Playme

Chris Tolley talks to playwright and performer Akosua Amo-Adem about her hit play Table for Two, a funny, candid, and deeply relatable look at modern dating. Set in Toronto and centred on Abby, a hopeful romantic navigating apps, expectations, and one bad date after another, the play explores the search for connection in a world that can feel both hyper-connected and isolating.Akosua shares how the play grew out of real observations and research into dating-app culture, why humour is essential to telling this story, and what audiences respond to most when they see Abby onstage. Together, they talk about vulnerability, rejection, desire, and the pressure to find love on a timeline that doesn’t always match real life.Table for Two by Akosua Amo-Adem.

Still carrying the sting of a major breakup, Abby is trying to reset and move forward, but it feels like her best friend’s love life is racing ahead while she remains stuck in the same exhausting dating cycle. With pressure building from family, friends, and her own expectations, Abby puts her hope in a promising new match and a long-awaited dinner at Lucia’s, a night that just might shift everything.Cast: Bola Aiyeola, Ryan Allen, Meghan Swaby and Akosua Amo-AdemTable for Two by Akosua Amo-Adem. If you’re interested in hearing more plays by Black female playwrights, check out the hit show Da Kink in My Hair by Trey Anthony, available on our feed.

“Ghanaian parents don’t talk about sex, and when they do, it’s not very helpful.”Abena Ohemaa Frimpong is thirty-five, accomplished, and dating in Toronto. A Ghanaian Canadian woman with an impressive resume and a dating history that has taught her to manage expectations, Abby still shows up hoping this time might be different.On the night she is meant to meet JD45, a man she has grown cautiously excited about, Abby arrives early and waits. As the table stays empty, the evening slips into memories of first love, missed timing, and the quiet pressure of a best friend’s engagement and a mother who wants answers. Faith, family, and romantic history all press in as the minutes stretch.Abby sits with her phone in hand, the chair across from her untouched, and the possibility of connection hanging by a thread.Cast: Bola Aiyeola, Ryan Allen, Meghan Swaby and Akosua Amo-AdemTable for Two by Akosua Amo-AdemIf you’re interested in hearing more plays by Black female playwrights, check out the hit show Da Kink in My Hair

Playwright Ins Choi joins Laura Mullin to talk about Kim’s Convenience, the play that eventually became the hit television series. Choi shares why he started writing the play, what it was like to spend years facing rejection, and how one chance meeting transformed the story he thought he was telling. He reflects on being a first-time playwright thrown into television, the full-circle moment of playing Appa after writing from the son’s perspective, and on Toronto’s talent that is often underestimated. It is a candid conversation about writing for the stage, adapting for TV, and how a small play became a cultural phenomenon.Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi

The Kim family is forced to face some uncomfortable realities. Appa confronts retirement after decades running the convenience store, while his daughter Janet refuses to follow his plans for her future. At church, Umma makes an unexpected connection that changes things for the family. When Janet's old friend shows up at the store and complicates matters, Appa's attempts to help predictably blow up in everyone's faces. This Kim's Convenience episode balances comedy with family drama as the Kims reach a crossroads they can't ignore much longer.Cast: Ins Choi, Brandon McKnight, Esther Chung, Ryan Jinn, Kelly SeoKim’s Convenience by Ins Choi

One of the most iconic plays of its generation, Kim's Convenience by Ins Choi opens inside a Toronto corner store run by a Korean Canadian family. Later adapted into the global hit CBC and Netflix series, the play introduces Appa Kim, who rules his shop with stubborn pride, sharp opinions, and a deep belief that the store is the centre of the community.As customers come and go, we meet Janet, his fiercely independent photographer daughter, whose life and ambitions sit at odds with her father's expectations. When an unexpected offer to buy the store appears, it quietly destabilizes everything Appa thought was certain. Meanwhile, Janet reconnects with Alex, a police officer who was once best friends with her brother Jung, whose long absence begins to take on new significance.Featuring Ins Choi in the titular role of Appa, the comedy crackles even as deeper family tensions begin to surface.Cast: Ins Choi, Brandon McKnight, Esther Chung, Ryan Jinn, Kelly SeoKim’s Convenience by Ins Choi

