Page to Stage: Storytelling & Structure

Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt said, “Everyone has a story to tell. All you have to do is write it.”  Sounds easy enough, but with a lifetime full of stories, how do you know where to start? This class is that start!

Each week, you’ll use writing exercises to generate material inspired by your own lived experience and get feedback in real-time. You’ll practice listening to your unique artistic voice, giving it structure, and translating it into a dynamic performance piece. This class takes you from sitting in front of a blank page to standing in front of an audience, performing a fully realized performance piece inspired by your life.

All are welcome, no experience necessary.

What You’ll Learn

• How to generate ideas.

• How to structure a story.

• How to get to the heart of what your story is about.

• How to find the FUN!

What You’ll Get

• An intimate setting, classes are capped at 12

• Six, 3-hour classes

• A performance piece of your own creation

• A showcase performance featuring your work.

When?

• Mondays, 6 – 9PM | March 3rd – April 7th, 2025

• SHOW: Monday April 14th, 7PM

Where?

• The Sweet Action Theatre Company              180 Shaw Street, Unit 106

How Much?

• $280 Before Feb 21st, then $315

What Next?

• Pay by eTransfer to reserve your spot today: jamesmichaelgangl@gmail.com

Making Stupid with Professor Eff: A Clown Workshop 

Professor Eff (Jesse Buck) invites you to come play in this grand absurd world of idiots to find your own ridiculous self! Over the course of six nights, this workshop will introduce a process for creating stupid, playing stupid and celebrating the stupid. We will focus on the European style of traditional red nosed clown, but with more contemporary methods and ideology to influence the work. This course will not be rooted in the philosophies of dead scholars but the successes of what we see on stage!  

Participants will create a clown turn (or bit) to perform at a class show during the final class. Bringing your imagination is encouraged. All experience levels are welcome as well as duos & trios. 

Tuesdays 6:00-9:00pm 

March 11th to April 15th, 2025 

Sweet Action Theatre 

180 Shaw Street, unit 106 

Participant fee: $300 
(Inquire about possible discounts if in need) 

Email jbuckamok@gmail.com for more info or to register. 

Jesse Buck is a 25-year veteran of the stupid as an award-winning physical comedian. He mentored under master teacher Phillippe Gaulier in 2003 and has since developed his own unique style and approach to play. His solo show Bubkus has played international stages and he toured extensively performing in multiple productions with Cirque du Soleil. A regular in the Toronto Clown scene, Jesse was frequently featured in the Toronto Festival of Clowns, the Red Nosed Cabaret, What The Festival and The Foolish Cabaret, created by the late Helen Donnelly. 

Jesse will be offering a free drop-in class on Tuesday February 25th from 6:00-9:00pm at Sweet Action Theatre. 

Email jbuckamok@gmail.com to reserve your spot. 

Check out our bi-weekly drop-in show!

Bad Dog Theatre is thrilled to partner with Sweet Action Theatre to bring you THE BUCKET SHOW. All are welcome to come by for a chance to perform improv live on-stage (or watch the unscripted hilarity as an audience member).

As part of Bad Dog Theatre’s Sweet Sweet Wednesday program at Sweet Action Theatre

THE BUCKET SHOW
Date: Wednesdays, Bi-weekly
Time: 8:30 PM
Location: Sweet Action Theatre (180 Shaw St., #106)
Admission: $5.00 | $2.00 for Students

In Search of Cruise follows long-time virgin turned sex-fiend, James Gangl as he struggles to give his awkward teenage nephew the sex talk he never asked for and will never forget. In this true story, Gangl digs into his religious upbringing, his early exposure to sex, and his own laughable sexual miseducation, to make a jarring case for a more honest discourse about intercourse.

In Search of Cruise Control premiered at The Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival where it won Best of the Fest and went on to be an Official Select at Unofest in Victoria. Cruise Control is the follow up to James Gangl’s Canadian Comedy Award Winning Sex, Religion & Other Hang-ups.

“Like Spalding Grey meets Kids in the Hall....
Cruise control is f*!cking great!”
-        Edmonton Journal

“Some of the best writing I’ve seen.”
-        CBC Manitoba

“Gangl manages to be so revealing and
so funny at the same time.”
-        Edmonton Sun

“Honest, heartfelt and hilarious.
Don’t miss this one.”
-        Vue Weekly 

“A testament to the Actor’s skill.”
-        Times Colonist

In Search of Cruise follows long-time virgin turned sex-fiend, James Gangl as he struggles to give his awkward teenage nephew the sex talk he never asked for and will never forget. In this true story, Gangl digs into his religious upbringing, his early exposure to sex, and his own laughable sexual miseducation, to make a jarring case for a more honest discourse about intercourse.

