Above

Above Ground

Our Above Ground initiatives are audience facing and embody the excellence you’ve come to expect from us.

As always, we will be creating intimate and imaginative live performances that have been the bedrock of the Groundling’s award- winning theatrical productions. Alongside our live theatre, we’ll also be showcasing innovative, new VR experiences, The PIT Lab Pop-Ups, our blog & podcast series, & industry knowledge sharing events.

Watch this space and join our mailing list for more information about our 2024 season of work.

Initiatives

Jan
07
2025
6-Week Advanced Online Storytelling Workshop

Creative Warrior:
Military Arts Program

Currently in its second year of operation, our award-winning Creative Warrior program uses the arts, storytelling and performance to help military members and their families transition from active service to civilian life. This program is funded through the generosity of the True Patriot Love Foundation.

For more information please email aboutface.military.arts@gmail.com.

DATE:
January/February 2025

DURATION:
6 weeks

WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR:
Joanne O’Sullivan — Multifaceted storyteller, podcaster, writer and comic

ELIGIBILITY:
Active Canadian Military members
Veterans
Direct family members

Jan
30
2025
A Groundling PIT Lab Pop-Up

Beyond the Stage:
Classical Theatre in Virtual Reality

Groundling Theatre invites you to peak behind the digital curtain as we share some of the work we have been pioneering in our Performance and Immersive Technology Lab.

Join us for an intimate TEDx-style conversation with Artistic Director Graham Abbey and Lab Creative Director Christopher Lane, followed by the premiere of The Hunt: A Shakespeare Story – an intimate Virtual Reality experience that reimagines how we connect with theatre in the digital age.

DATE:
January 30th, 2025

TIME:
5pm – 7:30pm

LOCATION:
B Street Arts Hub, 1100 Bathurst St. Toronto

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:
BMO
B-Street Collaborative
Nona Heaslip Foundation

Aug
16
2025
A Stratford Festival Forum Series Event

Crossing the Threshold:
When Veterans Return Home

In partnership with the True Patriot Love Foundation, Canada’s national foundation for the military community, and the Creative Warrior program, this panel discussion examines the reintegration of military personnel into civilian life—a journey Joseph Campbell describes as “crossing the return threshold.”

Join us, for this Pay What You Can discussion, as we explore the challenges of this transition and the healing power of creative arts in addressing the mental and physical impacts of war.

DATE:
Saturday, August 16th, 2025

TIME:
10:30am

LOCATION:
Stratford Festival

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
True Patriot Love Foundation
Creative Warrior Program
Stratford Festival

FEATURED SPEAKERS:
Donna Betts — Co-Chair, True Patriot Love Military Creative Arts Program
Namita Joshi — Chief Program Officer, True Patriot Love Foundation
Graham Abbey — Moderator, Company Member

TBD
A Groundling PIT Lab Workshop proudly supported by B Street Collaborative

Virtual Reality:
Storytelling Workshop

Join us for an intensive, practical, 2.5-day VR Storytelling Workshop for theatre artists who want to up-skill in this new artistic medium.

The workshop will be open to 6 –10 theatre makers from the GTA. As spatial storytellers, theatre-makers are well suited to storytelling in the spaces created by immersive technology. With this said, there is a substantial knowledge and skills gap that needs to be overcome for this to be a reality for theatre artists. This workshop will begin the process of changing this.

To join the waiting list please register your interest.

SCHEDULE:
Friday: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 6:00pm

LOCATION:
B Street Arts Hub, 1100 Bathurst St. Toronto

CAPACITY:
6-10 theatre makers from GTA

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Participation is by application only. Course fees covered by B Street Collaborative for selected participants.

Below

Below Ground

Our Below Ground projects will be focused on research & development around the integration of live performance and XR/immersive technology.

Here we’ll plant the seeds that grow into new content, new technological innovations, new research findings, new performance spaces, new productions & new, home grown, Canadian talent.

Watch this space and join our mailing list for more information about our 2025 season of work.