Welcome to Spontaneous Theatre
Spontaneous Theatre does TWO things really well:
1. We create live theatrical productions that audiences want to see – often multiple times. Our shows have played across Canada, in select US cities including off-Broadway, the UK, and the Edinburgh Fringe.
2. We design custom corporate workshops for businesses who recognize the value of creativity, empathy, and play.
2024-2025 Season Lineup
GOBLIN:MACBETH
Three Goblins come across the Complete Works of William Shakespeare and decide to co-op a theatre and attempt to stage the Bard’s bloodiest tragedy.
Oct. 3 – Nov. 3, 2024 – Tarragon Theatre, Toronto, ON
Jan.11 – Feb. 2, 2025 – Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, AB
Nov. 26 – Dec. 2, 2025 – TBA (It’s still a secret!)
MURDER-ON-THE-LAKE Commissioned work for The Shaw Festival
A shocking murder has rocked the tranquil town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the dastardly crime can only be solved with the assistance of a willing detective – someone invited up from the audience each night. This fresh new spin on the whodunit will have the entire theatre working to deduce who had the means, opportunity, and motive from the moment the curtain rises.
July – Oct, 2025 – Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
GOBLIN:OEDIPUS
Determined to delve deeper into the Dionysian degeneracy of the human race, three Goblins dissect the dithyrambic to offer up a cautionary tale of patricide, incest, and eye-gouging comedy.
When a deadly plague brings the city to its knees, the citizens of Thebes beg their leader Oedipus to find a cure. When word from the Oracle at Delphi warns that the only remedy is to uncover and punish the murderer of the previous king, Oedipus vows to ferret out the assassin and see justice served. What follows is a journey of ironic self-discovery that proves there is no out-running Fate, no arguing with the Gods, and that marriage is the birthplace of tragedy.
Canada’s most notorious Goblins rob the cradle of Western thought to bring you a mythic murder mystery of epic proportions that is sure to send you scream-laughing all the way to your therapist. Translation by John Murrell.
Goblin:Oedipus had its World Premier at One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo in Calgary, in 2023.
Previous Productions:
BLIND DATE
A sexy French clown goes on a Blind Date with a different man, pulled from the audience, every night. WARNING: improv, naughty clowning, strong language, hilarity.
UNDERCOVER
AN UNDISCOVERED SHAKESPEARE
LEGEND HAS IT
GOBLIN:OEDIPUS
Determined to delve deeper into the Dionysian degeneracy of the human race, three Goblins dissect the dithyrambic to offer up a cautionary tale of patricide, incest, and eye-gouging comedy.
GOBLIN:MACBETH
Three Goblins come across the Complete Works of William Shakespeare and decide to co-op a theatre and attempt to stage the Bard’s bloodiest tragedy.
More on Spontaneous Theatricals:
The hallmark of our work is an immediate, real-time connection with our audience. Our number one value is ‘taking care of the audience and making sure they have a nice time’ – whether this happens on stage, or in the seats of the theatre.
Many of our productions invite one willing audience member to join us on stage as the ‘star of the show’.
We are perhaps best known for the smash-hit, Blind Date, which has been touring for over 15 years, and has had close to 2000 performances.
In 2022 we created Goblin:Macbeth which was an instant success, playing two sold-out runs in Calgary, produced by The Shakespeare Company and Hit & Myth Productions. The Goblins then went on to be presented by Bard on the Beach in Vancouver, selling out the entire run and extension week before opening, and then playing to packed houses at The Stratford Festival of Canada.
Previous Productions:
BLIND DATE
A sexy French clown goes on a Blind Date with a different man, pulled from the audience, every night. WARNING: improv, naughty clowning, strong language, hilarity.
UNDERCOVER
AN UNDISCOVERED SHAKESPEARE
LEGEND HAS IT
GOBLIN:OEDIPUS
Determined to delve deeper into the Dionysian degeneracy of the human race, three Goblins dissect the dithyrambic to offer up a cautionary tale of patricide, incest, and eye-gouging comedy.
GOBLIN:MACBETH
Three Goblins come across the Complete Works of William Shakespeare and decide to co-op a theatre and attempt to stage the Bard’s bloodiest tragedy.
More on Spontaneous Theatricals:
The hallmark of our work is an immediate, real-time connection with our audience. Our number one value is ‘taking care of the audience and making sure they have a nice time’ – whether this happens on stage, or in the seats of the theatre.
Many of our productions invite one willing audience member to join us on stage as the ‘star of the show’.
We are perhaps best known for the smash-hit, Blind Date, which has been touring for over 15 years, and has had close to 2000 performances.
In 2022 we created Goblin:Macbeth which was an instant success, playing two sold-out runs in Calgary, produced by The Shakespeare Company and Hit & Myth Productions. The Goblins then went on to be presented by Bard on the Beach in Vancouver, selling out the entire run and extension week before opening, and then playing to packed houses at The Stratford Festival of Canada.