In Search of Cruise Control premiered at The Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival where it won Best of the Fest and went on to be an Official Select at Unofest in Victoria. Cruise Control is the follow up to James Gangl’s Canadian Comedy Award Winning Sex, Religion & Other Hang-ups.

“Like Spalding Grey meets Kids in the Hall....
Cruise control is f*!cking great!”
-        Edmonton Journal

“Some of the best writing I’ve seen.”
-        CBC Manitoba

“Gangl manages to be so revealing and
so funny at the same time.”
-        Edmonton Sun

“Honest, heartfelt and hilarious.
Don’t miss this one.”
-        Vue Weekly 

“A testament to the Actor’s skill.”
-        Times Colonist

In Search of Cruise follows long-time virgin turned sex-fiend, James Gangl as he struggles to give his awkward teenage nephew the sex talk he never asked for and will never forget. In this true story, Gangl digs into his religious upbringing, his early exposure to sex, and his own laughable sexual miseducation, to make a jarring case for a more honest discourse about intercourse.

In Search of Cruise Control premiered at The Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival where it won Best of the Fest and went on to be an Official Select at Unofest in Victoria. Cruise Control is the follow up to James Gangl’s Canadian Comedy Award Winning Sex, Religion & Other Hang-ups.

“Like Spalding Grey meets Kids in the Hall....
Cruise control is f*!cking great!”
-        Edmonton Journal

“Some of the best writing I’ve seen.”
-        CBC Manitoba

“Gangl manages to be so revealing and
so funny at the same time.”
-        Edmonton Sun

“Honest, heartfelt and hilarious.
Don’t miss this one.”
-        Vue Weekly 

“A testament to the Actor’s skill.”
-        Times Colonist

In Search of Cruise follows long-time virgin turned sex-fiend, James Gangl as he struggles to give his awkward teenage nephew the sex talk he never asked for and will never forget. In this true story, Gangl digs into his religious upbringing, his early exposure to sex, and his own laughable sexual miseducation, to make a jarring case for a more honest discourse about intercourse.

In Search of Cruise Control premiered at The Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival where it won Best of the Fest and went on to be an Official Select at Unofest in Victoria. Cruise Control is the follow up to James Gangl’s Canadian Comedy Award Winning Sex, Religion & Other Hang-ups.

“Like Spalding Grey meets Kids in the Hall....
Cruise control is f*!cking great!”
-        Edmonton Journal

“Some of the best writing I’ve seen.”
-        CBC Manitoba

“Gangl manages to be so revealing and
so funny at the same time.”
-        Edmonton Sun

“Honest, heartfelt and hilarious.
Don’t miss this one.”
-        Vue Weekly 

“A testament to the Actor’s skill.”
-        Times Colonist

Making Stupid with Professor Eff: A Clown Workshop 

Professor Eff (Jesse Buck) invites you to come play in this grand absurd world of idiots to find your own ridiculous self! Over the course of six nights, this workshop will introduce a process for creating stupid, playing stupid and celebrating the stupid. We will focus on the European style of traditional red nosed clown, but with more contemporary methods and ideology to influence the work. This course will not be rooted in the philosophies of dead scholars but the successes of what we see on stage!  

Participants will create a clown turn (or bit) to perform at a class show during the final class. Bringing your imagination is encouraged. All experience levels are welcome as well as duos & trios. 

Tuesdays 6:00-9:00pm 

March 11th to April 15th, 2025 

Sweet Action Theatre 

180 Shaw Street, unit 106 

Participant fee: $300 
(Inquire about possible discounts if in need) 

Email jbuckamok@gmail.com for more info or to register. 

Jesse Buck is a 25-year veteran of the stupid as an award-winning physical comedian. He mentored under master teacher Phillippe Gaulier in 2003 and has since developed his own unique style and approach to play. His solo show Bubkus has played international stages and he toured extensively performing in multiple productions with Cirque du Soleil. A regular in the Toronto Clown scene, Jesse was frequently featured in the Toronto Festival of Clowns, the Red Nosed Cabaret, What The Festival and The Foolish Cabaret, created by the late Helen Donnelly. 

Jesse will be offering a free drop-in class on Tuesday February 25th from 6:00-9:00pm at Sweet Action Theatre. 

Email jbuckamok@gmail.com to reserve your spot. 

One performer. One audience. One goal: Make us laugh. By any means necessary.

