Andrew Gillespie
@adgillespie.bsky.social
🌈 🇨🇦 Toronto | Happiest with a good book or at the theatre.
Snow has returned to Toronto.
November 30, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Snow has returned to Toronto.
I knew The Christmas Market would be good when @glennsumi.bsky.social’s newsletter said it was a must-see. A beautiful piece where everything from the script, to the actors, to the set and sound, and the direction all work together perfectly. A new holiday classic for Toronto theatre? Yes please!
November 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I knew The Christmas Market would be good when @glennsumi.bsky.social’s newsletter said it was a must-see. A beautiful piece where everything from the script, to the actors, to the set and sound, and the direction all work together perfectly. A new holiday classic for Toronto theatre? Yes please!
Wrapped up our trip to Montreal with a concert by the always incredible countertenor Jakub Jozef Orlinski (and pianist Michal Biel. What a talent! And so charming! He had the audience in the palm of his hand all night. A perfect reason to come to Montreal.
November 25, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Wrapped up our trip to Montreal with a concert by the always incredible countertenor Jakub Jozef Orlinski (and pianist Michal Biel. What a talent! And so charming! He had the audience in the palm of his hand all night. A perfect reason to come to Montreal.
I can’t remember the last time we were in a church, let alone on a Sunday, but a wonderful concert by Thomas Dunford was worth it. Dowland, Satie, Bach, and even some Beatles music on the lute!
November 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I can’t remember the last time we were in a church, let alone on a Sunday, but a wonderful concert by Thomas Dunford was worth it. Dowland, Satie, Bach, and even some Beatles music on the lute!
You know you’re at a fancy restaurant in Montreal when Leonard Cohen shows up in cocoa powder on the *second* dessert course.
November 23, 2025 at 3:06 PM
You know you’re at a fancy restaurant in Montreal when Leonard Cohen shows up in cocoa powder on the *second* dessert course.
You know Montreal is doing something right when a new 3.5 hour play about the AIDS crisis in the city in the 1980s sells out a 700+ seat theatre on a Saturday afternoon. Congratulations to the whole team behind Corps Fantômes!
November 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
You know Montreal is doing something right when a new 3.5 hour play about the AIDS crisis in the city in the 1980s sells out a 700+ seat theatre on a Saturday afternoon. Congratulations to the whole team behind Corps Fantômes!
How often do you get to see the same production of a play twenty five years later? I didn’t remember a lot about Robert Lepage’s The Far Side of the Moon. I remembered the breath-taking final scene of the main character drifting in zero gravity, achieved with beautiful simplicity and stage magic.
November 17, 2025 at 12:32 AM
How often do you get to see the same production of a play twenty five years later? I didn’t remember a lot about Robert Lepage’s The Far Side of the Moon. I remembered the breath-taking final scene of the main character drifting in zero gravity, achieved with beautiful simplicity and stage magic.
I will grudgingly admit that the first snowfall can be very pretty.
November 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I will grudgingly admit that the first snowfall can be very pretty.
It’s official, it’s snowing in Toronto. The first of many months of this to come!
November 9, 2025 at 12:34 PM
It’s official, it’s snowing in Toronto. The first of many months of this to come!
Choosing to focus on how nice it is to have sunlight in the morning instead of dreading sunset in the middle of the afternoon. 🥲
November 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Choosing to focus on how nice it is to have sunlight in the morning instead of dreading sunset in the middle of the afternoon. 🥲
The Canadian premiere of Jeremy O. Harris’s Slave Play at Canadian Stage is so good. Jordan Laffrenier’s direction, together with a knock-out cast, smoothly and confidently handles the tonal shifts between each act. It’s funny, challenging, and still shocks just like the original production did.
October 19, 2025 at 9:32 PM
The Canadian premiere of Jeremy O. Harris’s Slave Play at Canadian Stage is so good. Jordan Laffrenier’s direction, together with a knock-out cast, smoothly and confidently handles the tonal shifts between each act. It’s funny, challenging, and still shocks just like the original production did.
Good evening, Denver!
October 16, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Good evening, Denver!
This is the second revival of a Canadian play we’ve seen in just a couple weeks that was a) was new to us, b) directed or co-directed by 郝邦宇 Steven Hao. This production of Jordan Tannahill’s Concord Floral, co-directed by Alli Carry, is fascinating.
October 12, 2025 at 10:52 PM
This is the second revival of a Canadian play we’ve seen in just a couple weeks that was a) was new to us, b) directed or co-directed by 郝邦宇 Steven Hao. This production of Jordan Tannahill’s Concord Floral, co-directed by Alli Carry, is fascinating.
