About This Episode:

Ryan McCollom is a Toronto-based theatre content creator behind the popular TikTok and Instagram account Plates and Playbills, and he's on a mission to get more people through the doors of indie and smaller professional theatres across the city. What started as personal documentation of his own growing love of theatre has evolved into a platform dedicated to closing the gap between the big Mirvish productions most people know and the rich, underserved world of indie and community theatre that most audiences don't even know exists.

This episode explores:

How Ryan went from cooking videos during COVID to becoming one of Toronto's most visible theatre content creators
The difference between being a theatre critic and a theatre commentator and why Ryan is careful about that line
Why the Stratford Festival was the wake-up call that made Ryan realize theatre needed younger audiences now
What indie theatres could be doing on social media to reach new audiences without spending a dime
Canadian cultural cringe in the performing arts: why audiences wait for American or British validation before embracing homegrown work
And much more!

Guest: 🎭 Ryan McCollom

Ryan is a Toronto-based content creator dedicated to making theatre more accessible and approachable for new audiences while also encouraging seasoned theatre-goers to explore smaller professional companies and indie productions. While his coverage primarily focuses on the Toronto theatre scene, Ryan also documents his travels and the productions he experiences around the world, sharing an honest perspective as an everyday theatre fan.

Connect with Ryan:

📸 Instagram: @platesandplaybills_

🎥 TikTok: @platesandplaybills_

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Thank you to my Patrons: Chris, Georgia, Heather J, Tanisha, Aisling, Cassie, Heather, Jeanette, Steve

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