aisling murphy
@aislingmurph.bsky.social
"ash-ling" | theatre reporter @ the globe and mail | aislingmurphy@globeandmail.com
Reposted by aisling murphy
I have a bee in my bonnet about all the Canadian theatres that programmed A Doll's House this season just because it was recently on Broadway - and using the American version of the Norwegian play seen there.
But sounds like maybe I should relax my elbows and go see the Canadian Stage production.
But sounds like maybe I should relax my elbows and go see the Canadian Stage production.
Absolutely loved A DOLL'S HOUSE at Canadian Stage – the production feels expensive and luxurious in all the right ways, and Hailey Gillis is stunning as Nora.
Critic's Pick review for @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Critic's Pick review for @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
A Doll’s House is claustrophobic and rich – and a star turn for Hailey Gillis
Brendan Healy’s polished production makes clever use of the Bluma Appel Theatre
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:07 PM
I have a bee in my bonnet about all the Canadian theatres that programmed A Doll's House this season just because it was recently on Broadway - and using the American version of the Norwegian play seen there.
But sounds like maybe I should relax my elbows and go see the Canadian Stage production.
But sounds like maybe I should relax my elbows and go see the Canadian Stage production.
Absolutely loved A DOLL'S HOUSE at Canadian Stage – the production feels expensive and luxurious in all the right ways, and Hailey Gillis is stunning as Nora.
Critic's Pick review for @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Critic's Pick review for @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
A Doll’s House is claustrophobic and rich – and a star turn for Hailey Gillis
Brendan Healy’s polished production makes clever use of the Bluma Appel Theatre
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Absolutely loved A DOLL'S HOUSE at Canadian Stage – the production feels expensive and luxurious in all the right ways, and Hailey Gillis is stunning as Nora.
Critic's Pick review for @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Critic's Pick review for @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Reposted by aisling murphy
Hootsuite has been pursuing business with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the United States, more than five years after employee backlash forced the Vancouver tech company to cancel a contract to provide social-media management services to the agency.
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Vancouver company Hootsuite seeks business with ICE amid financial pressures
Company has secured a project with ICE that involves ‘social listening’ after cancelling a contract in 2020 over employee backlash
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Hootsuite has been pursuing business with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the United States, more than five years after employee backlash forced the Vancouver tech company to cancel a contract to provide social-media management services to the agency.
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
I'll admit I didn't have many expectations for THE LAST FIVE YEARS. But Luke Marty's production isn't half-bad, and Nicolas Palazzolo in particular is a bright talent to keep an eye on. It's fabulous to hear Jason Robert Brown's score with a full band, too – god, that score.
January 21, 2026 at 4:15 PM
I'll admit I didn't have many expectations for THE LAST FIVE YEARS. But Luke Marty's production isn't half-bad, and Nicolas Palazzolo in particular is a bright talent to keep an eye on. It's fabulous to hear Jason Robert Brown's score with a full band, too – god, that score.
Reposted by aisling murphy
I do love this musical and excited to see this Montreal-Toronto production.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO is imperfect: Its second act is surprisingly holey, and Louise Pitre struggles a bit with the title role's vocal demands.
Even so, I was really touched by it – I'll be seeing it again next week.
Review @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Even so, I was really touched by it – I'll be seeing it again next week.
Review @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Kimberly Akimbo is underwritten, vocally uneven – but it’s the most poignant musical in Toronto
As the show reminds us: Life’s too short to get hung up on the imperfections
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:52 AM
I do love this musical and excited to see this Montreal-Toronto production.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO is imperfect: Its second act is surprisingly holey, and Louise Pitre struggles a bit with the title role's vocal demands.
Even so, I was really touched by it – I'll be seeing it again next week.
Review @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Even so, I was really touched by it – I'll be seeing it again next week.
Review @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Kimberly Akimbo is underwritten, vocally uneven – but it’s the most poignant musical in Toronto
As the show reminds us: Life’s too short to get hung up on the imperfections
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:01 PM
KIMBERLY AKIMBO is imperfect: Its second act is surprisingly holey, and Louise Pitre struggles a bit with the title role's vocal demands.
