TORONTO — Theatre Passe Muraille (TPM) will open its 2025–26 season with BUTCH/FEMME, a powerful new drama written and directed by Emily Paterson. Produced by The Green Couch Theatre Company, the play runs September 20–27, 2025, at TPM’s Mainspace Theatre.
A Night of Reckoning in 1950s Ontario
Set against the backdrop of rural Ontario in the 1950s, BUTCH/FEMME tells the story of Jenny, whose quiet evening is upended by the unexpected return of Alice, the woman she thought she had left behind. What follows is one tense night where old wounds resurface, hidden truths are unearthed, and both women confront the enduring ties of love and identity.
Winner of the President’s Award for Outstanding Production at the Hart House Drama Festival, the play has been described as a moving exploration of identity and the courage it takes to face the past.
Urgent Themes for Today
Although set in the 1950s, the play resonates with today’s realities, particularly the decline of lesbian-centered community spaces in Toronto and beyond. Writer/director Emily Paterson says her motivation came from a desire to see sapphic stories—especially butch identities—represented more often on Canadian stages.
“Setting it in 1950s rural Ontario honours those lineages and reminds us queer people have always been everywhere,” Paterson explained.
Show Information
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Dates: September 20–27, 2025
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Times: 7:30 p.m. nightly; matinee September 21 at 2 p.m.
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Opening Night: September 23 at 7:30 p.m.
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Venue: Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, 16 Ryerson Ave., Toronto
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Tickets: Pay-What-You-Can-Afford ($15 | $40 | $65) at passemuraille.ca or 416-504-7529
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Running Time: 75 minutes, no intermission
Accessibility & Community Events
TPM has built several access points into the run:
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Mask Mandatory Performance: September 24 at 7:30 p.m.
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Audio Described Performances: September 21 (2 p.m.) and September 26 (7:30 p.m., with post-show Q&A).
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Panel Discussion – Queer Art in Our Times: September 21 at 3:15 p.m., featuring Artistic Director Marjorie Chan and scholar Moynan King. Free to the public.
Cast & Creative Team
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Cast: Tessa Kramer (Alice), Annabelle Gillis (Jenny)
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Writer/Director: Emily Paterson
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Music & Sound: Anya Ivantchenko
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Lighting Design: Eden Phillips
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Set Design: Aria Kowal
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Costume & Stage Management: Salma Qureshi Wennekers
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Production Management: Gaby Bondoc
About Theatre Passe Muraille
Founded in 1968, Theatre Passe Muraille is Canada’s original alternative theatre company, committed to staging new Canadian voices and stories that reflect the country’s cultural diversity. TPM continues to focus on collaborative and inclusive practices while presenting bold works that resonate both locally and internationally.
For tickets and more information, visit www.passemuraille.ca.
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