That’s the essence of clown. We don’t need a red nose (sorry, nose devotees—you're still welcome; and to those afraid of clowns, rest easy). The red nose is a mask, but you’re already wearing one: yourself—your real, ridiculous, raw, dark, charming, failing, sad, angry, vulnerable, beautiful self.

Clown isn’t like mainstream comedy—it’s not just setup and punchline. It’s about being real, giving everything to the audience, and risking absolute failure in front of strangers in pursuit of something ineffably funny or beautiful or both.

In this drop-in, get ready to dive in headfirst as Chase throws you into games and improvs that push you to play, discover, and respond. When the audience laughs—why? What did you do? How did it feel? How do we get back there? And when the laughter stops—what’s next? You’ll be chasing the laugh and, more importantly, the pleasure of playing.

What’s Your Funny?

Everyone has something that makes them uniquely funny. The audience will tell you. The work is about standing in front of them, riffing, failing, failing, failing—until suddenly, you land the laugh.

Whether you’re brand new to clown or a seasoned performer, this drop-in gives you reps in front of an audience with live direction by Chase Jeffels to find what works for you.

Important Note: I want my students to feel as free as possible to explore. However, to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all, if I see a riff crossing a line, I will kindly shut it down.

Who is this for?

This drop-in is for participants who…

• Are looking for a new approach to comedy, performing, and writing

• Want to add uniqueness to their improv skills

• Want to be more spontaneous in their acting or life

• Want to feel more confident on stage—and in life

• Are workshopping and discovering their unique voice

• Are curious about clown (without a red nose!)

• Want to be more present and responsive in the moment

• Want to overcome stage fright or public speaking

• Want to change their relationship with failure

Class Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Fee: $20 + HST = $22.60 for 2 hours

PLEASE REGISTER!

I've had to turn people away at the door who didn’t register, and I’d love to avoid that! This is just to ensure everyone gets a fair amount of time in class.

Max capacity: 15 people—so register early to secure your spot!

To secure your spot, register and send an e-transfer to jeffels.chase@gmail.com.

Important: Include your name and the date of the drop-in in the transfer notes.

About Chase:

Chase Jeffels is a graduate of École Jacques Lecoq and the Laboratoire d'Étude du Mouvement (Laboratory of Movement Study) in Paris, France. He also trained under the guidance of renowned clown master Philippe Gaulier (teacher of Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emma Thompson). Gaulier had this to say about Chase’s work (imagine it in a thick French accent): “I do not like very much Canada, but I like what you do.”

Chase has also studied with a host of other notable teachers in clown, bouffon, and idiot work, including Aitor Basauri, John Gilkey, Chad Damiani, Kevin Krieger, Deanna Fleysher, Jaime Mears, Ken Hall, Isaac Kessler, and Gordon Neill. Additionally, he completed the three-year classical theatre conservatory program at George Brown Theatre School.

As an actor and comedian, Chase’s work spans film, television, and theatre. He has performed across Canada, France, and China. Chase is one half of the dynamic duo West 2 West, celebrated for their innovative blend of sketch, clown, and improv comedy. In his solo endeavors, Chase continues to push the boundaries of comedy, merging improv, sketch, and a unique fusion of stand-up and clown. His work bridges the gap between mainstream comedy and the art of clowning, showcasing his passion for creative performance.

Between the Grooves: An Improvised Exploration of an Album

Between the Grooves is an improvised exploration of an entire album- this one's for lovers of music and comedy! This stacked cast of comedy heroes will unpack each track on the album to inspire scenes that will move you, figuratively (and literally).

Come watch some of the funniest improvisers in Canada will bring the album to life, one song at a time!

Event Details:

Date: Friday April 18, 2025

Time: 8:00 PM ~50 min runtime, doors at 7:45pm

Location: Sweet Action Theatre (180 Shaw Street #106) Toronto, ON

Get ready to laugh and dance in your seat at...

Between the Grooves: Comedy Inspired by an Album!

Open Stage Night is Here!

Free, no tickets.

Join us for an evening of laughter, creativity, and surprise at the Open Stage Night! It’s like an open mic for comics, just instead of a microphone we’re opening up the entire stage for ridiculousness to occur. Whether you're a seasoned performer or a curious newcomer, this is your chance to step into the spotlight and share your silliest, most whimsical acts. From playful antics to heartwarming stories, clown, bouffon, improv, and all other performance artists, we want to see what you're working on!

Up to 10 minutes of stage time for each performer. List will be posted at 9:00 pm, show starts at 9:15pm.

Not just for performers! Come out to watch the show, see some fresh acts, and laugh at the hilarity that will ensue. Ridiculousness is almost guaranteed to occur!

