Theatre Collingwood presents Telling Tales: Collingwood’s Day of Storytelling on Sept. 28, a one-of-a- kind golden ticket for the community to indulge in a day packed with captivating stories, laughter, and a sprinkle of friendly competition.
There are three components to the event:
• Family Fun at the Public Library from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Bring the kids (and your inner child) for 90 minutes of delightful tales that will transport you to worlds of imagination. Perfect for the young and the young at heart.
• Share Your Story at Simcoe Street Theatre Lobby from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Ever thought about sharing your own story? This interactive workshop is your chance! Learn the art of storytelling in a cozy, supportive environment. Admission costs $20.
• Collingwood Invitational Story Slam at Simcoe Street Theatre from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Watch as up to 10 master storytellers go head- to-head in a thrilling six-minute tale showdown. With judges and the audience casting their votes, who will emerge as the ultimate storytelling champion? Stick around for the featured act, the incomparable Ali Hassan, and witness the crowning of the victor.
Hassan is a comedian, actor, author and broadcaster who has performed for audiences across Canada, in the United States and internationally.
He is the host of the hit stand-up comedy radio show Laugh Out Loud, which airs on CBC Radio and SiriusXM, and for the past eight years, he has been the host of Canada Reads.
Hassan has performed at the Just For Laughs festivals in Montreal and Toronto. He has also toured across Canada as one of the stars of Just For Laughs Comedy Night In Canada tour. A Canadian Screen Award and Canadian Comedy Award nominee, Hassan has toured his solo show Muslim Interrupted around Canada to great acclaim. He has taken the show to Scotland to perform at the world’s largest comedy festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
He recently began touring his latest one-man show, based on his decade in the food industry, Does This Taste Funny? In 2024, he performed as part of NPR’s The Moth storytelling series in Cincinnati and will rejoin the series again in Chicago in December. His comedic memoir Is There Bacon in Heaven? was released in 2022 with Simon and Schuster and was described by Rick Mercer as “perhaps the funniest and most heartfelt Canadian memoir yet.”
Tickets are available at TheatreCollingwood.ca.