The 2023 International Live Journalism Festival is the second-ever annual event produced by a consortium of live journalism organizations and researchers and presented for the first time in Toronto at the Toronto Metropolitan University’s Creative School.
The second annual live journalism gathering builds on the exciting energy created by its predecessor in May 2022 in Helsinki, Finland, bringing together the latest in research about this innovative form of live storytelling. Attendees can partake in incubators, listen to panels, and watch live journalism performances.
Live Journalism takes stories about how we live and the issues that affect us and brings them to life through immersive, live performance. It’s an expansion on traditional storytelling formats without the constraint of a page or a soundbite. The format engages audiences on meaningful news stories with the depth and emotional nuance of live theatre.
Learn more here.
The festival is taking place on Thursday, September 28 and Friday, September 29, 2023.
Panels and activities at the festival will take place at two venues on the Toronto Metropolitan University campus, both within walking distance from one another. The addresses are as follows:
HQ at The Creative School Innovation Studio
Toronto Metropolitan University
110 Bond St.
Toronto, ON
M5B 1X8
The Catalyst at Rogers Communication Centre
Toronto Metropolitan University
80 Gould St.
Toronto, ON
M5B 2M7
The shows will take place at two venues, off site. The addresses are as follows:
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
12 Alexander St.
Toronto, ON
M4Y 1B4
918 Bathurst
918 Bathurst St.
Toronto, ON
M5R 3G5
Tickets for the festival can be bought in-advance via the Toronto Metropolitan University Events and Payment Portal. Ticket buyers will require a credit card to purchase online.
All tickets and passes are available via the Toronto Metropolitan University Events and Payment Portal. Attendees can choose to purchase a single day pass for September 28 or September 29 or a two-day pass for both days of the festival. A single show ticket for the Climate Cocoon performance is also available.
A ticket to the 2023 International Live Journalism Festival will give you access to all panels, activities, and performances! Select events require an application to participate in, but there is no extra cost.
Yes, you can purchase tickets on-site during the event by visiting our registration desk in the foyer of the Rogers Communication Centre (80 Gould St.). The desk opens at 8:30 A.M. on September 28. We can accept cash, debit, or credit card.
Student tickets are $20 and can be bought in-advance via the Toronto Metropolitan University Events and Payment Portal. If you are unable to purchase tickets at the price points provided, please send an email to stitched@torontomu.ca.
Yes, there is an option to purchase tickets for individual performances at the doors of each show. Tickets will be $20 each and can be purchased with cash, debit, or credit card. Tickets for the Climate Cocoon show are available to purchase online now.
This option is not available for festival panels or activities. A full festival pass will give you full access to all panels, activities, and performances.
All tickets are final sale. If the event is cancelled entirely, ticketholders will be issued a refund.
Festival attendees are encouraged to check in at our registration desk in the foyer of the Rogers Communication Centre (80 Gould St.). Attendees who purchased a two-day pass will receive a wristband when they check in. The desk opens at 8:30 A.M. each day of the festival. Please give yourself enough time to check in before heading to your first event of the day.
A detailed schedule of events can be found here.
Attendees can travel to the festival by car, transit, or foot.
Please refer to our Your Visit page for the best directions to get to each of the event venues.
There are four parking lots open to the public at Toronto Metropolitan University, all within walking distance from the festival venues. Please read TMU’s Public Parking Locations & Rates page for more information.
Light snacks and refreshments will be available at select events. Attendees are encouraged to explore the variety of food and beverage options surrounding the festival venues in the heart of Downtown Toronto.
Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to providing accessible spaces. All campus venues for the festival have elevators and accessible washrooms. More university accessibility information can be found on their website.
Doors for shows at 918 Bathurst will open exclusively for those with accessibility needs between 6:30-7:00 p.m.
If you have any specific accommodation requirements, please contact stitched@torontomu.ca by September 10, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST. We will do our best to accommodate requests sent in by this date.
Please note that this is not a relaxed event and performances may discuss difficult or triggering topics.
Everybody is welcome to attend the 2023 International Live Journalism Festival! There are a variety of events which will appeal to current live journalism practitioners, other journalists, news buffs, theatre lovers, students, and curious minds. Some specific events require applications to be filled out in advance in order to attend. Please refer to the event schedule to find the event that is right for you.
Unless otherwise notified, we recommend putting your phones on silent and abstaining from chatting during performances. There is no formal dress code for this event.
The 2023 International Live Journalism Festival is acting in accordance with Toronto Metropolitan University’s latest COVID policy. Masks are recommended, but are not mandated. Disposable face masks and hand sanitizer will be available at the registration desk in the foyer of the Rogers Communication Centre (80 Gould St.) and within each event space. If you have any specific needs that are not addressed here, please contact stitched@torontomu.ca
For all other inquiries, please send an email to stitched@torontomu.ca.