This weekly 2-hour drop-in class is your ultimate playground for becoming a more articulate, inspired, and expressive comedian and performer. Through dynamic exercises and techniques, we’ll tap into the power of physicality—because your body has the potential to speak louder than words! Together, we’ll explore how movement can supercharge the delivery of your bits, stories, and speeches, leaving your audience captivated and craving more.

Each week brings a fresh focus to spark your creativity and strengthen your performance skills. Think of it as an artistic workout! From mastering presence to exploring neutral masks, half masks, genre work, clowning, collective creation, improv and much more —there’s something new to discover every time. And don’t worry, we’ll revisit topics to build consistency and adapt to the energy of the group!

No Experience Necessary!
This workshop is open to all artistic adventurers—whether you’re a seasoned performer or just curious to try something new. You don’t need to be a comedian or clown to reap the benefits. Come as you are and let your imagination lead the way.

Who Is This For?
This class is perfect for anyone who:

• Wants to command the stage with confidence and intention

• Is curious about the Lecoq Technique

• Is ready to dive into new styles of theatre and performance

• Wants to level up their physical comedy and clowning skills

• Dreams of creating their own original work

• Is eager to shake up their acting and live performance routine

• Wants to add depth, physicality, and object work to their improv or stand up comedy game.

Select Thursdays 6:30 - 8:30pm

Fee: $20 + HST = $22.60 for 2 hours

Register here
I will send a email to everyone the night before! If you send the day of, just show up! 

Please wear movement clothes and indoor shoes. Nothing too busy on the clothes! THANKS! 

SIGN UP FOR CHASE'S NEWSLETTER for info on new workshops and classes! 
Here

About Chase:

Chase Jeffels is a graduate of École Jacques Lecoq and the Laboratoire d'Étude du Mouvement (Laboratory of Movement Study) in Paris, France. He also trained under the guidance of renowned clown master Philippe Gaulier (teacher of Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emma Thompson). Gaulier had this to say about Chase’s work (imagine it in a thick French accent): “I do not like very much Canada, but I like what you do.”

Chase has also studied with a host of other notable teachers in clown, bouffon, and idiot work, including Aitor Basauri, John Gilkey, Chad Damiani, Kevin Krieger, Deanna Fleysher, Jaime Mears, Ken Hall, Isaac Kessler, and Gordon Neill. Additionally, he completed the three-year classical theatre conservatory program at George Brown Theatre School.

As an actor and comedian, Chase’s work spans film, television, and theatre. He has performed across Canada, France, and China. Chase is one half of the dynamic duo West 2 West, celebrated for their innovative blend of sketch, clown, and improv comedy. In his solo endeavors, Chase continues to push the boundaries of comedy, merging improv, sketch, and a unique fusion of stand-up and clown. His work bridges the gap between mainstream comedy and the art of clowning, showcasing his passion for creative performance.

SHOWTIME 7:30 pm sharp!

Award-winning Canadian Clown Artist Candy Roberts assumes her alter ego in this smart and daring piece about a lovable hoser’s hilarious attempt at self-improvement.

He's no “idiom", and when the band doesn’t show, tech guy Larry tries his darndest to convince the audience that he can do the show. What could go wrong? 

In a dynamic display of stupidity, Larry offers stand-up comedy and life-couching wisdom, such as going to the dump to watch the bears eat the garbage, before undergoing a surreal transformation while learnin’ the audience how to "medertate".

Bob and Dog Mckenzie meets Gloria Steinem? Feminism meets headbanging? Gear Down, Big Rig, you might get sideways. 

CONTENT WARNINGS: Nudity, Haze, Strobe, Alcohol, Swears and Rock & Roll

Conceived, Written and Performed by: Candy Roberts
Director, Dramaturge, and Clown Coach: Sonia Norris
Additional Clown Coaching: Deanna Fleysher

 “A masterful, weird, poignant, gut-busting, vulnerable, and thought-provoking tour de force from Candy Roberts”- Cincinnati Fringe

“I don’t transcend in the theatre on a regular basis, but Larry opened me up and took me to a higher plane. Roberts’s clowning technique is first-rate — once she gets you laughing, she will not fucking let up. It took me to the core of my being. For Real.”-Colin Thomas – Simply the Best of 2019

“This superior, adult-oriented clowning comedy is far deeper than it first appears. It’s funny, weird and telling — with something important to say.”- Orlando Weekly

“A bare-bones, outrageously funny send-up and exploration of gender, gender roles, masculinity, stereotypes and affirmation”– René Grayre, Show-score, NYC