PlayME is back with a major new season of audio drama, hosted by Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley.Five acclaimed plays. Big performances. Theatre you can binge anytime, anywhere.Leading the season is Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi, one of the most celebrated plays of its generation. Set inside a Toronto corner store, this iconic family comedy is warm, funny, and deeply moving, exploring immigration, generational clash, and belonging through the lives of a Korean Canadian family. Adapted into a global CBC and Netflix hit, Kim’s Convenience is a modern classic.Also featured this season is Table for Two by Akosua Amo-Adem, a sharp and relatable romantic comedy about dating and self-worth. The Drawer Boy by Michael Healey returns as a beloved classic exploring memory, trauma, and the power of storytelling. New by Pamela Mala Sinha is an urgent contemporary drama about love, family expectations, and identity. Rounding out the season is The Neighbours by Governor General’s Award winner Nicolas Billon, a gripping psycho

Hosts Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley transform PlayME into an audio gala celebrating the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Tom Hendry Awards, honouring the writers shaping the future of Canadian storytelling.This special episode reveals the 2025 shortlists and features conversations with leading voices in the arts, including The Globe and Mail’s Aisling Murphy, composer and lyricist Kevin Wong, Young People’s Theatre Artistic Director Herbie Barnes, director and mentor Jillian Keiley, and National Arts Centre English Theatre Artistic Director Nina Lee Aquino.Together, they explore the creative process, emerging trends, and why live storytelling continues to matter in a digital world.Whether you love theatre or simply great writing, this episode offers an inspiring look at the people and ideas defining Canada’s cultural landscape.

Playwright Makram Ayache joins Chris Tolley to talk about growing up queer in rural Alberta. Hear about how the loss of Ayache's father influenced his acclaimed play The Green Line, and what it means to write from a place of “in-betweenness." The Green Line, nominated for a Governor General’s Award, is a lyrical journey through love, loss, and the legacy of queer identity across generations.

<p>A poetic and heartbreaking story of intergenerational queer history in Lebanon begins. In present-day Beirut, Rami, a twentysomething queer Lebanese Canadian, returns to bury his father. Grieving and searching for meaning, he finds himself drawn to a queer nightclub—where a drag queen named Fifi, dressed as a phoenix, awakens a sense of connection. At the same time, we flash back to 1978, when a young man named Naseeb tries to flee Beirut’s civil war with his sister, Mona. But Mona is in love—and refuses to leave.</p><p>Featuring: Makram Ayache, Filsan Dualeh, Bahareh Yaraghi, Waseem Alzer, and Antoine Yared</p><p><br></p><p>“Ayache’s dialogue is decidedly lyrical . . . There are some truly beautiful images not just in the monologues but in simple exchanges.”- Louis B. Hobson, Calgary Herald</p><p><br></p><p>“An affecting, well-written piece by Edmonton playwright Makram Ayache . . . that travels to a surprisingly wide variety of

<p>As Beirut descends into chaos in 1978, Naseeb is swept up in the war’s political tides, fracturing his bond with Mona. In the present, Rami follows a trail of memories—including a phoenix-shaped necklace left by his father—to uncover the truth about his family's past. The Green Line, nominated for a Governor General’s Award, is a lyrical journey through love, loss, and the legacy of queer identity across generations.</p><p><br></p><p>The Green Line by Makram Ayache</p>

Playwright Michael Ross Albert joins Chris Tolley to discuss his acclaimed play The Bidding War and the personal experience that helped inspire it. Michael shares what it was like to buy his first home through an affordable housing program — a moment that felt like winning the lottery, but also brought intense financial fear and uncertainty. Despite finally finding a place to call his own, Michael opens up about the pressure of speculative real estate and how that anxiety found its way into his writing. He and Chris dive into why plays that make us laugh can also leave the deepest mark.The Bidding War is by Michael Ross Albert.

The open house descends into chaos as tensions erupt between buyers, agents, and unexpected guests. Secrets are revealed, alliances shift, and a medical emergency turns the high-stakes competition into something more personal. As the dream of homeownership spirals into a surreal showdown, everyone is forced to show their hand, whether they’re ready or not.Featuring: Aurora Browne, Sergio Di Zio, Izad Etemadi, Peter Fernandes, Veronica Hortiguela, Amy Matysio, Fiona Reid, Gregory Prest, Steven Sutcliffe, Sophia Walker, and Gregory Waters.The Bidding War is by Michael Ross Albert.