Even so, I was really touched by it – I'll be seeing it again next week.
Review @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Even so, I was really touched by it – I'll be seeing it again next week.
Review @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Sigh. I'm a big fan of Talk Is Free Theatre. And Sondheim (of course). And the Theatre Centre.
But COMPANY is a misfire across the board. This wasn't the review I hoped to write.
For @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
But COMPANY is a misfire across the board. This wasn't the review I hoped to write.
For @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Barrie’s Talk Is Free Theatre brings a bumpy Company to Toronto
George Furth and Stephen Sondheim’s musical about love only occasionally succeeds in Dylan Trowbridge’s staging
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Sigh. I'm a big fan of Talk Is Free Theatre. And Sondheim (of course). And the Theatre Centre.
But COMPANY is a misfire across the board. This wasn't the review I hoped to write.
For @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
But COMPANY is a misfire across the board. This wasn't the review I hoped to write.
For @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
A promising sign out of Stratford: It looks like incoming AD Jonathan Church is following through on his desire to cast a wider net for talent across Canada, with audition stops scheduled in St. John's, Montreal, Vancouver, Regina, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Toronto. (But no Ottawa?)
January 19, 2026 at 6:57 PM
A promising sign out of Stratford: It looks like incoming AD Jonathan Church is following through on his desire to cast a wider net for talent across Canada, with audition stops scheduled in St. John's, Montreal, Vancouver, Regina, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Toronto. (But no Ottawa?)
Ahead of their production of THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I had a chat with Jon Chaters, producer for the Toronto Stage Company and the keyholder for the former Fleck Dance Theatre, now renamed the Terminal Theatre.
Online @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Online @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Curtain rises on the Terminal Theatre, Toronto’s reimagined stage by the water
Toronto Stage Company begins performances of The Last Five Years, starring Steffi DiDomenicantonio and newcomer Nicolas Palazzolo, on Jan. 20
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Ahead of their production of THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I had a chat with Jon Chaters, producer for the Toronto Stage Company and the keyholder for the former Fleck Dance Theatre, now renamed the Terminal Theatre.
Online @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Online @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Reposted by aisling murphy
My book Live to See the Day is out today. I hope you read it. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645965...
Live to See the Day by Mark Medley: 9780771062261 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
An imaginative study of human nature, Live to See the Day is a globe-trotting exploration of what drives certain people to pursue a dream beyond all logic, reason, or reward. Why do...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:37 PM
My book Live to See the Day is out today. I hope you read it. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645965...
Reposted by aisling murphy
Woof. All performances of Playing Shylock at the Segal Centre have been cancelled, owing to a "personal issue" for Saul Rubinek. Hope all is OK.
www.instagram.com/p/DTakfSlEkx...
www.instagram.com/p/DTakfSlEkx...
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January 12, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Woof. All performances of Playing Shylock at the Segal Centre have been cancelled, owing to a "personal issue" for Saul Rubinek. Hope all is OK.
www.instagram.com/p/DTakfSlEkx...
www.instagram.com/p/DTakfSlEkx...
Meet Mitch Wood, the Canadian influencer who mercilessly pokes fun at theatre people – including, yes, himself.
This was a fun one for @theglobeandmail.com!
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
This was a fun one for @theglobeandmail.com!
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Actor Mitch Wood’s parody videos get laughs – and sometimes even roles
Wood’s skits about working in the theatre industry have created a cult following
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Meet Mitch Wood, the Canadian influencer who mercilessly pokes fun at theatre people – including, yes, himself.
This was a fun one for @theglobeandmail.com!
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
This was a fun one for @theglobeandmail.com!
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Happy new year! The flu kicking around Toronto right now is a beast. Avoid it if you can.
Two weird-week-between-Christmas-and-New-Year stories to share. 🧵
Two weird-week-between-Christmas-and-New-Year stories to share. 🧵
January 5, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Happy new year! The flu kicking around Toronto right now is a beast. Avoid it if you can.
Two weird-week-between-Christmas-and-New-Year stories to share. 🧵
Two weird-week-between-Christmas-and-New-Year stories to share. 🧵
Happy to share this profile of the inimitable Ravi Jain, winner of the 2025 Siminovitch Prize and, relatedly, a relentlessly impressive human being.
