We invite you to review the information provided on this webpage, as well as the overall schedule of Focus/industry events and activities, and RSVP with your attendance below. Your prompt responses help us to plan for food/beverage, event capacities, and accessibility needs.

We will consider any ‘maybe’ as a YES. If your availability changes, please contact Associate Producer Brian Postalian at brian@summerworks.ca.

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We encourage you to explore the full 11-day Festival along with the SummerWorks Focus series. Here are a few links to help you familiarize yourself with the overall 2025 Festival and our ongoing Programming Initiatives:

• Overall Festival Programming
• Associate Artists
• Summer Break
• SummerWorks International Development Strategy

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If you have any questions or further inquiries about your attendance at the SummerWorks Performance Festival, please email Associate Producer, Brian Postalian at brian@summerworks.ca.

This year, our SummerWorks Focus Industry Pass includes:

• five (5) complimentary tickets
  • three (3) single tickets to any Festival performance or event (all Festival dates included)
  • one (1) ticket to The Chains by Evan Webber, on on August 12th at 6:00 PM -or- August 13th at 4:00 PM
  • one (1) ticket to BLEU NÉON by Kim-Sanh Châu, on August 14th at 4:00 PM

• access to:
  • Open Studio – a showcase of performance work by Toronto- and Montréal-based artists, presented by Toronto Dance Theatre and Parbleux
  • Wandering Talks – a journey with a pair of artists through a significant local neighborhood, presented by CanAsian Dance
  • studio visits with local Toronto-based artists
  • talks and conversations, and additional events and receptions, some with provided hospitality.

• direct/bespoke connections to Festival artists, coordinated with the SummerWorks team.

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The 2025 SummerWorks Focus Industry Pass is $75.

*NOTE: All pass purchases are subject to a $2.00 per pass processing fee.

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Once you’ve purchased your Industry Pass, you will receive an email with a Coupon Code, which you will use to redeem your specific tickets. We strongly encourage you to book your specific tickets, as soon as possible, as Festival tickets tend to sell quite quickly, and are subject to availability.

*NOTE: there is limited space in select Focus events, and priority will be given to those who have purchased an Industry Pass.

You are also welcome to book additional tickets to any performance, by visiting our Festival Ticketing and Registration Page.

There are also many FREE Festival events/activities, and some require advance registration. We strongly encourage you to directly register for these events, as soon as possible.

For those of you joining us for SummerWorks Focus, specifically between August 11-15, here is a recommended pathway through the Festival within these five (5) days.

*This schedule includes a few industry-specific events which require registration. These events are highlighted in bold within the schedule below, with more detailed event descriptions coming as soon as they are available to share with you.

All FREE events are not included in your Industry Pass, and some require advance registration. Please visit our Festival Ticketing and Registration Page to register for any FREE events marked as ‘registration required’ below.

Optional ticketed performances and free events:

2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (drop-in/FREE) – Labour in the Arts Presents: Ultimate Zone Out, A Space Gallery

7:30 PM – 8:55 PM – Le Concierge by Vincent Leblanc-Beaudoin and Daniele Bartolini, Saint-Frère-André Secondary School

7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (drop-in/FREE) – Party for Festival Artists + Staff + Industry, Theatre Passe Muraille

Focus/industry events and activities:

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Wandering Talks, presented by CanAsian Dance, featuring Su PinWen and Andrea Nann, Venue: The walk will start at Community of Hope garden (560 C Parliament St) and end up near Riverdale Farm.

1:00 PM – 3:30 PM – Open Studio, presented by Toronto Dance Theatre and Parbleux, Winchester Street Theatre 

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Opening Drinks, Venue: Mallo Coffee & Bar (785 Bathurst St)

6:00 PM – 7:15 PM – The Chains by Evan Webber / Public Recordings, Trinity St Paul’s Centre (*this or August 13th performance is included with your Industry Pass)

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Optional ticketed performance:

7:30 PM – 8:55 PM – Le Concierge by Vincent Leblanc-Beaudoin and Daniele Bartolini, Saint-Frère-André Secondary School

Focus/industry events and activities:

10:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Community Gathering and Feast, hosted with Native Earth Performing Arts, Aki Studio at Daniels Spectrum

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM – Wandering Talks, presented by CanAsian Dance, featuring Kim-Sanh Châu and Tan Vu, Venue: The walk will start at Spadina station at 1:45pm and end up at Cộng Cà Phê (Annex – 424 Bloor St W)

4:00 PM – 5:15 PM – The Chains by Evan Webber / Public Recordings, Trinity St Paul’s Centre (*this or August 12th performance is included with your Industry Pass)

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Optional ticketed performances:

