Common Boots Theatre, in partnership with BALANCE for Blind Adults, presents a new festival of audio-led theatre.

Joy in My Ears is a celebration of Blind and low-vision centered audio-led theatre. This festival seeks to change the way we create audio-led work by engaging the best of the best in Blind and low-vision theatre making sure those artists are present from rehearsals and creation through closing night. This makes sure that the sighted experience isn’t prioritized in the final work!

With this curated selection of events, Joy in My Ears aims to grow interest in audio-led theatre from a Blind and low-vision experience as an art form, highlighting its unique creative possibilities, and make this approach to accessibility more popular, valued, and embedded in Canadian Theatre.

The festival is completely FREE to attend. See registration link below!

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada.

Joy in My Ears

March 21-22 2026

Small World Centre | Youngplace, 180 Shaw Street

PROGRAM

Saturday March 21st

Two Birds One Stone

2pm

When Palestinian theatre maker Rimah Jabr moved to Toronto she became friends with Natasha Greenblatt, a Jewish Canadian playwright. They decided to make a play together… and it’s mostly true. Two Birds One Stone asks complicated questions about identity, privilege, and the search for home. First created in 2016, Natasha and Rimah are now returning to their autofictional play with the support of director, Guillermo Verdecchia, and Common Boots Theatre. What does it mean to tell these stories, together, in the face of genocide?

A Two Birds Theatre Creation, Presented by Common Boots Theatre

Created and Performed by Natasha Greenblatt and Rimah Jabr

Directed and Dramaturged by Guillermo Verdecchia

Audio Dramaturgy support by Alex Bulmer

Sunday March 22nd

Unsightly Creations – Works-in-Progress Sharings

2pm

Dive into the minds of three brilliant blind artists in an exclusive sharing of their newest creations. A works-in-progress sharing by iconic playwrights Rachel Ganz, Vivian Chong and Jess Watkin. Presented in Partnership with Unsightly Arts.

Community Dinner

4pm

Join us for a free community dinner in between our two shows! Share bread and soak in the laughter of community. This event is exclusively for in-person attendees of our festival. Catering by the one and only Tita Flips!

Apocalypse Play, or Bundle of Joy – Integrated Audio Described Screening

5:30PM

Bask in the delightful recording of our 2022 production of Apocalypse Play, with Integrated Audio Descriptions produced with dramaturgical support from Alex Bulmer.

Real-life mother/daughter feminist theatre makers Kate Lushington and Natasha Greenblatt return to beautiful Hillcrest Park to present their seriously funny, searingly personal tale about motherhood, legacy and the future… with a twist. Last year Natasha was grappling with whether or not to have a child in the face of climate change and pandemic instability … this year she’s seven and half months pregnant and the world has only gotten more terrifying!

How do we hold onto hope for our collective future when apocalyptic fears loom within our bodies? Apocalypse Play, or Bundle of Joy is a “funny, thoughtful, painful and engrossing” show about what we inherit and what we pass on, as the clock ticks towards climate catastrophe. Who will take care of the future? And will there be dancing?

Starring Kate Lushington and Natasha Greenblatt. Directed by ahdri zhina mandiela

There will be a 20 minute talkback after this screening on the subject of Integrated Audio Descriptions.

REGISTER HERE www.commonbootstheatre.ca

Venue:

All events are taking place at Youngplace, 180 Shaw St, Toronto ON. Our website has information about accessibility at the venue and our registration form offers space for access needs or questions. Please reach out to info@commonbootstheatre.ca if you have any questions about other access needs at the space or the festival prior to registering!