On @theglobeandmail.com's website today:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
On @theglobeandmail.com's website today:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Siminovitch Prize winner Ravi Jain on creating his own boxes in Canadian theatre
Co-artistic director of Why Not Theatre in Toronto stood out for his six-hour adaptation of Mahabharata
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Happy to share this profile of the inimitable Ravi Jain, winner of the 2025 Siminovitch Prize and, relatedly, a relentlessly impressive human being.
On @theglobeandmail.com's website today:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
On @theglobeandmail.com's website today:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Reposted by aisling murphy
Here's @glennsumi.bsky.social's list: www.goaheadsumi.com/the-top-10-t... Here's @joshuachong.bsky.social's list: www.thestar.com/entertainmen... Here's @aislingmurph.bsky.social's list: www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag... & a few more #TheaTO year-end round-ups...
The Top 10 Toronto theatre productions of 2025
Anne of Green Gables, Red Like Fruit, The Welkin, Kim’s Convenience and Bright Star top my list of the most memorable shows of the year
www.goaheadsumi.com
December 24, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Here's @glennsumi.bsky.social's list: www.goaheadsumi.com/the-top-10-t... Here's @joshuachong.bsky.social's list: www.thestar.com/entertainmen... Here's @aislingmurph.bsky.social's list: www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag... & a few more #TheaTO year-end round-ups...
Reposted by aisling murphy
Global TV (in Canada) had last night's original 60 Minutes episode including the pulled segment on CECOT on its app and website today until about 5:45pm ET.
I was watching it when it got yanked - but bootlegs abound. www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-pol...
I was watching it when it got yanked - but bootlegs abound. www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-pol...
60 Minutes segment cancelled by CBS was available on Global TV website
Episode highlights accounts of alleged torture of men sent by U.S. to El Salvador prisons
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Global TV (in Canada) had last night's original 60 Minutes episode including the pulled segment on CECOT on its app and website today until about 5:45pm ET.
I was watching it when it got yanked - but bootlegs abound. www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-pol...
I was watching it when it got yanked - but bootlegs abound. www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-pol...
Reposted by aisling murphy
Imagine stepping into S2 of the best show on TV, the audience instantly hostile — wondering why they’re suddenly stuck with your annoying dick and not the characters they grew to love — and then winning ‘em over (not instantly, but incrementally) with a true tragic figure. RIP James “Ziggy” Ransone.
James Ransone, US actor known for The Wire, dies aged 46
James Ransone, US actor known for The Wire, dies aged 46
LA medical examiner reports Ransone, who played Chester ‘Ziggy’ Sobotka in the HBO crime drama, died by suicide
James Ransone, the American actor best known for his work in 12 episodes of The Wire, has died in Los Angeles.
Information from the Los Angeles medical examiner indicated Ransone, 46, died on Friday from suicide. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Imagine stepping into S2 of the best show on TV, the audience instantly hostile — wondering why they’re suddenly stuck with your annoying dick and not the characters they grew to love — and then winning ‘em over (not instantly, but incrementally) with a true tragic figure. RIP James “Ziggy” Ransone.
Reposted by aisling murphy
Shaw Festival coming to Toronto October to March for three years.
Sweet deal from Harbourfront from the clean-up CEO who will be gone in a month: The venue (now apparently called the Fleck, but not the theatre HF used to run called the Fleck) is provided for free; box-office revenue split.
Sweet deal from Harbourfront from the clean-up CEO who will be gone in a month: The venue (now apparently called the Fleck, but not the theatre HF used to run called the Fleck) is provided for free; box-office revenue split.
Just announced: The Shaw Festival will complete a three-year artistic residency at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, beginning in 2026.
Story in @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Story in @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Shaw Festival announces three-year residency at Toronto Harbourfront Centre
Repertory theatre company will set up shop at Fleck with plays first staged at home base
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Shaw Festival coming to Toronto October to March for three years.
Sweet deal from Harbourfront from the clean-up CEO who will be gone in a month: The venue (now apparently called the Fleck, but not the theatre HF used to run called the Fleck) is provided for free; box-office revenue split.