Really impressed with Byron Abalos’ solo performance in The Veil from @guildfesttheatre.bsky.social, Thought For Food, and Crow’s Theatre. A well-paced, subtly creepy show that starts and ends with a bang and leaves you with lots to think about as you leave the theatre. 🕯️
October 11, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Really impressed with Byron Abalos’ solo performance in The Veil from @guildfesttheatre.bsky.social, Thought For Food, and Crow’s Theatre. A well-paced, subtly creepy show that starts and ends with a bang and leaves you with lots to think about as you leave the theatre. 🕯️
The production of Octet at Crow’s Theatre (another co-pro with the Musical Stage Company) is *stunning*. (That video floor? Next level!) The cast is flawless and working hard to make 95 minutes of a cappella singing and dancing about internet addiction look easy.
October 4, 2025 at 11:01 PM
The production of Octet at Crow’s Theatre (another co-pro with the Musical Stage Company) is *stunning*. (That video floor? Next level!) The cast is flawless and working hard to make 95 minutes of a cappella singing and dancing about internet addiction look easy.
With so much theatre opening and closing in the next couple of weeks we needed a three-show weekend to squeeze them all in. You’d think we were on vacation!
September 28, 2025 at 10:41 PM
With so much theatre opening and closing in the next couple of weeks we needed a three-show weekend to squeeze them all in. You’d think we were on vacation!
Walked by Alan Ritchson filming Reacher on the walk home from work tonight. Just another day in Toronto! Can confirm Alan is a Very Big Man.
September 24, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Walked by Alan Ritchson filming Reacher on the walk home from work tonight. Just another day in Toronto! Can confirm Alan is a Very Big Man.
Sending the biggest thanks and hugs to @meakoopa.bsky.social and the talented team behind Marvel’s Avengers Academy. They put so much love and heart into this series and brought something wonderful, unique, and necessary to the world every week for sixty issues. Time to begin my re-read! ✨
September 24, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Sending the biggest thanks and hugs to @meakoopa.bsky.social and the talented team behind Marvel’s Avengers Academy. They put so much love and heart into this series and brought something wonderful, unique, and necessary to the world every week for sixty issues. Time to begin my re-read! ✨
Lucy Kirkwood’s The Welkin (Soulpepper/Crows/The Howland Company) blows open the doors to the Toronto theatre season. Featuring a huge cast of mostly women, this show is everything: smart, funny, challenging, and oh god the last 20 minutes are intense! Mayko Nguyen & Bahia Watson are next level.
September 21, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Lucy Kirkwood’s The Welkin (Soulpepper/Crows/The Howland Company) blows open the doors to the Toronto theatre season. Featuring a huge cast of mostly women, this show is everything: smart, funny, challenging, and oh god the last 20 minutes are intense! Mayko Nguyen & Bahia Watson are next level.
Always in awe of Gaga’s commitment to her vision and her incredible presence as a performer. The Mayhem Ball was out of this world!
September 14, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Always in awe of Gaga’s commitment to her vision and her incredible presence as a performer. The Mayhem Ball was out of this world!
Homeward bound!
September 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Homeward bound!
For our last night in London we couldn’t pass up the chance to see Vanessa Williams live on stage. She looked amazing, sounded great, and seemed to be having the time of her life. ✨
September 7, 2025 at 9:43 AM
For our last night in London we couldn’t pass up the chance to see Vanessa Williams live on stage. She looked amazing, sounded great, and seemed to be having the time of her life. ✨
Last day in London so we went to Fortnum & Mason to check out their selection of Mary Berry cakes. We tried the Carrot and Walnut cake. @imjdid.bsky.social’s verdict: “Scrummy!”
September 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Last day in London so we went to Fortnum & Mason to check out their selection of Mary Berry cakes. We tried the Carrot and Walnut cake. @imjdid.bsky.social’s verdict: “Scrummy!”
What a treat to see Sue Perkins live on stage in Every Brilliant Thing last night. It was a more moving show than I expected. I suspect everyone in the audience feeling like Sue is an old friend (us included) makes a big difference. Many other actors in the run including Minnie Driver next month.
September 6, 2025 at 1:20 PM
What a treat to see Sue Perkins live on stage in Every Brilliant Thing last night. It was a more moving show than I expected. I suspect everyone in the audience feeling like Sue is an old friend (us included) makes a big difference. Many other actors in the run including Minnie Driver next month.
Born With Teeth was *fantastic* and well worth making the trip across the Atlantic. Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel both turned in excellent performances. Who knew Marlowe and Shakespeare could be so hot, sexy, and sweaty? 💦
September 5, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Born With Teeth was *fantastic* and well worth making the trip across the Atlantic. Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel both turned in excellent performances. Who knew Marlowe and Shakespeare could be so hot, sexy, and sweaty? 💦