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Globe Theatre opened its doors this week for a preview of a new political satire and to showcase its newly renovated downtown space.
“It’s incredible to walk into a place that so many people dedicated so much time and energy to build,” said artistic director Jennifer Brewin. “There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and to have a place where we can gather and have a good time, it’s pretty great.”
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The excerpt screened for reporters came from playwright Michael Healey’s The Master Plan, which revisits the failed attempt by Google affiliate Sidewalk Labs to turn Toronto’s waterfront to a “smart city” by incorporating advanced technology into the neighbourhood.
Jayden Pfeifer acts out a city hall scene during a media preview of The Master Plan at Globe Theatre on Oct. 2, 2025. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
The drama, which combines comedy and commentary, examines the intersection of technology, corporate ambition and bureaucracy in Canada’s largest city.
In one scene, actors portrayed a city council meeting, where councillors were zoned in on a debate around whether or not a homeowner should be allowed to cut down a single tree.
“Toronto, a city of three million residents and five million trees, drops everything it’s doing and debates the existence of a single tree,” an actor declared.
Globe Theatre artistic director Jennifer Brewin is seen in a studio portrait ahead of the company’s reopening season, featuring The Master Plan. (Globe Theatre/Submitted)
Brewin said the show’s humour and civic focus make it a fitting choice to reopen the Globe after the theatre’s lengthy closure for construction.
“The Master Plan is about megaprojects and people trying to make life a little better, but there are consequences and holes in the process,” she said.
“It connects directly to conversations we’re having here in Regina about our own downtown.”
Actor Lisa Bayliss stands inside Globe Theatre during a media preview for The Master Plan on Oct. 2, 2025. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME
Actor Lisa Bayliss, who plays nine different characters in the production, said the satire captures the contradictions of Canadian cities and their politics.
“We all have opinions about Toronto here in the west, but we also really love to laugh at Toronto,” Bayliss said. “This play gives us plenty of opportunities to do that.”
Bayliss said The Master Plan balances humour with reflection, showing how people everywhere wrestle with questions of growth, governance and sustainability.
“We’re all interested in what our cities look like, how safe and affordable and sustainable our communities can be,” she said. “These issues are universal. Regardless of where we live, it’s a conversation we’re all having.”
Globe Theatre’s reimagined in-the-round performance space is shown during setup for The Master Plan. (Globe Theatre/Submitted)
The Globe’s renovation project added modern technical upgrades and seating for up to 408 people in the round, while also preserving the historic character of the Prince Edward Building. Brewin said the redesign brings audiences closer together, both physically and emotionally.
“Theatre lets us sit beside people we don’t know,” she said. “When we share something, even just a good laugh, we trust each other a little more.”
The Master Plan officially opens on Friday, and runs through Oct. 19.
Tickets are available online and at the Globe Theatre box office.