“This is a daring, weird, hilarious show with head banging, so basically everything you could want.” —the Georgia Straight

“GO SEE THIS F*CKING SHOW. I laughed so hard I cried, and then I cried some more—for entirely different reasons.“- #YEGARTSINREVIEW

“a highly skilled physical comedian, and, as you’ll see in the course of Larry, her bravery is virtually unlimited” – Liz Nichols https://12thnight.ca/

“A fearless performer”– CBC

 “Impressive theatrical understanding and an enormous amount of social
context”- Winnipeg Free Press

You're invited: The Creepy Boys, are throwing their 13th birthday party. It will have everything. Games. Gifts. Possibly Satan. Probably Cake. Combining 2000s sexy songs, satanic rituals, and Willam Dafoe, these horny little boys do whatever it takes to make their birthday dreams come true.

This is one birthday party you’d be cursed to miss.

The twins recruit the audience to help them set up their party, with all the deference and direct eye contact you’d expect from attending a twin-teen birthday blast, before driving the show off a horror-comedy cliff - think the twins from The Shining meets My Super Sweet 16.

Through sexy dances, party games and reenacting their own birth, the Creepy Boys ramp up the chaos to the point of a blood sacrifice, all while interrogating the trappings of millennial nostalgia. From real-life-lovers-turned-identical-twins, Sam Kruger (Winner - Just for Laughs Comedy Award 2019) and S.E. Grummett (Winner - Best Theatre, Adelaide Fringe 2021) comes a bizarre comedy with just a splash of the occult.

★★★★★ 'Blisteringly anarchic and devilishly clever' -InDaily, (Australia) 

★★★★★ "A brilliant piece of theatre” -Somewhere for Us (UK)

★★★★★ "Such a night to remember” -WhyNow (UK)

★★★★ “Wonderfully manic” -FestMag (UK) 

★★★★ “A show that defies summary” -NorthWest End UK

WINNER - Lustrum Award for Unforgettable Show - Summerhall, Edinburgh Fringe 2023

NOMINATED - Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence

CONTENT WARNINGS: 

• Haze

• Loud noises

• Sudden loud noises

• Audience interaction/participation

• Adult language

• Sexual content

• Nudity (one of the performers takes off their shirt. Maybe moons the audience depending on the Truth or Dare game played) 

Recommended ages 16+

ARTIST / COMPANY BIO: 

So.Glad Arts an independent queer theatre company based in Canada. Founded in 2014, they strive to make work that empowers 2SLGBTQIA+ folks by telling stories often overlooked by mainstream theatre. They aim to disrupt the current processes of making theatre by creating inclusive artistic spaces for queer, transgender and other historically marginalised groups. They strive to produce new, thought-provoking theatre that promotes gender equality beyond the binary, and centre queer stories, while coming from a loving, empowering and, often silly place, believing that laughter is the best Trojan horse to educate and create change. 

Through a combination of international touring, and professional productions, So.Glad Arts has become a new and exciting voice of queer theatre in Canada. Their work has been seen on a variety of different stages around the world including: Edinburgh Fringe, Prague Quadrennial, STOFF Festival (Stockholm), Twin Cities Horror Festival (USA), Adelaide Fringe, Undercurrents Festival (Canada), Blunderland Variety (Australia) and Latitude Festival (UK). 

S.E. Grummett (they/them) is a queer, transgender theatre artist from Treaty 6 Territory. Over the past 5 years, Grumms has created a body of original queer work and toured it around the world, including Canada, US, UK, Europe and Australia. They are the co-creator of “SCUM: a manifesto”, “Girl in the Box”, “Pack Animals” and “Creepy Boys”. Their solo-show, “Something in the Water", has toured around the world to queer audiences young and old. Next up: “The Adventures of Young Turtle”, a puppet musical for queer and trans youth created by S.E. Grummett and indie music icon, Rae Spoon, premieres at Persephone Theatre in early 2025. Grumms is the recipient of the 2022 RBC Outstanding Award in recognition for their contribution to the queer and trans community across Saskatchewan. Outside of self-creation, Grumms also works as a director, puppeteer & video artist. 

