Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
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Poster for "Angels in Underwear."
Poster for "Lana Turner Has Collapsed!"
Poster for "Drag Queens on Trial."
Poster for "Drag Queens in Outer Space."
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, founded in 1979 by Sky Gilbert, Matt Walsh, and Jerry Ciccoritti, is the world’s longest-running and largest queer theatre company.
Originally focused on staged poetry adaptations, the company evolved into a radical, unapologetically queer theatre, pushing artistic and political boundaries. Its debut production, “Angels in Underwear,” was staged in an old brewery on Queen Street East, marking the beginning of its legacy.
In the 1980s, under Sky Gilbert’s leadership, Buddies became synonymous with bold, avant-garde performances exploring sexuality, identity, and social politics.
Landmark productions included “Lana Turner has Collapsed!” (1980), “Drag Queens on Trial” (1985), and “Where is Kabuki?” (1989). The company also introduced community-driven performances such as “Sex Tours” of the Church-Wellesley neighborhood.
After a decade of nomadic performances, Buddies secured its first permanent home at 142 George Street in 1991, before relocating in 1994 to its current space at 12 Alexander Street—a former car showroom turned theatre. The building, one of the few pre-Second World War structures that survived Toronto’s mid-century redevelopment, had been a performance venue since 1967, initially housing Toronto Workshop Productions.
Toronto Workshop Productions in 1971.
The theatre has been a key incubator for 2SLGBTQIA+ performance arts, hosting major events such as the Rhubarb Festival, Canada’s longest-running festival of new experimental theatre, and the Counting Past 2 Festival (1997-1999), which prioritized trans voices in film and performance art. Over the years, Buddies has nurtured renowned Canadian artists including Atom Egoyan, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Daniel MacIvor, and Waawaate Fobister.
Rhubarb! Festival, 1989.
Rhubarb! Festival, 1991.
Rhubarb! Festival, 1992.
Rhubarb! Festival, 1999.
Southwest corner of Buddies in Bad Times. 1997.
Throughout its history, Buddies has courted controversy, notably in 1994 when The Toronto Sun attempted to revoke its city funding. Sky Gilbert, dressed as his drag persona Jane, led a protest that ultimately secured support for the theatre.
Artistic leadership transitioned over the years, with figures like Sarah Garton Stanley (1997-1999), David Oiye (1999-2009), Brendan Healy (2009-2015), and Evalyn Parry (2015-2020) expanding the theatre’s reach, fostering intergenerational queer programming, and strengthening national and international touring initiatives.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Buddies adapted with digital programming under the guidance of interim programming director Daniel Carter, maintaining its presence as a hub for LGBTQ+ artists and audiences. As of 2023, ted witzel, Toronto-based artist and director, stepped into the role.
Buddies remains a pillar of Toronto’s queer community, championing alternative theatre and groundbreaking new works that reflect the diverse and evolving experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. The theatre has earned multiple prestigious arts awards over the decades, and in 2018, it received a Heritage Toronto plaque.
Southeast corner of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. 2026.