Frontmezzjunkies reports: TALK IS FREE THEATRE Announces Venues for their 25/26 Season’s Site-Specific Productions
SEASON’S SITE-SPECIFIC PRODUCTION SINGLE TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Productions include three world premieres, Sondheim musical Company, and a Toronto remount of Blackbird
August 13, 2025—Talk Is Free Theatre Artistic Producer Arkady Spivak reveals the venues for the Barrie-based company’s 23rd season. View the full season details at tift.ca.
BARRIE SEASON
A prologue to the Barrie season is the Actor Café series, with an evening featuring Tess Benger (October 16-18, 2025) taking place at Homestead Artisan Bakery, 80 Dunlop Street East, and Jakob Ehman (November 6-8, 2025) and Nolan Moberly (November 13-15) inside Town and Country Steakhouse, 76 Dunlop Street West.
The official season opener, Twelve Dinners by Steve Ross (November 20-22, 2025), will inhabit the private residence at 59 Shanty Bay Road.
The first of three world premieres, All The Cows Are Dead, with book, music, and lyrics by Ben Page (January 22-31, 2026), will take place at 80 Bradford Street.
Venues for the double bill, One Block Shop (March 5-7, 2026), and for Something Old by Keara Voo (June 18-27, 2026) will be announced January 15, 2026.
TORONTO SEASON
Following its successful run this past season in Barrie, Blackbird by David Harrower (October 1-19, 2025) will play at Hope United Church, 2550 Danforth Avenue.
The flagship musical of the season, Company with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth (January 15-February 1, 2026), will, as previously announced, take place at The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen Street West.
After its run in Barrie, Twelve Dinners (November 27-December 6, 2025), will move to B Street Collaborative, 1100 Bathurst Street.
The Toronto venue for One Block Shop (March 12-21, 2026) will also be announced on January 15.
TICKETS
Spivak also announced that single tickets for all productions beginning prior to March 1, 2026, are now on sale. Prices vary depending on the production and the city they are in. Regular-priced tickets range from $44 to $52.55, with students and artists paying between $22 and $40.12 (ID required on entry). Company also has a special rate for seniors at $47.57 per person.
4-ticket passes remain available at a cost of $142+HST for regular passes (up to about 24% off regular price) and $67+HST for artists and students (up to 53% off). Ticket pass holders may redeem for any combination of productions in Barrie and Toronto, and may exchange their tickets at no charge for any other production provided tickets remain available.
Talk Is Free Theatre acknowledges with gratitude the operating funding from Canada Council for the Arts, Department of Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, and City of Barrie.
EVENT LISTINGS–Barrie
Actor Cafés
A series of intimate and interactive evenings with prominent actors from the TIFT company with performances, shared stories and more.
Tess Benger: October 16-18, 2025, Homestead Bakery, 80 Dunlop Street East, Barrie
Jakob Ehman: Nov 6-8, 2025, Town and Country Steakhouse, 76 Dunlop Street West, Barrie
Nolan Moberly: November 13-15, 2025, Town and Country Steakhouse, 76 Dunlop Street West, Barrie
Twelve Dinners
Written and Directed by Steve Ross
Starring Noah Beemer, Jane Spidell and Kevin Bundy
Noah Beemer stars as Steve who serves as our guide and confidant as he shares with us the story of a year’s worth of monthly trips to the family home for what inevitably become uncomfortable interactions with his mother, played by Jane Spidell. Kevin Bundy rounds out the cast.
November 20-22, 2025
VENUE: Private Residence, 59 Shanty Bay Road, Barrie
All The Cows Are Dead (World Premiere)
Written by Ben Page; Directed by Will Dao
Starring Mike Nadajewski and Taylor Garwood
An artisan butcher instructs his petulant and misanthropic nephew how to be more like him, leading both to discover how both the butcher and the poet are, in fact, the same.
January 22-31, 2026
VENUE: 80 Bradford Street, Barrie
One Block Shop
DOUBLE BILL
White Taffeta Silk
Written by Nathanial Hanula-James; Directed by Sadie Berlin
When two teens dig up a soiled wedding dress from a bygone age, they find themselves trapped in a spin cycle of fear and yearning.
Negro Drowning
Written and performed by Shaquille Pottinger
As a café worker goes about his daily business, he shares a secret with the people who happen to be in his shop.
March 5-7, 2026
VENUE: Site-specific venue to be announced January 15, 2026
Something Old
Written by Keara Voo; Directed by Richard Lam
Lily and Cameron are excitedly preparing for their upcoming nuptials. While Lily’s mother, Stephanie, dreams of her daughter’s big, white wedding, Lily has other plans, opting for a traditional Chinese ceremony instead. After a disagreement, Lily leans on her Pau Pau to aid in her preparations. When Pau Pau passes, Stephanie must decide if she can put aside her hopes for her daughter’s big day.
June 18-27, 2026
VENUE: Site-specific venue to be announced January 15, 2026
EVENT LISTINGS–Toronto
Blackbird
Written by David Harrower; Directed by Dean Deffett
Starring Cyrus Lane and Kirstyn Russell
After years in prison, Ray, fifty-five, has made a new life for himself, thinking that he cannot be found. Upon seeing his photo in a magazine, Una, twenty-seven, arrives unannounced at his office. Guilt, rage, and raw emotions run high as they recollect the passionate relationship they had fifteen years ago, when she was twelve and he was forty.
October 1-19, 2025
VENUE: Hope United Church, 2550 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
Company
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by George Furth; Directed by Dylan Trowbridge; Choreography by Rohan Dupar; Music Direction by Stephan Ermel
Starring Aidan deSalaiz, Noah Beemer, Gabi Epstein, Richard Lam, Jamie McRoberts and others
January 15-February 1, 2026
VENUE: The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen Street West, Toronto
Exploring the complexities of love, relationships, and marriage in modern times, Company centers around Bobby, a bachelor on his 35th birthday, as he observes his married friends and their relationships, questioning his own bachelorhood.
Twelve Dinners
Written and Directed by Steve Ross
Steve serves as our guide and confidant as he shares with us the story of a year’s worth of monthly trips to the family home for what inevitably become uncomfortable interactions with his mother.
November 27-December 6, 2025
VENUE: B Street Collaborative, 1100 Bathurst Street, Toronto
One Block Shop
DOUBLE BILL
White Taffeta Silk
Written by Nathanial Hanula-James; Directed by Sadie Berlin
When two teens dig up a soiled wedding dress from a bygone age, they find themselves trapped in a spin cycle of fear and yearning.
Negro Drowning
Written and performed by Shaquille Pottinger
As a café worker goes about his daily business, he shares a secret with the people who happen to be in his shop.
March 12 – 21, 2026
VENUE: Site-specific venue to be announced January 15, 2026
