What is a
Poetry Brothel?
This fantastical cabaret - with a cheeky literary twist - invites poets and patrons alike to come out and play in a safe space of surrender, imagination, and abandon. It is a theatre show, a poetry reading, a cabaret - and an opportunity to explore your alter ego all in one!
Poets perform in costume, in a character of their own choosing and creation, that aligns both with the content and energy of their work and the theme of the specific Brothel event.
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What makes it a "Brothel?"
Private readings!
Every onstage poet is available for a backroom private reading.
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When Patrons (affectionately Janes, Johns, and Joes) see a poet onstage who intrigues them and with whom they would like to spend more time, they can purchase a poker chip from the Madame or one of her affiliates.
Upon presenting this poker chip to the poet, the poet will guide their Patron into the "Whisper Room, a separate space from the main stage, and deliver a personal and private poetry performance.
At the end of the night, the poet trades their chips back to the house and receives 100% of the value of collected poker chips... So through private readings Poets make money and Poets and Patrons make beautiful connections.
Origin Story
The Poetry Brothel was conceived and first produced in association with the Poetry Society of New York, and now has chapters all over the world! Brought to Toronto by Actor and interdisciplinary artist Brendee Green, our local immersive literary cabaret is a full immersive experience. We invite YOU to join us at our next event!
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Each event boasts its own theme - no two Poetry Brothel events are alike! Meticulously curated and crafted by the Brothel's Madame, Titania, the Poetry Brothel Toronto's events offer attendees a thoroughly immersive experience. Patrons and Poets alike are invited to explore their alter-egos, making new friends, and experience the intimacy of private poetry reading experiences from our diverse lineup of poets, musicians, and performers.
Join us at our next event for an unforgettable journey of the senses and community connection.
About the Poetry Brothel Toronto
It’s theatrical. It’s literary. It’s sexy.
Performance, literature, music, and intimacy intersect at Poetry Brothel events, whisking audiences into unique experiences of Poetry and Variety Acts. Poets perform in characters of their own creation, which serve as dramatised personifications of their poetry, or, for our purposes "poetry whores," available between onstage performances, for private readings in an atmospheric setting reminiscent of a vintage brothel.
These events blur the lines between reality and fantasy, engaging the audience in a poetic cabaret that's as intellectually stimulating as it is sensually evocative.
The Poetry Brothel Toronto is hosted by the effervescent Madame Titania, and is part of a vibrant and immersive global network of Poetry Brothels, which are produced in association with the Poetry Society of New York. The Poetry Brothel network spans across cities worldwide, from New York to Paris, creating spaces where poetry, art, and performance intersect. Each event is an invitation to explore the rich and varied world of poetry, making it accessible and enticing to both seasoned enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike.
Whether you're attending a Poetry Brothel event in Toronto or another city, you're stepping into a global community united by a shared passion for the arts, storytelling, and intimate, transformative experiences.
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Want to see what PBTo has been up to? Check out our Past Productions!