Sam Kruger (he/him) is a performer, sound designer, and recent immigrant to Canada. His solo works "Fool Muun Komming! [BeBgWunderful/YEsyes/ 4sure.Hi5/TruLuv;Spank

Spank:SOfun_Grate_Times", "Bat Brains or (let’s explore mental illness with vampires)", and duo comedy Creepy Boys, have toured throughout Canada, the US, the UK, Europe, and Australia since 2018 to acclaim and various awards. Kruger’s emphasis is in the creation of original theatre that draws on Lecoq-style physical theatre, Gaulier-esqe clown, performance art, and surrealism. Often exploring themes of isolation, loneliness, and the performativity of everyday life, Kruger’s work is funny, physical, stupid, sincere, wiggly and proudly weird. He holds a BA from the University of Minnesota, and is a graduate of the Ecole Philippe Gaulier, in Étampes, France.

Dramaturgy for Comedy Shows is a workshop exploring story, form and process.

A workshop for anyone who is looking to take their clown turn/sketch/cabaret number and expand it/transform it into an hour long show that is greater than the sum of its jokes.

In Dramaturgy for Comedy Shows we will help you investigate themes, story, structure and yourself to help discover what is timely, beautiful, and deeply funny about your work.

S. E. Grummett and Sam Kruger have toured extensively across Canada, Australia, Europe and The UK. Including multiple runs at the Edinburgh Fringe where they’ve received 25+ reviews and even a weird deer skull award.

Sliding scale: $30-$50
Email sskrugs@gmail.com to register!

SHOWTIME 7:30 pm sharp!

Award-winning Canadian Clown Artist Candy Roberts assumes her alter ego in this smart and daring piece about a lovable hoser’s hilarious attempt at self-improvement.

He's no “idiom", and when the band doesn’t show, tech guy Larry tries his darndest to convince the audience that he can do the show. What could go wrong? 

In a dynamic display of stupidity, Larry offers stand-up comedy and life-couching wisdom, such as going to the dump to watch the bears eat the garbage, before undergoing a surreal transformation while learnin’ the audience how to "medertate".

Bob and Dog Mckenzie meets Gloria Steinem? Feminism meets headbanging? Gear Down, Big Rig, you might get sideways. 

CONTENT WARNINGS: Nudity, Haze, Strobe, Alcohol, Swears and Rock & Roll

Conceived, Written and Performed by: Candy Roberts
Director, Dramaturge, and Clown Coach: Sonia Norris
Additional Clown Coaching: Deanna Fleysher

 “A masterful, weird, poignant, gut-busting, vulnerable, and thought-provoking tour de force from Candy Roberts”- Cincinnati Fringe

“I don’t transcend in the theatre on a regular basis, but Larry opened me up and took me to a higher plane. Roberts’s clowning technique is first-rate — once she gets you laughing, she will not fucking let up. It took me to the core of my being. For Real.”-Colin Thomas – Simply the Best of 2019

“This superior, adult-oriented clowning comedy is far deeper than it first appears. It’s funny, weird and telling — with something important to say.”- Orlando Weekly

“A bare-bones, outrageously funny send-up and exploration of gender, gender roles, masculinity, stereotypes and affirmation”– René Grayre, Show-score, NYC

“This is a daring, weird, hilarious show with head banging, so basically everything you could want.” —the Georgia Straight

“GO SEE THIS F*CKING SHOW. I laughed so hard I cried, and then I cried some more—for entirely different reasons.“- #YEGARTSINREVIEW

“a highly skilled physical comedian, and, as you’ll see in the course of Larry, her bravery is virtually unlimited” – Liz Nichols https://12thnight.ca/

“A fearless performer”– CBC

 “Impressive theatrical understanding and an enormous amount of social
context”- Winnipeg Free Press

You're invited: The Creepy Boys, are throwing their 13th birthday party. It will have everything. Games. Gifts. Possibly Satan. Probably Cake. Combining 2000s sexy songs, satanic rituals, and Willam Dafoe, these horny little boys do whatever it takes to make their birthday dreams come true.

This is one birthday party you’d be cursed to miss.

The twins recruit the audience to help them set up their party, with all the deference and direct eye contact you’d expect from attending a twin-teen birthday blast, before driving the show off a horror-comedy cliff - think the twins from The Shining meets My Super Sweet 16.

Through sexy dances, party games and reenacting their own birth, the Creepy Boys ramp up the chaos to the point of a blood sacrifice, all while interrogating the trappings of millennial nostalgia. From real-life-lovers-turned-identical-twins, Sam Kruger (Winner - Just for Laughs Comedy Award 2019) and S.E. Grummett (Winner - Best Theatre, Adelaide Fringe 2021) comes a bizarre comedy with just a splash of the occult.