6:00 PM – 6:50 PM – Public Consumption by Lester Trips, Factory Theatre

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM – The Sankofa Trilogy: blood.claat by The Watah Theatre / d’bi.young anitafrika, The Theatre Centre (*includes post-show Q&A)

7:30 PM – 8:55 PM – Le Concierge by Vincent Leblanc-Beaudoin and Daniele Bartolini, Saint-Frère-André Secondary School

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM – The Red Rose Bleeds by Phoenix The Fire, Theatre Passe Muraille

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Jason by Celia Green, The Theatre Centre

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM – 26 Doctors by Sugith Varughese, Factory Theatre

Focus/industry events and activities:

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Leadership Unveiled, conversation co-presented with Cahoots Theatre, The Theatre Centre

12:30 PM – 2:00 PM –  Networking Lunch, The Theatre Centre

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM – This Didn’t Start with Me or You Why should you give a shit about experimental artists making performance in the 1980’s?, conversation co-presented with Moonhorse Dance Theatre, The Theatre Centre

4:00 PM – 4:55 PM –  BLEU NÉON by Kim-Sanh Châu / MIDLAND, The Theatre Centre (*this performance is included with your Industry Pass)

9:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Late-Night Informal Drinks + Chats, The Theatre Centre Cafe+Bar

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Optional ticketed performances:

6:00 PM – 6:50 PM –  Leftover Market 剩女經濟 by Su PinWen / Kuabo Dance Theatre, The Theatre Centre

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM – 유령들의 대화: 축제 The Ghosts Chat: What is a Festival? by Baram Company, Theatre Passe Muraille (*includes a post-show Q&A)

7:30 PM – 8:40 PM – CAKE by Wayne Burns / Dresser Drawer Productions, The Theatre Centre

7:30 PM – 8:50 PM – Public Consumption by Lester Trips, Factory Theatre (*includes post-show Q&A)

8:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Still Life by Marie Lambin-Gagnon, The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Jason by Celia Green, The Theatre Centre

9:00 PM – 10:30 PM – The Red Rose Bleeds by Phoenix The Fire, Theatre Passe Muraille

Focus/industry events and activities:

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Studio Showing of ‘subh kuch theek hai (everything’s fine)’ by Waleed Ansari, Weston Common (formerly Artscape)

12:30 PM – 1:15 PM – Lunch & Tour of Weston Common (formerly Artscape), hosted with Crossroads Theatre

1:15 PM – 2:30 PM – Studio Showing of ‘my blood remembers’ by PJ Prudat, Weston Common (formerly Artscape)

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM – Bringing Us Together: Dance, Disability, and Community, conversation co-presented with Arts Assembly and Dancemakers, Theatre Passe Muraille

9:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Late-Night Informal Drinks + Chats, The Theatre Centre Cafe+Bar

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Optional ticketed and free performances:

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM –  Graveyards and Gardens by Action at a Distance, Theatre Passe Muraille

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM –  Xilopango by Irma Villafuerte, The Theatre Centre

7:30 PM – 8:20 PM – SlowPitch Sound presents: Within Touch by Chel Paterson (SlowPitchSound), Factory Theatre

7:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Je ne vais pas inonder la mer by Sonia BUSTOS, The Theatre Centre

7:30 PM – 8:55 PM – Le Concierge by Vincent Leblanc-Beaudoin and Daniele Bartolini, Saint-Frère-André Secondary School

7:30 PM – 8:45 PM (FREE) – Phalanx: Revival by Moonhorse Dance Theatre, Victoria Memorial Square Park

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM – 유령들의 대화: 축제 The Ghosts Chat: What is a Festival? by Baram Company, Theatre Passe Muraille

9:00 PM – 10:30 PM – The Sankofa Trilogy: benu by The Watah Theatre / d’bi.young anitafrika, The Theatre Centre (*includes a post show Q&A)

Accommodations

SummerWorks has confirmed a discounted rate for booking your stay in Toronto.

Sonder
WEBSITE || multiple locations
10% off already-discounted rates, any dates
Code: FORUMSONDER10 

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Locations & Directions

1. A Space Gallery — 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 110
   
2. Aki Studio at Daniels Spectrum — 585 Dundas Street East
3. The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance — 304 Parliament Street
4. Factory Theatre — 125 Bathurst Street
5. Saint-Frère-André Secondary School — 330 Lansdowne Avenue
6. The Theatre Centre — 1115 Queen Street West
7. Theatre Passe Muraille — 16 Ryerson Avenue
8. Trinity St Paul’s Centre — 427 Bloor Street West
9. Victoria Memorial Square Park — 10 Niagara Street
10. Weston Common (formerly Artscape) — 34 John Street
11. Winchester Street Theatre — 80 Winchester Street