PlayME

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 ca...

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 mi...

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...

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 s...

As Sam’s time grows shorter, tensions and emotions run high. Rachel’s estranged boyfriend unexpectedly shows up to support her, leading to a heated confrontation with her father over past grievances. Amid a bittersweet celebration, the family tries to hold on to moments of joy—but they’re all painfully aware of what’s coming. When Rachel uncovers a long-held secret, it might be the key to changing...

When thirty-year-old Rachel returns home for Shabbat dinner with her ailing father and his girlfriend, she’s met with a life-altering announcement: her father, Sam Adleman, has chosen to end his life through Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)—and he plans to do it in just seven days. Shocked and heartbroken, Rachel decides to stay the week, desperately trying to change his mind. But when she bring...

Playwright and performer Rachel Cairns joins Laura Mullin to discuss her acclaimed play Hypothetical Baby and the deeply personal experience that inspired it. Rachel shares her journey of facing an unplanned pregnancy despite having an IUD, the unexpected challenges of accessing abortion care, and the emotional and societal pressures that shaped her decision. Despite growing up in a progressive an...

After navigating the barriers to abortion access, Rachel now faces the emotional weight of the experience—her body, her relationships, and the choices that linger long after the procedure. As she processes the physical toll of the abortion, a conversation with her mother reveals a hidden family history of reproductive decisions. Meanwhile, her boyfriend’s lack of emotional support forces her to qu...

What happens when the "what if" becomes reality? In Hypothetical Baby, award-winning playwright and performer Rachel Cairns pulls back the curtain on the unspoken truths of abortion. Raw, darkly funny, and deeply personal, this fearless solo play goes beyond the question of “will she or won’t she?”—diving headfirst into the messy, complex, and often absurd journey of reproductive choice. From a di...

PlayME is back! Your free ticket to bold, binge-worthy theatre. In this season’s trailer, hosts Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley present five powerful new plays turned audio dramas. Hypothetical Baby by Rachel Cairns explores the complexities of deciding to have a baby—or not. In Seven Days by Jordi, Mand follows a daughter fighting to change her father’s MAiD decision. The Green Line by Makram Ayach...

Go behind the scenes with Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley as they discuss the creation of TUNNEL RUNNERS, their original seven-part scripted audio thriller. They dive into the writing process, the challenges of recording action-packed scenes, and the intricacies of foley and sound design. They discuss the series' themes, including anxiety, young adulthood, life on the margins, and hidden underground...

Just take it. Why fight it? Give in to what you really are.  Tunnel Runners is a new seven-episode original series from the creators of the award-winning PlayME Podcast.

Under the mist. Just me and her. Nothing else matters. -But I can’t shake the feeling we’re not alone.  Tunnel Runners is a new seven-episode original series from the creators of the award-winning PlayME Podcast.

We pull him out. Covered in dirt and blood. He’s not moving. Tunnel Runners is a new seven-episode original series from the creators of the award-winning PlayME Podcast.

Don’t freak out. Don’t draw attention to yourself. Or her. Runners can’t have a witness. They’ll blame you. And Brooklyn. Tunnel Runners is a new seven-episode original series from the creators of the award-winning PlayME Podcast.

We need more people. If we don’t let them in, we disappear! We can’t keep losing to the Shadows- Tunnel Runners is a new seven-episode original series from the creators of the award-winning PlayME Podcast.

You’re 100 feet underground. In an enclosed hole in the wall. In the dark. With a stranger. -Anything could happen. Tunnel Runners is a new seven-episode original series from the creators of the award-winning PlayME Podcast.

I’ve been in abandoned buildings, on rooftops, through construction sites. But nothing beats the underground. Rules don’t exist down here. But I’m always looking for a bigger challenge. A new place to explore. Where no one’s ever been before. Tunnel Runners is a new seven-episode original series from the creators of the award-winning PlayME Podcast.

When Cam, a gifted teen from Toronto, finds himself drowning in anxiety and depression, he turns to prescription meds and endless urban exploration videos on YouTube to numb the pain. After suffering a devastating panic attack at school, he escapes into the sprawling subway tunnels beneath the city, desperate for solace. Underground, he stumbles upon a shadowy world filled with a hidden subculture...

Last month, we lost our mentor, colleague, and friend, Gregory J. Sinclair, whose contributions to the world of audio drama and this podcast were invaluable. Greg was an internationally renowned producer and director of audio dramas for CBC Radio and Audible Canada. As Executive Producer at CBC Radio, he developed, produced, and directed multiple acclaimed audio series and specials, including&nbsp...

Laura talks with writer and performer Diane Flacks about her latest solo show, Guilt (A Love Story). Diane opens up about turning her sometimes painful personal experiences into compelling plays. She shares how she thinks there’s a death of fun in theatre and why she pushes herself to take risks in her work and not play it safe. Diane also talks about her writing experiences for TV, including her...

Diane has a monster of guilt growing inside her. She feels it as she and her ex decide to separate after 20 years. It’s there when they tell their two boys that their family life as they once knew it is over.  But it completely consumes her after she signs paperwork at her lawyer’s office officially ending their marriage. Panic follows, and on one of the most important nights of her life, she...

Diane Flacks has been drinking alot lately. It helps numb her guilt. As she approached mid-life, she threw a bomb into her domestic life. Married for almost two decades and the mom of two boys, she finds herself growing apart from her wife. They attend couples therapy and agree to open up their marriage. She meets a younger woman and falls madly and hopelessly in love. The fallout leaves her grapp...

Chris talks to Paolo Santalucia about his hit show "Prodigal" and how his experience as an actor and the collaborative nature of theatre helped him find the courage to write his first play. He touches on how audiences have changed since the pandemic and why their slow return to the theatre can be a unique opportunity for artists to embrace. He shares how his Toronto roots drew him to write about c...

Edmund, the estranged gay alcoholic son of Rowan and Marilyn, returns to his family after a five-year absence. But he’s not seeking reconciliation. He’s looking for revenge after being cut off from the family trust. His arrival inconveniently coincides with Rowan's career breakthrough, sparking a clash of interests. As tensions rise, Edmund discovers a dirty little secret his father has been keepi...