What to Expect at…Theatre Passe Muraille

Looking for information about your favourite theatres? We’ve got you covered! Intermission’s Insider Intel articles showcase one theatre at a time to give you all the information you need before your visit.

This week: Theatre Passe Muraille

What kind of theatre do they produce?

Theatre Passe Muraille (TPM) believes there should be a more diverse representation of artists, audience members, and stories in our theatre. TPM aspires to be a leader locally, nationally and internationally in establishing, promoting, and embracing collaborative and inclusive theatre practices. This is so that they can support and ignite the voices of unique artists, communities, and audiences. Their mission is to break down walls by pushing against boundaries; to create art with and for an audience, examining the marginal, the unexplored, and the unforeseen; and to articulate a distinct Canadian voice that reflects the complexity of our intercultural society.

Location

Near the Queen/Bathurst intersection, TPM is easily accessible by bus or streetcar, and there is plenty of parking in the vicinity. Check TPM’s website for more information on how to get to the venue.

The walls of TPM lit up for their production of Ephemeral Artifacts, an Anandam DanceTheatre Production in association with TPM. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

Venue

TPM operates out of a designated historical building; the former Nasmith Bakery and Stables. But true to name, productions have also taken place “beyond walls,” both digitally and in site-specific locations across Toronto.

Ticket Prices

In 2022, TPM is continuing with their popular Pay-What-You-Can-Afford model. Tickets are $5, $25, and $50 for our Season Productions (and $5, $10, and $20 for their BUZZ Development Series), and regardless of price, all tickets are the same. TPM implemented this ticketing practice last year to further break down financial barriers, and it was a great success. Their audience are invited to make their own choices about what they can afford in order to experience theatre. Those purchasing at the $50 price point will do so with the understanding that their ticket price is helping to subsidise the $5 ticket price, and in doing so, making theatre more accessible for others.

Discount Opportunities

TPM offers subsidised tickets to audience members for whom the PWYCA price points are a financial barrier. Please contact Angela Sun at angelas@passemuraille.on.ca for more information.

Interior of TPM’s Mainspace venue. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

COVID-19 Safety Information

  • As of Oct 22, 2021, everyone entering TPM must provide proof of vaccination by presenting their Enhanced Vaccine Certificate (QR code) or the receipt of vaccination with a form of government-issued identification
  • The theatre is equipped with 4 rooftop HVAC units, and sanitation measures were added to ensure all high touch areas are cleaned frequently
  • Theatre Passe Muraille is currently operating at 50% capacity
  • Masks are required at all times inside the theatre (with the exception of the artists when they are performing

For more information on Theatre Passe Muraille’s commitment to the health and safety of their staff, patrons, and artists, check their website.

Accessibility

The TPM team strongly believes that increasing theatre accessible makes the entire industry better and leads to more exciting experiences for everyone. Each of their shows has different accessibility features, which will be announced soon!

  • The building’s front entrance and single-user washrooms are equipped with automatic push buttons
  • All washrooms are designated as Gender Neutral, and each is equipped with an accessible stall.
  • Both the Mainspace and the Backspace can accommodate a limited number of wheelchairs or scooters — contact TPM for details on the show you’re looking to see
  • All staff, patrons and artists are welcome to bring assistive devices (canes, wheelchairs, walkers, etc.) to the Theatre — TPM’s Front-of-House team will help with the storage and retrieval of your equipment
  • TPM has 11 RF assistive hearing device units (9 loop and 2 steto varieties) which can be used in both their spaces — please inquire at the box office when you arrive for either a TPM Season show or any rental production about borrowing a RF transmitter
  • Service animals are always welcome at TPM — if you are planning on bringing a support animal with you, please advise a Box Office representative when booking your tickets
  • TPM offers complimentary tickets to designated support persons to any of TPM’s productions (support persons being an individual chosen or hired to provide services or assistance to another individual

To learn more about the work TPM is doing to integrate accessibility into artistic processes, visit https://www.passemuraille.ca/accessibilitylabs/. To provide feedback or ask questions, please call 416-504-7529 or email info@passemuraille.on.ca.

Artists perform in TPM’s Bar Space and CabStage. Image courtesy of Theatre Passe Muraille.

Artists You Might Recognise

Theatre Passe Muraille is run by a group of dedicated and passionate theatre artists from across the country and beyond. Whether you’ve seen them onstage or have caught a show in which they were involved, these familiar names are staples, risk-takers, and change-makers within the Toronto theatre community.

  • Marjorie Chan, Artistic Director
  • Indrit Kasapi, Associate Artistic Director
  • David Fisher, Mainspace Technician
  • Angela Sun, Community Engagement Coordinator
  • Eric Read, Facilities & Production Manager

Where to Eat and Drink

  • Food Art Music for some Creole Crab Cakes, Chicken & Waffles, and Chicken Sandwich (occasionally run into some really cool events)
  • Saku Sushi on Queen St West has really good sushi (especially the rolls) and the perfect ambience for a pre-show meal
  • Pat’s Homestyle Jamaican Restaurant on Queen St W is open late for takeout only — perfect for a post-show bite
  • Café Forget Me Not on Portland/Adelaide is a great spot for pre- or post-show coffee & chats (they also have a great pastry section and gift shop)

Iconic Past Productions:


2 Responses to “What to Expect at…Theatre Passe Muraille”

  1. An Excellent feature…what’s on…the photo pop the spaces and the Names of the folks who inhabit the place. Looking forward to the same on other theatres. Well done and thanks!

    • Hi Peter! We’re so glad you enjoyed the article! Over the past few weeks, we’ve released several What to Expect at… articles from different Toronto theatre companies. Head to the “Insider Intel” section in our menu to take a look at who we’ve profiled and discover what to expect on your next theatre adventure!

Leave a Reply

We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to leave a comment below, but please read our conditions first: 1) Be respectful, 2) Please don’t spam us, 3) We will remove any comments that contain hate speech, pornography, harassment, personal attacks, defamatory statements, or threats. Thanks for your understanding.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Written By

Jessica is a former associate editor at Intermission, as well as a writer, classically-trained actor, and plant enthusiast. Since graduating from LAMDA in the UK with her MA in acting, you can often find her writing screenplays and short plays in the park, writing extensive lists of plant care tips, or working on stage and screen (though she uses a stage name). Jessica freelances with various companies across Canada, but her passion lies in working with theatre artists and enthusiasts.