ABOUT

History

Established in 1979, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a professional Canadian theatre company dedicated to the development and presentation of queer theatre. Over the past 30-something years, it has evolved from a small production company into the largest facility-based queer theatre company in the world. The theatre sits in the heart of downtown, adjacent to Toronto's Gay Village, and its primary constituencies are the city's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities, and an urban alternative theatre-loving audience, both LGBT and straight.

Artistic Mission Statement

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre strives to be the leading alternative, facility-based theatre in Toronto. We are committed to work that challenges the boundaries of theatrical and social convention. As a company, we celebrate difference and question assumptions. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre strives to achieve theatrical excellence through its play development programs, strong volunteer base, youth-mentorship initiatives and ever increasing wealth of Canadian Queer Talent.

Mandate

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company dedicated to the promotion of Queer Canadian Culture.

In 2004, Buddies' mandated was rearticulated around the term "Queer." The term is invoked in the mandate to express its commitment to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities, on the one hand, and to foster challenging and innovative theatre performance, on the other.

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is mandated to developing, producing and supporting original work that speaks to the following criteria:

1. QUEER - referring to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered identity - encapsulates the core of our organization. Buddies is committed to representing the LGBT community by supporting LGBT artists and by telling LGBT stories.
2. QUEER - referring to anything outside of the norm - represents the nature of the work presented at 12 Alexander Street. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is dedicated to work that is different, outside the mainstream, challenging in both content and form.

Brendan Healy — Artistic Director

Brendan Healy was appointed Artistic Director of Buddies in Bad Times in September 2009, making him one of the youngest artistic directors of a major facility-based theatre company in the country. Originally from Montreal, Brendan began his career as an actor, appearing most-notably in Peter Hinton's production of Girls!Girls!Girls! presented at the 2000 TransAmériques Festival.

It was at that festival that Brendan met Richard Maxwell, whose company, the New York City Players, is considered to be one of the most influential alternative theatre companies currently operating in Manhattan. That meeting led Brendan to New York where he interned under Mr. Maxwell and where he decided to dedicate himself exclusively to directing.

Since relocating to Toronto almost a decade ago, Brendan has established himself as a central figure in the city's independent theatre scene and his work has been presented across the country. He has taught and directed at Concordia University and the National Theatre School of Canada.

Brendan is a graduate of the National Theatre School's directing program and he has trained extensively with one of the pioneers of the American avant-garde Anne Bogart and the SITI Company. He is a recipient of the Ken McDougall Award for emerging director and was awarded the Pauline McGibbon Award for directing. Brendan was the associate artist at Crow's Theatre before becoming the Artistic Director of Buddies in Bad Times.