Theatre of the Unimpressed

Tannahill is a mover and shaker in the Toronto arts scene, and his work has gained international attention at festivals and galleries. He directed the world premiere of Sheila Heti's All Our Happy Days Are Stupid at his storefront theatre Videofag in 2014; the play will be remounted by McSweeney's in NYC in 2015.Declining theatre patronage have forced many once-vibrant companies and venues into difficult financial situations; Vancouver's celebrated Playhouse Theatre closed in 2012, despite public outcry. We tend to mourn the loss of these cultural institutions and move on. Tannahill suggests that contemporary theatre could be more engaging, forward-thinking and accessible than it is, and do more to grow its audience instead of blaming slow ticket sales on society's lack of cultural engagement.