Next Cabaret
The next Poetry Brothel Toronto Cabaret Theme is...
The Cinematic Masquerade Cabaret
September 6th, 2025
Red Carpet 8PM
Show 9PM
After Party 11PM
Join the Poetry Brothel Toronto in celebrating our 2 year anniversary and honouring TIFF's 50th with the Cinematic Masquerade!
Did you know that the first cabaret we ever produced was a Midsummer Night's Masquerade? The theme was chosen in honour of our Brothel's Madame, Titania, Queen of the Summer Court. While she has been sprinkling faerie dust across realms for over eight hundred years, she was made most famous by the Bard's representation of her in his comedy, a Midsummer Night's Dream - and thus PBTo began with a nod to Titania and Shakespeare himself.
As Titania has been time and space travelling for centuries, she
remembers Masquerades from the early days, when they began in Europe as part of Carnival season. Italy may have made these balls famous with their elaborate Venetian Masks, but before the resplendent Balls in 15th century Italy during the Renaissance: the Masquerade Ball had already established itself as a place of play. A space in which, with all attendees masked, their alter egos could emerge. Where the wealthy and the common people could dance together, their identities concealed for one night only, and economic and social boundaries could be transcended on the dance floor.
On September 24th from 2-3PM Poetry Brothel Producer and trained actor Brendee Green will be leading a one hour free workshop at Toronto Public Library's Mount Pleasant location.
To read more and to learn how to register, your participation, visit TPL's website here. We hope to see you there!
Performing Poetry Workshop
Upcoming Events
This September: PBTo brings this longstanding tradition of Masquerade Balls as an adult playground for fashion, mystique, and a little debauchery to Toronto. Who knows? Perhaps the filmmakers in town for TIFF will also take advantage of the anonymity masks permit and join us, as the aristocracy of yore did the cirque du celebrations of 14th, 15th, and 18th century Europe.
We invite you to review your favourite films that feature these events - from adaptations of Fairy Tales and Shakespearean plays to the screen, to Eyes Wide Shut - and take inspiration for your costume. Create or curate a costume that is unique to you, and adapt a mask to represent the alter ego in you just itching to come out and play. Or take advantage of our VIP packages, which come with unique masks, handmade by Madame Titania herself just for you.
And, as is our custom, we will entertain you. With Poets, Drag performances, Live Music, Storytellers, and more - and, of course, conclude the night with you on the dance floor.
So mark your calendars for September 6th, and get your tickets here, darlings!