Today, Talk Is Free Theatre Artistic Producer Arkady Spivak revealed the venues for the Barrie-based company’s 23rd season. View the full season details at www.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 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.

DATES

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.

DATES

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

DATES

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.

DATES

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

DATES

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.

DATES

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

DATES

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.

DATES

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.

DATES

March 12 - 21, 2026

VENUE

Site-specific venue to be announced January 15, 2026.