Barrie is the proud home of the talented community at Talk is Free Theatre and the City congratulates them on their recent achievements at this year’s Toronto Theatre Critic Awards.
Talk is Free Theatre (TIFT) is a Barrie-based company established in 2003 by Artistic Producer Arkady Spivak. Renowned for ambitious, unexpected, and immersive theatre experiences, TIFT has produced over 150 works attracting avid theatregoers and new audiences alike. Most recently, TIFT’s production of Tales of An Urban Indian starring Nolan Moberly visited Toronto from May 22 – May 31, 2025 at Hope United Church.
For the 2025 season, TIFT has been honoured with two Toronto Theatre Critic Awards: Best Director of a Play and Best International Work (co-recipient). Founded in 2011, the Toronto Theatre Critic Awards (TTCA) annually recognizes the merits of professional theatre productions opened in the city of Toronto. Awarding 22 participants across 17 categories, the 12th anniversary of TTCA welcomed the largest jury of professional theatre critics in its history.
Dylan Trowbridge, director of Cock (produced by TIFT) and awardee of Best Director of a Play, received high praise for their non-traditional conception of an intimate and entangled love story. In turn, the Best International Work award was granted to the 2025 Canadian debut of the 2017 play What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck; a hilarious and timely co-production made possible by the collaborative efforts of Soulpepper Theatre, Nightwood Theatre, Necessary Angel Theatre Company and Talk is Free Theatre.
Over its 22 years here in Barrie, TIFT has continuously cultivated a bright and blossoming community of well-known and emerging theatre artists. Their commitment to strengthening local creative culture is woven into every production.
Congratulations TIFT! Check out the Talk is Free Theatre website for details on their upcoming production The Frogs and their Summer Theatre Camp program.