Step aside, traditional theatre — The Festival of Dionysos is back for its second season, reimagining live performance with immersive, unpredictable experiences that take place anywhere but a stage.
Running June 21 through July 5, this bold festival, presented by Talk Is Free Theatre (TIFT), invites attendees to become “participants” rather than passive spectators. With events unfolding in parks, gazebos, and even private estates, the Festival blends myth, music, and meaningful interaction in ways that challenge the very notion of audience.
“It’s something that allows the audience to become the character and the experience,” says TIFT’s Artistic Producer Arkady Spivak. “You’re not watching it — you’re watching yourself.”
This year’s theme, Myths and Legends from Around the World, infuses each performance with a sense of the divine and the timeless. The centrepiece of the festival is The Frogs, a rarely staged musical that casts Dionysus, the god of theatre, on a journey to the underworld to rescue our doomed civilization — with help from duelling literary giants George Bernard Shaw and William Shakespeare. The production takes place outdoors at a lush private estate on Big Bay Point Road, with plenty of contingency plans for weather.
Listen...to our full interview with Arkady Spivak on this week's What Barrie's Talking About podcast
Beyond the big production, the festival offers smaller, equally captivating experiences — from interactive installations and audio-visual explorations to improv nights based on ancient myths. There’s even “Lip-Wing”, an experimental musical-writing session where audience members co-create a brand-new work alongside professional creators.
“It puts everyone into this micro-community for a short period of time that people have lost,” Spivak explains. “They’re actually forced to interact — without a phone. Imagine.”
From Springwater Park play readings to whimsical installations you can explore at your own pace, the Festival of Dionysos brings together artistry, spontaneity, and connection in a way that feels both daring and deeply comforting. And for the hesitant? No pressure — participation is encouraged but not required.
“You’re very safe going in,” Spivak reassures. “It’s not about embarrassing anyone. It’s not a pantomime — almost the opposite.”
Full event listings and tickets are available at www.tift.ca.
