The Cabaret Company 2.11

Cabaret Company’s mandate is to produce work created by Sky Gilbert and to encourage the work and development of queer theatre newcomers. Cabaret Company has produced many different kinds of plays, from drag musicals to murder mysteries to documentary biographies. “My work is always personal and immediate, controversial, political, dangerous and sexual,” says Sky Gilbert, Artistic Director of Cabaret Company, “these are elements that define ‘cabaret’ for me, hence the name.”

Like his novels, which are frank and chatty explorations of the modern queer urban lifestyle and the hypocrisies of modern middle-class life, Cabaret Company productions will always reach out to a contemporary audience. In contrast to theatre companies such as Tarragon, Soulpepper, and Canadian Stage that present world-class respected literature by mainstream-approved authors drawn from the traditional canon of new and old works – (European, American and Canadian), The Cabaret Company’s Canadian- centred work achieves its immediacy and danger in varied ways, sometimes by knocking down the fourth wall and at other times by presenting pro-sexual content without judgment.

Ultimately, the work doesn’t resemble "literature" or "drama". It is alive, breathing and, at times, a little scary.

Young queer artists are encouraged through the OAC Creators’ Reserve Program, as well as through our development programs for young queer artists: The Kitchen Party Nervous Breakdown Reality TV Show, Free Jane, and GenderPlay.