The Tarragon Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and one of the main centers for contemporary playwriting in the country.[1] Located near Casa Loma, the theatre was founded by Bill and Jane Glassco in 1970.[2]Bill Glassco was the artistic director from 1971 to 1982. In 1982, Urjo Kareda took over as artistic director and remained in that role until his death in December 2001.[3]Richard Rose was appointed artistic director in July 2002.[3] Mike Payette assumed the role of artistic director in September 2021 upon Rose's retirement,[4] with Lisa Li joining as Executive Director in June 2024.
In 1987, Tarragon purchased and renovated the building that has been its home since 1971. There are two performance spaces: the Mainspace (205 seats), and The Extra Space (113 seats).
The theatre is housed in a building originally designed for light industrial use, including as a cribbage board factory.[5] It cost $9,000 to renovate.
The company's first production was David Freeman's Creeps.[6]
Urjo Kareda founded the theatre's Playwrights Unit in 1982.
The Spring Arts Fair showcased works in progress, including an early version of Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt's 2 Pianos, 4 Hands, which later toured around the world.
The theatre holds two performances venues, containing approximately 200 and 100 seats respectively. One of the rehearsal halls can be used as a performance area, seating 60.
The 2020–21 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and productions were moved online, including audio recordings of plays available through a CBC podcast.
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