webster Foundation
PARTNERS ($250+)
D. Arcand + A. Karmali
Kate Bishop + Doug Gerhart
Mark Brodsky
Jeffrey Buttle
Robert Coates
Russell Connelly
James Davis
Alan Dingle
Dennis Findlay
Berkha Gupta
Neil Guthrie
Ronald Haynes
Raymond Helkio
Jaigris Hodson
Tom Hutchinson
Alex Hutchison
Dr. Ben Louie
Dhanveer Mangat
Gilles Marchildon
Rebecca Markus
Al Rajan
Nik Redman
Andrea Ridgley
Jim Robertson + Jim Scott
David Steinberg
Rick Sutton
Lionel Tona
Allison Vanek
MONTHLY DONORS
Mark Aikman + Gustavo Cerquera Benjumea
Golboo Amani
Artun Anto Azad
Leyla Bikbulatove
Allen Braude
Mark Brodsky
Jeffrey Buttle
Ed Cabell & Roy Forrester
Herng Yi Cheng
Nancy Clemo
Russell Connelly
David Couture
Arjun Dhanjal
Jennifer Duffy
Barbara Fingerote
Randy Goldman
Neil Guthrie
Matthew Harding
Raymond Helkio
Allen Hernandez
Sean Hillier
William Hodge + Robert Wylie
Jaigris Hodson
Andrea Houston
Alex Hutchison
Montana Kimel
Chanti Zoelene Laliberte
Kristina Lemieux
Dr. Ben Louie
Jonathan MacArthur
in memory of Stuart Hamilton
Cameron MacLeod
Gilles Marchildon
Rebecca Marcus
Catherine May
Joseph McLean
Richard McLellan
Option Properties (Canada) Inc.
Aidan Morishita-Miki
Bernadette + Gene Morishita-Miki
Hakeem Muhammad
Thompson Nguyen
Rui Pires
Al Rajan
Ingrid Randoja
Nik Redman
Andrea Ridgley
Sonja Scharf
Peter Taylor
Lionel Tona
Ayse Turak
Uncle Tee
Allison Vanek
Anu Radha Verma
VS
Paul Wollaston
David Wong + Dennis Yu
Arielle Zamora
buddIes In bad tIMes theatre toronto’s leadInG destInatIon For artIstIcally rIGorous alternatIve theatre and a World leader In develoPInG
Queer storIes For the staGe
audacity. Liberation. [artistic] rigour.
Whether you're finding your chosen family at a late-night party, sharing your first work at Rhubarb!, or simply stopping by for a drink at Tallulah's — Buddies is a unique space that holds magic for multitudes of queers. This space has been shaping our community for 46 years, and with your help, we'll keep our doors open for generations to come.
Every contribution counts — whether it's $5 or $500, your investment in Buddies helps keep this queer space alive. Become a supporter at whatever level works for you.
Together, we can keep Buddies bold, unhinged, and brave.
Speak to a member of our hosting team, give us a call at 416-975-8555, or visit buddiesinbadtimes.com/support to learn more about supporting queer theatre in Toronto and beyond.
our season sPonsors
LEAD CORPORATE SPONSOR
COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION PARTNER
CORPORATE PARTNERS
PUBLIC AGENCIES
FOUNDATIONS
Great theatre lives here.
We are pleased to support Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and the artists that are captivating audiences with exciting, innovative, and entertaining productions.
BMO is proud to be the 2024/25 Season Platinum Sponsor.