Welcome to Toronto’s hot real estate market, where even an open house can become a pressure cooker. It’s Sam’s first day as a real estate agent, and he’s hoping for a straightforward showing. But things quickly spiral when eager buyers swarm the home of his first client, June. Tensions rise, secrets surface, and the competition turns cutthroat. In this sharp, darkly comic audio drama, The Bidding War exposes the high-stakes chaos lurking beneath Toronto’s housing bubble.Featuring: Aurora Browne, Sergio Di Zio, Izad Etemadi, Peter Fernandes, Veronica Hortiguela, Amy Matysio, Fiona Reid, Gregory Prest, Steven Sutcliffe, Sophia Walker, and Gregory Waters.The Bidding War is by Michael Ross Albert.

Playwright Zahida Rahemtulla joins Laura Mullin to talk about her hit debut play, The Wrong Bashir, a sharp and funny intergenerational comedy about identity, faith, and forging your own path.They discuss the inspiration behind the play, the unique dynamics of the Ismaili community, and what it means to grow up caught between expectations and self-discovery. Zahida also shares what it was like casting her real-life father and bringing underrepresented voices to the Canadian stage.The Wrong Bashir is by Zahida Rahemtulla.

The mistaken identity spirals as Bashir’s family attempts to correct the mix-up, but not everyone agrees on whether it should be corrected. As the pressure mounts and unexpected visitors arrive, Bashir is forced to confront not only who others expect him to be—but who he really is.“Think 'Kim's Convenience' but set in an Ismaili Muslim family. This play feels ripe for a TV adaptation. With its mistaken identity plot and comic characters, Zahida Rahemtulla's “The Wrong Bashir” has the hallmarks of a classic sitcom…” Joshua Chong, Toronto StarFeaturing the cast from Crow’s Theatre’s acclaimed production: Sharjil Rasool (Bashir), Bren Eastcott (Nafisa), Sugith Varughese (Sultan), Nimet Kanji (Najma), Vijay Mehta (Al Nashir), Pamela Mala Sinha (Gulzar), Salim Rahemtulla (Dadipapa), Zaittun Esmail (Dadima), Parm Soor (Mansour)The Wrong Bashir is by Zahida Rahemtulla. 

When philosophy student Bashir Ladha is accidentally nominated to a prestigious religious position, his family is ecstatic until they realize he’s more interested in podcasting than leading prayers. As Bashir questions the entire situation, his parents scramble to maintain appearances and navigate the growing confusion.Fast, funny, and full of heart, The Wrong Bashir is a razor-sharp comedy about mistaken identity, generational pressure, and what happens when your community’s expectations don’t match who you really are.Featuring the cast from Crow’s Theatre’s acclaimed production: Sharjil Rasool (Bashir), Bren Eastcott (Nafisa), Sugith Varughese (Sultan), Nimet Kanji (Najma), Vijay Mehta (Al Nashir), Pamela Mala Sinha (Gulzar), Salim Rahemtulla (Dadipapa), Zaittun Esmail (Dadima), Parm Soor (Mansour)The Wrong Bashir is by Zahida Rahemtulla. 

Chris talks with Jordi Mand about writing with vulnerability, mining family stories for inspiration, and confronting personal fears through her plays. Jordi opens up about her journey from performer to playwright, the delicate balance of using real life in fiction, and how becoming a mom has changed her work. They dive into the emotional roots of In Seven Days, the role of Jewish identity in her storytelling, and why she’s drawn to characters who live in the moral grey zone. Plus, Jordi explains how faith and culture quietly shape her plays. It’s an honest, funny, and moving conversation with one of Canada’s most fearless voices in theatre.In Seven Days is by Jordi Mand.

As Sam’s time grows shorter, tensions and emotions run high. Rachel’s estranged boyfriend unexpectedly shows up to support her, leading to a heated confrontation with her father over past grievances. Amid a bittersweet celebration, the family tries to hold on to moments of joy—but they’re all painfully aware of what’s coming. When Rachel uncovers a long-held secret, it might be the key to changing her father’s heart.Featuring: Mairi Babb, Ron Lea, Brendan McMurtry-Howlett, Shaina Silver-Baird, Ralph Small.In Seven Days is by Jordi Mand.

When thirty-year-old Rachel returns home for Shabbat dinner with her ailing father and his girlfriend, she’s met with a life-altering announcement: her father, Sam Adleman, has chosen to end his life through Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)—and he plans to do it in just seven days. Shocked and heartbroken, Rachel decides to stay the week, desperately trying to change his mind. But when she brings their Rabbi into the conversation, family tensions rise, and Sam’s decision grows even more complicated.Featuring: Mairi Babb, Ron Lea, Brendan McMurtry-Howlett, Shaina Silver-Baird, Ralph Small.In Seven Days is by Jordi Mand.