★★★★★ 'Blisteringly anarchic and devilishly clever' -InDaily, (Australia) 

★★★★★ "A brilliant piece of theatre” -Somewhere for Us (UK)

★★★★★ "Such a night to remember” -WhyNow (UK)

★★★★ “Wonderfully manic” -FestMag (UK) 

★★★★ “A show that defies summary” -NorthWest End UK

WINNER - Lustrum Award for Unforgettable Show - Summerhall, Edinburgh Fringe 2023

NOMINATED - Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence

CONTENT WARNINGS: 

• Haze

• Loud noises

• Sudden loud noises

• Audience interaction/participation

• Adult language

• Sexual content

• Nudity (one of the performers takes off their shirt. Maybe moons the audience depending on the Truth or Dare game played) 

Recommended ages 16+

ARTIST / COMPANY BIO: 

So.Glad Arts an independent queer theatre company based in Canada. Founded in 2014, they strive to make work that empowers 2SLGBTQIA+ folks by telling stories often overlooked by mainstream theatre. They aim to disrupt the current processes of making theatre by creating inclusive artistic spaces for queer, transgender and other historically marginalised groups. They strive to produce new, thought-provoking theatre that promotes gender equality beyond the binary, and centre queer stories, while coming from a loving, empowering and, often silly place, believing that laughter is the best Trojan horse to educate and create change. 

Through a combination of international touring, and professional productions, So.Glad Arts has become a new and exciting voice of queer theatre in Canada. Their work has been seen on a variety of different stages around the world including: Edinburgh Fringe, Prague Quadrennial, STOFF Festival (Stockholm), Twin Cities Horror Festival (USA), Adelaide Fringe, Undercurrents Festival (Canada), Blunderland Variety (Australia) and Latitude Festival (UK). 

S.E. Grummett (they/them) is a queer, transgender theatre artist from Treaty 6 Territory. Over the past 5 years, Grumms has created a body of original queer work and toured it around the world, including Canada, US, UK, Europe and Australia. They are the co-creator of “SCUM: a manifesto”, “Girl in the Box”, “Pack Animals” and “Creepy Boys”. Their solo-show, “Something in the Water", has toured around the world to queer audiences young and old. Next up: “The Adventures of Young Turtle”, a puppet musical for queer and trans youth created by S.E. Grummett and indie music icon, Rae Spoon, premieres at Persephone Theatre in early 2025. Grumms is the recipient of the 2022 RBC Outstanding Award in recognition for their contribution to the queer and trans community across Saskatchewan. Outside of self-creation, Grumms also works as a director, puppeteer & video artist. 

Sam Kruger (he/him) is a performer, sound designer, and recent immigrant to Canada. His solo works "Fool Muun Komming! [BeBgWunderful/YEsyes/ 4sure.Hi5/TruLuv;Spank

Spank:SOfun_Grate_Times", "Bat Brains or (let’s explore mental illness with vampires)", and duo comedy Creepy Boys, have toured throughout Canada, the US, the UK, Europe, and Australia since 2018 to acclaim and various awards. Kruger’s emphasis is in the creation of original theatre that draws on Lecoq-style physical theatre, Gaulier-esqe clown, performance art, and surrealism. Often exploring themes of isolation, loneliness, and the performativity of everyday life, Kruger’s work is funny, physical, stupid, sincere, wiggly and proudly weird. He holds a BA from the University of Minnesota, and is a graduate of the Ecole Philippe Gaulier, in Étampes, France.

In this workshop we will focus on physicalizing our emotions while playing with levels of intensity. 3 hours, open to all.

No, this isn’t therapy. One of the clown’s main tools is their elastic control over emotion and ability to share it with others. In this workshop we will focus on physicalizing our emotions, finding our emotional shapes, i.e. the gestures of our emotions, while playing with levels of intensity. Let’s ring out the damp towel of our emotions together. Through gameplay. Again, not therapy. Also not “method” so please don’t traumatize yourself here. We’ll work from an outside-in approach.

This 3-hour workshop is open to all. A basis of clown is helpful but not necessary. This work will be firmly rooted in the world of theatrical red nose clown but has wide ranging application.

$35+HST
April 27th, 6-9pm

Check out our other workshop happening in May called "Soft Skills for the clown" where we explore the clown's 'hidden' techniques.
Find out more here: Soft Skills for the Clown

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Your Facilitator:

Andrew Gaboury has been clowning for over a decade, studying closely with Helen Donnelly and performing at festivals and on stage nationally (World Stage Design 2022, Calgary) and internationally (Ei! Marionetas, Portugal). As a collaborating artist with Frog in Hand, Andrew leads the Summer Company in clown training and performance. Andrew’s clown projects have performed for thousands of audience members at events and festivals across the GTA. Andrew is also executive director of and a therapeutic clown practitioner with Red Nose Remedy, a therapeutic clowning not-for-profit that brings the art of clown to people in healthcare settings through compassionate connection, lightness and joy.

