Queer, Far, Wherever You Are
Ongoing
As the world’s largest and longing-running queer theatre, our home at 12 Alexander Street has been a place where countless queer artists have dreamt up, rehearsed, and shared their work. Buddies is a space for queer community to come together. But with our theatre dark for the next several weeks, we’ve been thinking of ways to continue achieving these important parts of Buddies’ role at a time when we’re all physically isolating to take care of each other.
Queer, Far, Wherever You Are is a digital performance and blog series that we’ve programmed to help bring some quality queer content to the comfort of your homes (er, phones). For the past couple of months, and through Pride month, we’re passing the keys to our Buddies Instagram account to queer artists who will share intimate performances from their homes — from burlesque to readings, and DJ sets to makeup tutorials.
Tune in Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 5PM and make it part of your evening “commute.” Have it on while cooking, or just relax and enjoy. Check out the lineup and schedule below, and head over to our Instagram account to join in live! We’re also commissioning blog pieces from Buddies staff and community members with projects, thoughts, and resources to get you through isolation.
Although the measures of physical distancing has shifted how we operate, our priority during this time continues to be providing paid opportunities and platforms for queer and trans artists. Your support helps us continue to collaborate with our artists and community members, to develop new work and engage in meaningful dialogue. If you have the means and would like to support this work, please consider joining our community of donors.
Visuals by driftnote.
Artists go live on the Buddies Instagram account (@buddiesTO) at 5PM, with a 20-45 minute set.
Past performances:
Friday, March 27: Teiya Kasahara – Opera
Monday, March 30: Dainty Smith – Burlesque
Tuesday, March 31: Gay Jesus – Drag
Wednesday, April 1: Stephen Jackman-Torkoff – Poetry
Thursday, April 2: Ali Eisner – Puppetry (family-friendly!)
Friday, April 3: DJ Sofia Fly – Music
Monday, April 6: Erin Brockobić + Allysin Chaynes – Podcast Launch Party
Tuesday, April 7: Catherine Hernandez – Reading from Crosshairs
Wednesday, April 8: Yolanda Bonnell – Songs
Thursday, April 9: Monica Garrido – Comedy
Friday, April 10: Veronica Johnny – Music
Monday, April 13: Ty Sloane – Make-up Tutorial
Tuesday, April 14: Bruce Dow – Cabaret
Wednesday, April 15: Sage Lovell – Make-up Tutorial (in ASL w/ English interpretation)
Thursday, April 16: BiG SiSSY – Drag
Friday, April 17: Carl Nouveau – Music
Monday, April 20: Maxhole – Music
Tuesday, April 21: Kai Cheng Thom – Reading from From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea (family-friendly!)
Wednesday, April 22: Brian Solomon – Movement
Thursday, April 23: Cardboard Sword Collective – Queer Trivia
Friday, April 24: Myriad Augustine – Quarantine Zines
Monday, April 27: Revi Lation – Drag + Comedy
Tuesday, April 28: Kirsten Rasmussen – Solo Sketch
Wednesday, April 29: Tricia Black – Musical Comedy
Thursday, April 30: Coko Galore– Stand-Up
Friday, May 1: Ajahnis Charley – Solo Sketch
Monday, May 4: Charlie Quinn – Nerd Burlesque
Tuesday, May 5: Augusto Bitter, Liz Der + Sofia Rodriguez – Shoe and Tell
Wednesday, May 6: T Thomason – Music
Thursday, May 7: Curtis Te Brinke – Play Reading
Friday, May 8: Lucinda Miu – Drag + Sewing
Monday, May 11: Daniel Jelani Ellis – Theatre
Tuesday, May 12: Amanda Cordner – Theatre
Wednesday, May 13: Ryan G. Hinds – Cabaret
Thursday, May 14: Sadie Epstein-Fine, Makeda Zook + authors of Spawning Generations – in conversation
Friday, May 15: Tom Hearn – Solo Sketch
Tuesday, May 19: Breton Lalama – Variety Show
Wednesday, May 20: HEIST – Drag
Thursday, May 21: S. Bear Bergman – Reading
Friday, May 22: Regina Gently – Music
Monday, May 25: Ophira Calof – Cabaret
Tuesday, May 26: Xavier Gould – Drag
Wednesday, May 27: Katinka Kature – Drag Costuming Tutorial
Friday, May 29: Vanden Boomen – Drag Variety Show
Monday, June 1: Partner
All performances are free to attend, just head over to our Instagram page (@buddiesTO) and watch live.
Artists are paid an honorarium for their performances – but feel free to give them a follow and a share, as well! If you’d like to support Buddies in continuing to create space for queer artists, check out our support page.