From Wednesday, April 24 to Sunday, May 19, 2024 Pleiades Theatre presents the world premiere of Peter N. Bailey’s Tyson’s Song, directed by Ash Knight, and starring Kyle Brown and Jamar Adams-Thompson, in the Factory Theatre Studio.
Bryan and Tyson are two best friends on their last boys’ night out, but when the evening goes awry, the two Black men are compelled to examine their pasts, and the true bonds of their friendship. A thought-provoking exploration of friendship and identity, Tyson’s Song examines the dominant thoughts surrounding Black masculinity and mental health.
“As a storyteller, it’s important to me that I tell the stories that I believe speak to the beauty and complexity of the lives of the Black men and women I’ve known throughout my life; those I’ve broken bread with; those I’ve played basketball with in the park; those I’ve fought; those I’ve loved; those I’ve worshipped or prayed with. To see our pain, and joy, and the truth of our experience as Black people in Canada reflected unapologetically back to us is, I believe, a part of my purpose as an artist.”
– Peter N. Bailey, playwright
About Peter N. Bailey
Peter N. Bailey is an actor, playwright and voice/dialect coach. His theatre credits include: A World Without Shadows, The Wilberforce Hotel, Jumbo, The Real McCoy (The Blyth Festival); Other Side of the Game (Cahoots Theatre Co. and Obsidian Theatre); To Kill a Mockingbird, An Ideal Husband, Richard III, All’s Well That Ends Well (Stratford Festival); Fences (Grand Theatre); Here Are the Fragments (The Theatre Centre); Romeo and Juliet, Sweat, Fairview (Canadian Stage Company); and A Few Good Men (Drayton Entertainment).
About Pleiades Theatre
Established in 1997 by Founder and Artistic Director, Emeritus John Van Burek, Pleiades Theatre’s mission is to redefine what it means to be “Canadian” by sharing stories from first- and second-generation Canadians with each other, Tkaronto (Toronto) and the world. Through partnerships with community organizations, they provide theatre artists from underrepresented communities (particularly artists of colour, but through intersectionality also deaf artists, artists with disabilities, artists living with mental illness, New Gen artists, 2SLBTQIAP artists and Indigenous artists) with practical and financial support to bring their stories to the stage. They also provide training and mentorship opportunities; and engage in customized, multilingual and educational in-school programs that focus on theatre, language and storytelling at all levels of education. Read more about Pleiades Theatre’s history here.
(Photo credits: Pleiades Theatre.)
Event details
Hosted by: Pleiades Theatre
Type of event: theatre performance
Written by: Written by Peter N. Bailey, with dramaturgy by Ash Knight
Director: Ash Knight
Cast: Kyle Brown and Jamar Adams-Thompson
Dates: Wednesday, April 24 – Sunday, May 19, 2024
Start time:
- Evening performances @ 8:00 PM ET;
- Saturday & Sunday matinées @ 2:00 PM ET.
Duration: Approximately 70 minutes (no intermission)
Cost: Pay-what-you-choose, starting from C$5.00 to $30.00.
Location: Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5V 2R2.
Booking link: Book your tickets here
Contact Details: Factory Theatre Box Office: (416) 504-9971, boxoffice@factorytheatre.ca; Pleiades Theatre; S30 – 401 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V 3A8, Canada; info@pleiadestheatre.org, pleiadestheatre.org
Content warning: Mature language and content. The play deals with sensitive topics such as suicide, mental health and male toxicity. It uses, at times, coarse language and depicts one moment of moderate violence. Recommended for audiences 14+.
Accessibility: Factory Theatre accessibility info here.
Refund policy: Please contact the organizer.