I am doing my PhD competencies exams this summer, as a part of my exam I have elected to do a performance output to prove I am COMPETENT.

The SOFT CLOWN is a two-day clown performance workshop facilitated by Natasha Mercado at Sweet Action.

This workshop gives participants a chance to deeply connect with their most authentic comedic voice. The SOFT CLOWN is centered around vulnerability as a pathway to artistic excellence. By exploring our creativity in a gentle, patient way, we open ourselves up to experiencing more inspired choices on and off stage.

vulnerability is hard.

what's authenticity?

it's cool to care.

Day One: Experiment & redefine clown to create shared vocabulary and physicality.

Day Two: Explore exciting, authentic sense of play while devising performance pieces.

“I found that the concepts introduced in Natasha’s [class] add an extra dimension to any creative field and the experience of life in general. I feel liberated, empowered, and awakened from the exercises we did and am forever changed.” —Elora L., 2021 Student

instagram: @champagnetashi
for more info: www.natashamercado.com

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Natasha Mercado is a celebrated actress, director, and the visionary behind The Soft Clown, a performance philosophy rooted in vulnerability, connection, and heartfelt absurdity. Recognized as an "Emerging Content Creator" by the National Association of Latino Independent Producers in 2020, she continues to push boundaries in creative storytelling.

   Over the past decade, Natasha has built a dynamic career on both stage and screen. Her acting credits include roles in series for major platforms like Adult Swim, HBO, Broadway Video, and TBS. On stage, Natasha has written and performed solo shows that have received international acclaim. Her latest production, #1 Son, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2024 to glowing reviews from major outlets and is now touring across the US and Europe. Her debut solo show, Tree, continues to be celebrated as a groundbreaking piece, earning accolades at multiple festivals and venues, including encore runs and critical praise for its heartfelt and inventive narrative.

   She is also a teaching artist for the Unusual Suspects whose mission is to champion those most needed to be heard by mentoring youth to write and perform their stories by using theater. She has virtually taught adults and children at Stomping Ground Comedy Theatre along with a workshop called “Playful Mindfulness” sponsored by the National Alzheimer’s Association to implement improv into the world of caregiving.

   This class is a part of her "#1 World" Tour that includes Los Angeles, London, NYC, Toronto & Montreal.

The SOFT CLOWN is a two-day clown performance workshop facilitated by Natasha Mercado at Sweet Action.

This workshop gives participants a chance to deeply connect with their most authentic comedic voice. The SOFT CLOWN is centered around vulnerability as a pathway to artistic excellence. By exploring our creativity in a gentle, patient way, we open ourselves up to experiencing more inspired choices on and off stage.

vulnerability is hard.

what's authenticity?

it's cool to care.

Day One: Experiment & redefine clown to create shared vocabulary and physicality.

Day Two: Explore exciting, authentic sense of play while devising performance pieces.

“I found that the concepts introduced in Natasha’s [class] add an extra dimension to any creative field and the experience of life in general. I feel liberated, empowered, and awakened from the exercises we did and am forever changed.” —Elora L., 2021 Student

instagram: @champagnetashi
for more info: www.natashamercado.com

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Natasha Mercado is a celebrated actress, director, and the visionary behind The Soft Clown, a performance philosophy rooted in vulnerability, connection, and heartfelt absurdity. Recognized as an "Emerging Content Creator" by the National Association of Latino Independent Producers in 2020, she continues to push boundaries in creative storytelling.

   Over the past decade, Natasha has built a dynamic career on both stage and screen. Her acting credits include roles in series for major platforms like Adult Swim, HBO, Broadway Video, and TBS. On stage, Natasha has written and performed solo shows that have received international acclaim. Her latest production, #1 Son, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2024 to glowing reviews from major outlets and is now touring across the US and Europe. Her debut solo show, Tree, continues to be celebrated as a groundbreaking piece, earning accolades at multiple festivals and venues, including encore runs and critical praise for its heartfelt and inventive narrative.

   She is also a teaching artist for the Unusual Suspects whose mission is to champion those most needed to be heard by mentoring youth to write and perform their stories by using theater. She has virtually taught adults and children at Stomping Ground Comedy Theatre along with a workshop called “Playful Mindfulness” sponsored by the National Alzheimer’s Association to implement improv into the world of caregiving.

   This class is a part of her "#1 World" Tour that includes Los Angeles, London, NYC, Toronto & Montreal.