Factory Theatre, Theatre venue in Toronto, Canada

Factory Theatre occupies a heritage complex at Bathurst and Adelaide streets in Toronto, made up of an 1869 Queen Anne Gothic house built for merchant John Mulvey and a larger 1910 addition by J.M. Cowan. The house has an asymmetrical facade, irregular gabled roof, buff brickwork with stone sills and a Gothic arch entry; the addition faces Adelaide Street with a central oriel window and two arched entrances. Its church hall, arranged theatre-style with an overhanging balcony, is still in use.

The theatre was founded in 1970 with the specific aim of giving Canadian playwrights a dedicated stage. Over the following decades, it became one of the key addresses for new theatre writing in the country.

Factory Theatre took its name from its founding as the Factory Theatre Lab in 1970, and it was the first company to announce it would produce only Canadian plays, a policy soon copied by other theatres. It became known as the home of the Canadian playwright, closely tied to George F. Walker, most of whose plays premiered here. The building had earlier served as a residence, a manse and a daycare before the theatre moved in in 1983.

The theatre sits in the west part of downtown Toronto and is easy to reach by public transit. The venue is set up for accessibility, and the staff at the door are available to help with any questions before or during your visit.

The studio space at the theatre serves as both a rehearsal room and a performance venue, so new works can be tested in front of a live audience. This means visitors sometimes catch a piece that is still being shaped.