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Stageworthy

Ryan McCollom is Making Canadian Theatre Impossible to Ignore

July 21 · 56 min · 54.1 MBExplicit
0:00-56:19

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About This Episode:

Ryan McCollom is a Toronto-based theatre content creator behind the popular TikTok and Instagram account Plates and Playbills, and he's on a mission to get more people through the doors of indie and smaller professional theatres across the city. What started as personal documentation of his own growing love of theatre has evolved into a platform dedicated to closing the gap between the big Mirvish productions most people know and the rich, underserved world of indie and community theatre that most audiences don't even know exists.

This episode explores:

  • How Ryan went from cooking videos during COVID to becoming one of Toronto's most visible theatre content creators
  • The difference between being a theatre critic and a theatre commentator and why Ryan is careful about that line
  • Why the Stratford Festival was the wake-up call that made Ryan realize theatre needed younger audiences now
  • What indie theatres could be doing on social media to reach new audiences without spending a dime
  • Canadian cultural cringe in the performing arts: why audiences wait for American or British validation before embracing homegrown work
  • And much more!

Guest: 🎭 Ryan McCollom

Ryan is a Toronto-based content creator dedicated to making theatre more accessible and approachable for new audiences while also encouraging seasoned theatre-goers to explore smaller professional companies and indie productions. While his coverage primarily focuses on the Toronto theatre scene, Ryan also documents his travels and the productions he experiences around the world, sharing an honest perspective as an everyday theatre fan.

Connect with Ryan:

📸 Instagram: @platesandplaybills_

🎥 TikTok: @platesandplaybills_

Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Podchaser | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio 📺 Watch on YouTube – Like, subscribe & hit the notification bell!

Support Stageworthy: If you love the show, consider supporting on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy Patrons get early access to episodes, participate in conversations about topics to cover, and more. With three backer levels: $2, $7, and $20.

Thank you to my Patrons: Chris, Georgia, Heather J, Tanisha, Aisling, Cassie, Heather, Jeanette, Steve

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