Sweet deal from Harbourfront from the clean-up CEO who will be gone in a month: The venue (now apparently called the Fleck, but not the theatre HF used to run called the Fleck) is provided for free; box-office revenue split.
Just announced: The Shaw Festival will complete a three-year artistic residency at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, beginning in 2026.
Story in @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Story in @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Shaw Festival announces three-year residency at Toronto Harbourfront Centre
Repertory theatre company will set up shop at Fleck with plays first staged at home base
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Just announced: The Shaw Festival will complete a three-year artistic residency at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, beginning in 2026.
Story in @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Story in @theglobeandmail.com:
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Some really fun last-minute gift ideas in here, including my favourite splurge of the year: a very fancy sticker book.
(But seriously, it’s a really good sticker book.)
(But seriously, it’s a really good sticker book.)
December 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Some really fun last-minute gift ideas in here, including my favourite splurge of the year: a very fancy sticker book.
(But seriously, it’s a really good sticker book.)
(But seriously, it’s a really good sticker book.)
Our Canadian artists of the year package is online today! What a weird, wonderful year for culture in this country.
(As a shock to no one, I nominated Kat Sandler for her glorious adaptation of Canada's most famous children's story.)
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
(As a shock to no one, I nominated Kat Sandler for her glorious adaptation of Canada's most famous children's story.)
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
From Mike Myers to KPop Demon Hunters creator Maggie Kang, these are our 2025 artists of the year
With a well-timed T-shirt on SNL, Mike Myers brought Canadian nationalism to the zeitgeist – just one of many artists who championed Canada in 2025
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Our Canadian artists of the year package is online today! What a weird, wonderful year for culture in this country.
(As a shock to no one, I nominated Kat Sandler for her glorious adaptation of Canada's most famous children's story.)
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
(As a shock to no one, I nominated Kat Sandler for her glorious adaptation of Canada's most famous children's story.)
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
This is my favourite piece of humour writing every year: @drewmagary.bsky.social's skewering of the Williams-Sonoma catalog. For the first few weeks of every December, I refresh Drew's author page, hoping today's the day.
Today's the day.
defector.com/the-2025-hat...
Today's the day.
defector.com/the-2025-hat...
The 2025 Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog | Defector
[Opens front door while holding a toy corgi in one arm] Merry Christmas! Oh my God, you made it! I thought you might be stuck at the airport for weeks! Well, because it’s such madness out there. Piper...
defector.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
This is my favourite piece of humour writing every year: @drewmagary.bsky.social's skewering of the Williams-Sonoma catalog. For the first few weeks of every December, I refresh Drew's author page, hoping today's the day.
Today's the day.
defector.com/the-2025-hat...
Today's the day.
defector.com/the-2025-hat...
Reposted by aisling murphy
Anne of Green Gables, Kat Sandler's adaptation that "breathes new-found relevance into this classic Canadian tale" (Toronto Star), has made The Globe and Mail's list of top 10 shows in 2025!
What shows made your list of favourites in 2025?
#SFGreenGables #SF2025 #StratfordFestival
What shows made your list of favourites in 2025?
#SFGreenGables #SF2025 #StratfordFestival
It's the most wonderful time of the year: Top 10 Season.
I've seen just under 220 shows so far this year – narrowing this down was such a treat.
Here's my first solo-bylined Top 10 for @theglobeandmail.com, featuring shows of all sizes from across Ontario.
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
I've seen just under 220 shows so far this year – narrowing this down was such a treat.
Here's my first solo-bylined Top 10 for @theglobeandmail.com, featuring shows of all sizes from across Ontario.
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
The best theatre of 2025 from Toronto, Stratford and Shaw
Aisling Murphy shares her top 10 picks of the year, her first as Globe theatre reporter
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Anne of Green Gables, Kat Sandler's adaptation that "breathes new-found relevance into this classic Canadian tale" (Toronto Star), has made The Globe and Mail's list of top 10 shows in 2025!
What shows made your list of favourites in 2025?
#SFGreenGables #SF2025 #StratfordFestival
What shows made your list of favourites in 2025?
#SFGreenGables #SF2025 #StratfordFestival