“As an upcoming artist myself, one of the key things I’ve learned is trusting yourself. If you trust your ideas, abilities, and capabilities, you can push yourself to try new things, go new places, and get your work out there.”

Emily Paterson’s unique voice as an artist will ring loud and clear soon in the Toronto theatre industry.

Currently, she trains at the University of Toronto Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies.  She is in the final year of her undergraduate degree and will complete her dual degree in Drama and English Literature in Spring 2026.

Paterson is preparing Butch/Femme for its opening at Toronto’s Theatre Passe Muraille (TPM) this month.

She has received extensive advice, training and mentorship from a variety of notable Toronto theatre artists during her undergraduate years.  Emily credits Ken Gas, who has given some of the best advice, support and encouragement as a theatre artist. Gas has especially given Emily great insight regarding opening their own production company (The Green Couch Theatre) to produce Butch/Femme at Passe Muraille this month.  Paterson also credits playwrights George F. Walker and Moynan King, who have given extensive feedback and encouragement regarding writing practice and the development of Butch/Femme.

The one person Paterson speaks of fondly is Marjorie Chan, Artistic Director of Passe Muraille:

“Marjorie has been one of the most significant mentors in the development of my practice. She adjudicated the 2025 Hart House Drama festival, where Butch/Femme premiered. From there, [Chan] chose to bring [the production] to Passe Muraille. The trust [Marjorie] has in me as an upcoming artist, as well as the support and advice she has given me through the play development, has been integral to my artistry.”

Paterson puts it simply regarding Chan:

“If it weren’t for Marjorie, [Butch/Femme] wouldn’t exist as it is today.”

Emily didn’t know much about the Toronto theatre life when moving to the city three years ago and has learned a lot both in studies and experience. Fast forward three years, and what’s her current understanding of the Toronto theatre industry?

“I think the performing arts space in Toronto is very distinct and provides a space for experimentation, growth and boundary-breaking theatre. However, there is still a distinct lack of female voices in Toronto’s theatre scene. Most of the slates in other theatres feature more people who aren’t women than who are.”

What’s exciting for Paterson at this time about the opening night of Butch/Femme?  It’s the fact that women appear front and centre this year at Passe Muraille. Paterson also says that we don’t explore the inspiring aspects of Toronto enough anymore. So much contemporary theatre produced in this city is not Toronto – or even Canadian-centred. Paterson states that’s part of what makes Butch/Femme so special. Audiences can identify and locate the places the characters discuss in the play, gaining an intimate familiarity with them.

What is the story behind Butch/Femme?

From Passe Muraille’s website: “In the stillness of 1950s rural Ontario, Jenny’s (Annabelle Gillis) quiet evening is shattered by an unexpected visitor – Alice (Tessa Kramer), the woman whom Jenny thought she’d left in the past. In one tense night, the two reminisce, seeking answers from one another about their relationship, their past and their future.”

Emily is elated that Gillis and Kramer are part of the TPM production, as they have been integral to the script’s growth. The ladies are also undergraduate students at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Drama and Theatre Performance Studies.  Gillis and Kramer’s ability to perform to such a professional level speaks to their refined skills as actors so early in their careers.  One of the most integral aspects of Butch/Femme is the “beautiful tension” they create together.

Recently, I received a public relations release about Butch/Femme, which stated that it was essential to disseminate the following message about the show to as many people as possible. This release states that the message feels both urgent and underreported: the ongoing scarcity of sapphic spaces, which are especially rare in cities like Toronto.

I had no idea what sapphic spaces meant, so I had to ask Emily about the importance of these spaces and why they need to exist.

Emily was pleased to share what this term means.

Sapphic spaces are physical locations where lesbians, bisexual women, trans women, and other sapphic-identifying people can gather and socialize in a space free of the patriarchal dominance of men in queer and “straight” spaces. Space is a political construct that has been dominated by patriarchal standards throughout time. In this city, lesbians have historically always had “space”. Bars such as The Continental, The Rose, and The Pussy Palace, as well as theatre events like “Dyke City” at Buddies and Bad Times. Over time, we have watched these spaces disappear or “rebrand” to have a focus on queer men or a general queer audience for financial gain. Essentially, eliminating a place for queer women, who de-centre men, to have a space where they can feel safe, open, and be allowed to express their sapphic identity, free of the pressures that come with patriarchal expectations.  

This is a lot to take in.

Emily explains further:

“The idea I keep repeating regarding this show is focusing on the ways the past reflects the present. Although Butch/Femme is a historic story, the issues, insecurities, and tensions the characters – Alice and Jenny – face are still incredibly relevant to the present moment.”

What is it that Paterson hopes audiences will leave the theatre once Jenny and Alice’s story has been shared?

Paterson wants audiences to leave with the ability to reflect on how the nuanced aspects of queer identity, space, and relationships explored in Butch/Femme not only connect to their lives but also challenge the biases with which audiences approach these queer histories.

What’s next for Emily once Butch/Femme concludes its TPM run?

She plans to finish the degree and continue to grow as an artist. Pursuing graduate studies in theatre or writing at U of T, Toronto Metropolitan University, or York might also be in the picture. She says working at historic queer companies like Buddies in Bad Times would be a dream come true and a vital part of refining her artistic voice. She’s also had her eye on TPM’s emerging creators unit for a while. Writing for film and TV is also another path she could take to build a foundation as a working writer and share her voice with the world.

She also hopes to inspire up-and-coming young artists in the same way she has been inspired.

Butch/Femme runs September 20-27 at Toronto’s Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson Avenue. To learn more, visit passemuraille.ca.

Headshot credit: Kieran Ramos