Revisiting Love and Identity in Theatre Passe Muraille’s BUTCH/FEMME

September 20 – 27, 2025
Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, Toronto

Theatre Passe Muraille is set to stage BUTCH/FEMME, a gripping new drama written and directed by Emily Paterson, produced in collaboration with The Green Couch Theatre Company. Running from September 20 to 27, 2025, this intimate production promises to immerse audiences in a powerful exploration of love, identity, and the legacies of queer history.

A Night of Confrontation and Reflection

Set against the quiet backdrop of 1950s rural Ontario, BUTCH/FEMME follows the story of Jenny, whose solitary evening is unexpectedly disrupted by the arrival of Alice — the woman she thought she had left behind. Over the course of one intense night, these two women confront memories long buried, unearth uncomfortable truths, and grapple with the invisible bonds that have shaped their lives.

Winner of the President’s Award for Outstanding Production at the Hart House Drama Festival at the University of Toronto, BUTCH/FEMME has already earned critical acclaim for its nuanced storytelling and compelling performances. The play deftly balances tension and tenderness, drawing audiences into a world that feels both historically grounded and urgently contemporary.

Resonance in the Present

While the story unfolds in a bygone era, its themes resonate deeply today. In particular, the play highlights the ongoing scarcity of lesbian-focused spaces in Toronto and beyond. With queer venues and community hubs becoming increasingly rare, BUTCH/FEMME invites audiences to reflect on the importance of preserving and creating spaces where LGBTQ+ stories can thrive. The play’s examination of belonging, love, and identity underscores how these themes remain relevant, reminding viewers that the struggles and triumphs of queer communities are not merely historical but persist in contemporary life.

Emily Paterson, the play’s writer and director, notes that the inspiration for BUTCH/FEMME came from a desire to see sapphic stories — especially those exploring butch identities — represented on stage. “Setting it in 1950s rural Ontario honours those lineages and reminds us queer people have always been everywhere,” Paterson explains. Her approach brings both authenticity and poignancy to the narrative, ensuring that the characters’ journeys resonate beyond the confines of the period setting.

Theatre Passe Muraille’s presentation of BUTCH/FEMME promises an evening of theatre that is both intimate and emotionally charged. Through its exploration of memory, identity, and the enduring impact of love, the play challenges audiences to reconsider what has been lost, what persists, and how our understanding of queer history shapes contemporary experience.

For theatre lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the complexities of human connection, BUTCH/FEMME offers a rare and moving opportunity to witness a story that is as beautiful as it is thought-provoking. The production runs for one week only, from September 20 through 27, 2025, at Theatre Passe Muraille, making it an essential stop on the fall cultural calendar.