About

True Stories (Told Live) Toronto is a simple idea. A bunch of people having a drink in a back room in West Toronto (or, during the lockdown, their own rooms, but online), listening to other people telling true stories.

It’s not comedy, though it’s allowed to be funny. It’s not educational, but you might learn something. It’s not musical, but, each show, we include a story-telling musician.

There’s no theme each month. The only rules are that the story must be:

• true
• about you
• told without notes
• 10 minutes long

The storytellers are chosen ahead of time by Marsha. If you think you’d like to tell a story – even if you’ve never done anything like this before – she’d love to hear from you. The two requirements are (1) that you’ve been to at least one True Stories Told Live show, and (2) that you’re willing to sit down with Marsha for a couple of hours in advance of the show (which she does with every single storyteller).

You can find out more about the process here: https://truestoriestoronto.com/tell

The show happens four times a year, on various months at The Garrison, Dundas St West, just West of Ossington Ave – see the NEWS PAGE for details, by clicking here. If you want to keep abreast of when the shows are, you can join the (twice monthly at most) newsletter by clicking HERE.

Next shows: For details of when the next show is, please check the news page, or click here to sign up to our very infrequent mailing list.

Want to hear about the shows before they happen?

Sign up to our twice-ish monthly (often less) updates by clicking here!

Please visit our Facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/truestoriestoronto

“Toronto’s best storytelling show. Still haven’t been to True Stories? DO IT”

– She Does The City

“True Stories… is like The Moth for Toronto…A welcoming and fulfilling social alternative to the bar scene, TST offers connections without great risk or required intoxication. Just show up, and listen. Or, maybe eventually, share” 

– BlogTO, Toronto  

“Like a hit of dopamine…it felt like I had won the lottery”

– Toronto Star

“Sitting in The Garrison for TST feels less like a performance and more like an intimate gathering of friends…TST is only getting bigger”
– The Varsity

“Funny, heartwarming, and endearing ”
– Noteable.ca

It’s organised, curated and hosted by Marsha from YesYesMarsha.com. If you want to find out more about her – and how she coaches storytellers, along with showing closet introverts how to take the ick out of networking, have a look at her website here: http://www.yesyesmarsha.com

For more details, see the news page. Again, if you’re interested in telling a story, go here.

Thanks to David Hepworth, Kerry Shale, Meg Rosoff  and Kate Bland for the original concept and name, and to David for some of the words above.