Our First Ever Charitable Campaign

Bygone Theatre is now a registered charity, and our first ever campaign is promising 100% of funds raised directly to artists.

Bygone Theatre’s last show was in 2019. Throughout the pandemic, we pressed pause on producing live theatre so that we could develop our company and strengthen our values, preparing to come back bigger and better than ever.

We developed a diversity & accessibility mandate to promote equity. We committed to the United Nations SDG Action Plan to ensure we are contributing to a sustainable world. And we became a registered charity to ensure that we had the structures in place to grow and support our community.

Now, as we prepare for our next season, we are looking for your help to create a sustainable Fund that will allow us to guarantee our artists fair wages all season long.

Over the past ten years, we have created outstanding theatre working with phenomenal actors who joined our productions in a profit-share format. We were voted Toronto’s Best Live Theatre (Toronto Star Readers’ Choice, 2021), were runner-up for NOW Magazine’s Best Small Theatre (2021), and our last production, The Rear Window, was nominated for 10 Broadway World Toronto awards, and won 4: we have done a lot with a little. This fund will allow us to hire our actors at Equity DOT rates – whether they are union members or not.

We are a small company – we have no operational funding and no salaries, the majority of our admin and production work is done by our Artistic Executive Director and Chair; we have learned over 10 years how to generate marketing, press, and create fantastic scenic design for cents on the dollar. But now it’s time to move into the next chapter, and we want to put artists first.

$25,000 will allow us to commit to industry standard rates all season – we will commit to reinvesting the profits of every show to top up this fund and provide fair wages for every show after.

In this way, you will help not just Artists today, but those we engage with on future productions.

Donations can be made directly through our Canada Helps page.

Thank you for your time and support.

  • The Bygone Theatre Team
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Bygone Theatre Competing in Shakesbeers Showdown

Bygone Theatre is thrilled to announce we’ll be joining the roster of this year’s competitors for Spur of the Moment Shakespeare’s Shakesbeers Showdown! The event takes place on Saturday May 2, 2020, and is a fundraiser for SOTMSC Shakespeare In Hospitals program.

Tickets are on sale now, and proceeds go to support a great cause. Come on out to support Bygone, Spur, and all the wonderful indie theatre groups involved!

More details to come.

Bygone Theatre Holiday Auction

Bygone Theatre’s Holiday Auction is just around the corner! We’ve got something for everyone, with some bids starting as low as $5. Wide range of items including theatre tickets to shows produced by Buddies in Bad Times, Scarborough Music Theatre, Hart House Theatre, Crow’s Theatre and Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre; vintage items from Tucked Away Antiques like signed photos of classic Hollywood stars and vintage movie posters; charming themed gift baskets; getaway packages to New York, Tuscany and Sonoma, and much more!

Proceeds go towards our upcoming production of His Girl Friday, running March 2-5, 2017. This is a big show with a big cast – 18 actors! – and so we have a lot of work to do. Help support local theatre while doing  your Christmas shopping from the comfort of your own home! Auction runs online from 9:00am Thursday December 8th to 2pm on Saturday December 10th – bid at bygonetheatre2016.eflea.ca.

 

Retro Radio Hour – Nifty 50s

It’s almost that time again! Retro Radio Hour is back, this time celebrating all things 1950s! Join us and the cast of our next show, Wait Until Dark, on Friday March 25th at the Imperial Pub for an evening of vintage radio plays, oldies music, magic, classic cinema trivia and more! Doors open at 8pm, tickets are only $5 at the door (cash please!). All proceeds go to support Wait Until Dark, running April 14-16th in the rehearsal hall at Tarragon Theatre.

Hope to see you there!

Retro Radio Hour Nifty 50s

Retro Radio Hour – Hollywood!

Another in our popular radio series, this month we do a tribute to some Golden Age Hollywood classics! Join us for a night of vintage radio plays, oldies music, magic, & classic cinema trivia! All for only $5. All proceeds go towards our next production, Wait Until Dark.

WHEN: Friday February 26th, doors at 8pm
WHERE: The Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas St. E (right near Yonge/Dundas Square)
WHY: To support our next mainstage production
HOW: simple! Tickets are $5 cash at the door

PLUS
We have an exciting silent auction, with items like…
* Pair of tickets from Theatre Passe Muraille
* Gift certificate from Doll Factory clothing
* Dance lessons from Metro Movement
* Tickets from Confidential Musical Theatre Project
* A pair of passes for general family admission to a Toronto Historic Site
* Starbucks gift pack
* Belly dancing lessons
* A pair of tickets to a Nightwood Theatre performance
* Pair of tickets to a Factory Theatre performance
and more!

See you there!
#BTradio

Vintage Mugshots: Old-School Criminals Working The Camera

Working on Rope has got us thinking about true crime and the bizarre attraction the world has to criminals and the supposed “glamour” that surrounds them. While we of course don’t support or encourage crime itself, you’ve gotta admit, some of these vintage mugshots are pretty stylin’. Want one of yourself? Join us for Retro Radio Hour – Suspense! and have one taken in our Mugshot Photobooth!

 

Friends of Bygone – Theatre Inamorata Presents Virgin Burlesque: You Never Forget Your First Time

375265-250The ladies of Theatre Inamorata (Hilary Carroll, Lesley Robertson, Michelle Langille and Tennille Read) have an exciting burlesque performance coming up – we asked Hilary Carroll some questions about their upcoming show, Virgin Burlesque: You Never Forget Your First Time.

1. Tell me about the show – who came up with the concept and what are you hoping to do with it?

It is a cabaret fundraiser, a fun evening of music, comedy, burlesque, silks, clown and more! For us, it is an exciting adventure into the world of Burlesque. I can’t remember exactly who came up with the idea, but it was thrown out amidst a brainstorming session and we all thought it was fabulous. Michelle came up with the name: Virgin Burlesque: You never forget your first time. We though it was a great way to explore themes of sexuality, body image, nudity, sex appeal, and could also be very enticing to a new audience.

2. What has got you most excited about the show?

Seeing the reactions from the audience! I think a lot of our audience will be new to the burlesque world just as we are, but there has been a lot of buzz. That, and seeing our wonderful professional burlesque acts in action, they are sure to blow the crowd away.

3. Any funny anecdotes from rehearsals?

Nothing specific comes to mind…just the fact that we are all practicing stripping in our living rooms 🙂

4. Why should everyone come out and see it?

It is guaranteed to entertain. It will be funny, sexy, musical, and provocative. What more can you ask for?

5. Where and when can we see the show? How about tickets?

June 9th doors at 7pm- Pravda Vodka bar 44 Wellington St E.
You can buy tickets online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/694376 or at the door for 20$

6. Anything else you’d like to share?

Help us pop our Burlesque Cherries! Also, stay tuned for our upcoming projects at www.theatreinamorata.com