Interested in attending or performing at a storytelling show in Toronto? Here’s a handy list, in alphabetical order.
1001 Nights of Storytelling
Generally traditional storytelling, but true stories are welcome.
How To Participate Open mic. Show up and tell your story.
When and Where Every Friday, Innis College Cafe, 2 Sussex Avenue
416 Dating Stories
Real-life dating might make you cry, but here you’ll mostly be laughing.
True dating stories told by professional performers and amateur enthusiasts.
How To Participate Attend the show as an audience member or volunteer ahead of time to tell your dating story. Details via: [email protected] or via Twitter: @416dating.
When and Where Once a month – on different dates and different locations.
9 to 5 Narrative
A monthly storytelling event dedicated to personal stories that come from our working lives. Come hear stories of perseverance, drudgery and triumph told by people pursuing their passion or merely collecting a pay check. A collective water cooler, we all work, come listen to the experiences of others which are at times funny, sad, but always true.
How To Participate Attend the show as an audience member. Afterwards, if you feel your story would fit, either talk to Kate Hodgson or visit the site and scroll down to “Contact”, then pitch your story.
When and Where monthly, The Monarch, 12 Clinton (just west of College and Bathurst)
Dare: Stories We Thought We’d Never Tell
Daringly told stories can be about overcoming challenges, surprises, or life changing situations, for a few examples. Did you ever commit a crime? Have you cheated on someone because it was in a different area code? Surprised by a medical diagnosis? Have you ever felt ashamed?” These are but only a few questions that if you have answered yes to, then you have a story for us.
How To Participate grab the open mic spot, or apply here: more info
When and Where monthly, The Ossington, 61 Ossington Avenue (just north of Queen)
Fireside Tales
Monthly storytelling show that takes place around the Dufferin Grove Park fire pit, and a roaring campfire.
How To Participate Email [email protected] to request a spot.
When and Where monthly, Dufferin Grove Park fire pit (on Dufferin, south of Bloor) from May to October, and every third Wednesday at the Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor West, from December to April
High Stakes Storytelling
Presented by Sage Tyrtle: “What I love most about hearing a true story is when that story has changed the teller. And because of that change, the storyteller is passionate and invested and excited about sharing that story with an audience and then we are changed too. These are the stories that had me on the edge of my seat – with fear, with laughter, with tears – the first time I heard them.”
How to Participate more info
When and Where bi-monthly, subscribe to the mailing list to be notified when the next show is coming up
Raconteurs
Raconteurs is a storytelling night held the 2nd Weds. of the month. 10 storytellers tell 10 true and personal stories in under 10 minutes. No notes, no props.
How To Participate Join the group and attend as an audience member. Keep an eye on the upcoming theme by subscribing to the Twitter feed at @RaconteursTO. When you have an appropriate story, email the producers your pitch at [email protected].
When and Where Second Wednesday of every month, Tranzac, 292 Brunswick (just east of Bathurst, south of Bloor)
Storystar
True stories by Toronto’s best storytellers.
How To Participate Booked show. Email producer Erin Rodgers at [email protected]. Send a link to video or audio of your storytelling.
When and Where Every other month, Social Capital Theatre, 154 Danforth Ave.
Stories Of Ours
A storytelling project aiming to fight systemic oppression through the power of personal narrative. Showcasing storytellers, young slam poets, and local musicians/artists of multicultural, multigenerational backgrounds in community evenings of healing and learning, rooted in Regent Park.
How To Participate Attend our next event and speak with Erin, or email at [email protected].
When and Where Every other month, check dates, Centre for Social Innovation in Regent Park (585 Dundas St E, 3rd floor Lounge).
Stories We Don’t Tell
Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always true, join us for an intimate night of stories you won’t hear at a cocktail party. We’re a group of Toronto-based writers and storytellers and we believe that authentic stories are the key to human connection and community building. It doesn’t matter how your story comes out, we’d love to hear it.
How To Participate Attend a show, check out the website or like and us through our Facebook group page. We help you develop the stories through workshops leading up to the event. The stories should be personal (as the title suggests!) and between 7 – 10 minutes.
When and Where Monthly at various locations in downtown Toronto. Check website for links to the latest Facebook event page.
Tell Me Something Good
Tell Me Something Good is your opportunity to share short TRUE stories of sexual glory, gaffes, and growth for the chance to win sexy prizes.
How to Participate Sign up and we’ll toss names into a hat to pick up to 10-15 storytellers for slots of up to 5 minutes each.
*** Important note: We strive on making this a safe(r) event. We will not tolerate homophobia, racism, transphobia, ableism, ageism, misogyny, whorephobia, slut shaming, fat-phobia, or any other jerky behaviour or language. Please make sure that your stories are respectful so that everyone can feel included and have a good time! ***
When and Where Monthly at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto.
Tinder Tales Live
Stories revolve around funny, awkward, etc. Tinder and online dating experiences and we try to have at least one comedic act per show.
How To Participate Storytellers just have to send an email to [email protected] to set up a meeting and we go from there.
When and Where first Monday of every month, check website for venue
True Stories Told Live
True Stories Told Live is a simple idea. A bunch of people having a drink in a small room in West Toronto, listening to other people telling true stories. It’s not comedy, though it’s allowed to be funny. It’s not educational, but you might learn something. It’s not musical, but we like to include the odd story-telling musician.
How To Participate Marsha books the storytellers months in advance – if you’d like to be one of them, you can find out how to here.
When and Where last Tuesday of the month – alternate months, The Garrison, 1197 Dundas West (just west of Ossington)
xvzf: True Stories from Toronto Tech Workers
An evening for people who work in and around technology to come together around our shared humanity instead of the languages we speak to the machine. Stories can be intimate and heart wrenching or lighthearted and absurd, professional or private, so long as they are true, personal, and told by someone who’s job wouldn’t exist without the internet.
How to participate email us at [email protected] if you might be interested and we’ll help you develop your story.
When and where approximately quarterly at Dundas Video. Follow @xvzfio or join the mailing list to hear about upcoming events.
