Hosts Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley transform PlayME into an audio gala celebrating the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Tom Hendry Awards, honouring the writers shaping the future of Canadian storytelling.

This special episode reveals the 2025 shortlists and features conversations with leading voices in the arts, including The Globe and Mail’s Aisling Murphy, composer and lyricist Kevin Wong, Young People’s Theatre Artistic Director Herbie Barnes, director and mentor Jillian Keiley, and National Arts Centre English Theatre Artistic Director Nina Lee Aquino.

Together, they explore the creative process, emerging trends, and why live storytelling continues to matter in a digital world.

Whether you love theatre or simply great writing, this episode offers an inspiring look at the people and ideas defining Canada’s cultural landscape.

Playwright Makram Ayache joins Chris Tolley to talk about growing up queer in rural Alberta. Hear about how the loss of Ayache's father influenced his acclaimed play The Green Line, and what it means to write from a place of “in-betweenness." 

The Green Line, nominated for a Governor General’s Award, is a lyrical journey through love, loss, and the legacy of queer identity across generations.

A poetic and heartbreaking story of intergenerational queer history in Lebanon begins. In present-day Beirut, Rami, a twentysomething queer Lebanese Canadian, returns to bury his father. Grieving and searching for meaning, he finds himself drawn to a queer nightclub—where a drag queen named Fifi, dressed as a phoenix, awakens a sense of connection. At the same time, we flash back to 1978, when a young man named Naseeb tries to flee Beirut’s civil war with his sister, Mona. But Mona is in love—and refuses to leave.

Featuring: Makram Ayache, Filsan Dualeh, Bahareh Yaraghi, Waseem Alzer, and Antoine Yared

“Ayache’s dialogue is decidedly lyrical . . . There are some truly beautiful images not just in the monologues but in simple exchanges.”- Louis B. Hobson, Calgary Herald

“An affecting, well-written piece by Edmonton playwright Makram Ayache . . . that travels to a surprisingly wide variety of places . . . a universal, first-class [play] more than worthy of your attention.”- Alan Kellogg, 12thnight

The Green Line by Makram Ayache.

As Beirut descends into chaos in 1978, Naseeb is swept up in the war’s political tides, fracturing his bond with Mona. In the present, Rami follows a trail of memories—including a phoenix-shaped necklace left by his father—to uncover the truth about his family's past. The Green Line, nominated for a Governor General’s Award, is a lyrical journey through love, loss, and the legacy of queer identity across generations.

The Green Line by Makram Ayache

Playwright Michael Ross Albert joins Chris Tolley to discuss his acclaimed play The Bidding War and the personal experience that helped inspire it. Michael shares what it was like to buy his first home through an affordable housing program — a moment that felt like winning the lottery, but also brought intense financial fear and uncertainty. Despite finally finding a place to call his own, Michael opens up about the pressure of speculative real estate and how that anxiety found its way into his writing. He and Chris dive into why plays that make us laugh can also leave the deepest mark.

The Bidding War is by Michael Ross Albert.

The open house descends into chaos as tensions erupt between buyers, agents, and unexpected guests. Secrets are revealed, alliances shift, and a medical emergency turns the high-stakes competition into something more personal. As the dream of homeownership spirals into a surreal showdown, everyone is forced to show their hand, whether they’re ready or not.

Featuring: Aurora Browne, Sergio Di Zio, Izad Etemadi, Peter Fernandes, Veronica Hortiguela, Amy Matysio, Fiona Reid, Gregory Prest, Steven Sutcliffe, Sophia Walker, and Gregory Waters.

The Bidding War is by Michael Ross Albert.

Welcome to Toronto’s hot real estate market, where even an open house can become a pressure cooker. It’s Sam’s first day as a real estate agent, and he’s hoping for a straightforward showing. But things quickly spiral when eager buyers swarm the home of his first client, June. Tensions rise, secrets surface, and the competition turns cutthroat. In this sharp, darkly comic audio drama, The Bidding War exposes the high-stakes chaos lurking beneath Toronto’s housing bubble.

Featuring: Aurora Browne, Sergio Di Zio, Izad Etemadi, Peter Fernandes, Veronica Hortiguela, Amy Matysio, Fiona Reid, Gregory Prest, Steven Sutcliffe, Sophia Walker, and Gregory Waters.

The Bidding War is by Michael Ross Albert.

Playwright Zahida Rahemtulla joins Laura Mullin to talk about her hit debut play, The Wrong Bashir, a sharp and funny intergenerational comedy about identity, faith, and forging your own path.

They discuss the inspiration behind the play, the unique dynamics of the Ismaili community, and what it means to grow up caught between expectations and self-discovery. Zahida also shares what it was like casting her real-life father and bringing underrepresented voices to the Canadian stage.

The Wrong Bashir is by Zahida Rahemtulla.

The mistaken identity spirals as Bashir’s family attempts to correct the mix-up, but not everyone agrees on whether it should be corrected. As the pressure mounts and unexpected visitors arrive, Bashir is forced to confront not only who others expect him to be—but who he really is.

“Think 'Kim's Convenience' but set in an Ismaili Muslim family. This play feels ripe for a TV adaptation. With its mistaken identity plot and comic characters, Zahida Rahemtulla's “The Wrong Bashir” has the hallmarks of a classic sitcom…” Joshua Chong, Toronto Star

Featuring the cast from Crow’s Theatre’s acclaimed production:

 Sharjil Rasool (Bashir), Bren Eastcott (Nafisa), Sugith Varughese (Sultan), Nimet Kanji (Najma), Vijay Mehta (Al Nashir), Pamela Mala Sinha (Gulzar), Salim Rahemtulla (Dadipapa), Zaittun Esmail (Dadima), Parm Soor (Mansour)

The Wrong Bashir is by Zahida Rahemtulla. 

When philosophy student Bashir Ladha is accidentally nominated to a prestigious religious position, his family is ecstatic until they realize he’s more interested in podcasting than leading prayers. As Bashir questions the entire situation, his parents scramble to maintain appearances and navigate the growing confusion.

Fast, funny, and full of heart, The Wrong Bashir is a razor-sharp comedy about mistaken identity, generational pressure, and what happens when your community’s expectations don’t match who you really are.

Featuring the cast from Crow’s Theatre’s acclaimed production:

 Sharjil Rasool (Bashir), Bren Eastcott (Nafisa), Sugith Varughese (Sultan), Nimet Kanji (Najma), Vijay Mehta (Al Nashir), Pamela Mala Sinha (Gulzar), Salim Rahemtulla (Dadipapa), Zaittun Esmail (Dadima), Parm Soor (Mansour)

The Wrong Bashir is by Zahida Rahemtulla. 

Chris talks with Jordi Mand about writing with vulnerability, mining family stories for inspiration, and confronting personal fears through her plays. Jordi opens up about her journey from performer to playwright, the delicate balance of using real life in fiction, and how becoming a mom has changed her work. They dive into the emotional roots of In Seven Days, the role of Jewish identity in her storytelling, and why she’s drawn to characters who live in the moral grey zone. Plus, Jordi explains how faith and culture quietly shape her plays. It’s an honest, funny, and moving conversation with one of Canada’s most fearless voices in theatre.

In Seven Days is by Jordi Mand.