Open Heart Surgery Theatre

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Toronto, ON
Open Heart Surgery Theatre

An international theatre ensemble based in Toronto and the UK; we delight in work that opens the heart and speaks about relevant material.

Open Heart Surgery Theatre is an international theatre ensemble based in Toronto and the UK, led by Coleen MacPherson. We comprise of a mixture of performers including Lecoq-trained theatre makers and are interested in bending borders and experimenting with form and style. We have toured work to the UK, France, Poland, Egypt and USA. Recently the company toured This Is Why We Live to La MaMa (NYC)

as part of their 58th season. A film-play of Erased was part of Experiments at La MaMa in July 2020, a piece all shot on soom. We are making a podcast called Wild Women, that recently had a pilot launched on Apple Podcasts (CBC/ Canada Council Digital Original). Look out for the Buzz Festival at Theatre Passe Muraille this August, where we develop the play Erased.

05/04/2026

Erased performed at the Heidelberger Stückemarkt
This invitation to Open Heart Surgery Theatre was a unique gift for us to perform the show a second time, to invite new performers to invest in new discoveries and to bring our 17 person team to Germany to share this work in Europe! We are so grateful to the whole team at the Heidelberger Stückemarkt for welcoming us, celebrating us and creating a unique cross cultural dialogue about art and theatre across the ocean! We can’t wait until we meet again!

05/03/2026

Today is the day we share Erased with German audiences at the Heidelberger Stückemarkt!

It wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible supporters including our donors. A million thanks ✨💚

We look forward to sharing our highlights in the coming days.

05/02/2026

Erased in Heidelberg so far ✨

and the entire Heidelberger Stückemarkt team have welcome us with such open arms. We can not wait to share this story with audiences on May 3rd at 4pm at the Zwinger Theatre.

It’s not too late to donate to our go fund me. We are still feeling the loss of not getting our CCA grant so anything you can send our way would mean the world to us and support what we are doing here in Germany. Donate via the link in bio.

Set and Lighting Design by Nick Blais

Pictured Coleen MacPherson, Emma Ly, Jobina Sitoh 司徒加恩, Miranda Calderon, Annika Tupper, Tara Mohan, and Richard Feren

✨✈️🎭🇩🇪

04/27/2026

We are heading out to Germany to present Erased as part of the Heidelberger Stückemarkt. We will perform on Sunday May 3rd at 4pm! Zwinger 1

Thank you to all our donors through and to York University for all your support for our tour!

Look at this team 🔥 🔥 🔥

🇨🇦🇩🇪

04/22/2026

Rehearsal is underway! 🚨

The Erased team has been up on their feet since Monday getting the show back into their bodies and minds. We can’t wait to share this with German audiences on May 3 in Heidelberg!

Please consider donating to the gofund me linked in our bio to help us get there.

Pictured are Coleen MacPherson, Alix Sideris, Tara Mohan, Zina Ahmed, Dylan Carter, Jenna Geen, Melissa Kiley, Emma Ly, Zoe Magirias, Jobina Sitoh, Annika Tupper, Ericka Leobrera, Miranda Calderon, and Nancy McAlear.

04/04/2026

Erased written and directed by Coleen Shirin MacPherson, was chosen as one of three Canadian productions to be part of the international portion of the Heidelberger Stückemarkt in Heidelberg, Germany this May 2026. We are very excited by this opportunity as this is Germany's largest new play festival and Canada is the guest country this year.

Here we are on the program of our incredible team: https://www.theaterheidelberg.de/en/produktionen/20923-erased
The play is sold out. Exciting!

Here’s Coleen speaking about how we’re heading out to the Heidelberger Stückemarkt in 4 weeks and we need your help to get there.

Last weekend we learned we did not receive the Canada Council for the Arts funding we applied for. We are in need of $10k to cover the gap.

Please consider donating to our gofund me via the link in our bio to help close the gap! Any little bit helps, even sharing this video to help spread the word.

To donate or find out more: https://gofund.me/7b5aa25d8

CREDITS
Archival of Erased (2024): Ulla Laidlaw
Actors featured in the archival: Sochi Fried, Kat Khan, Rose Tuong, Nancy McAlear, Melissa Kiley, Dylan Carter, Zoe Magirias, Zina Ahmed, Jenna Geen, Emma Ly, Jobina Sitoh 司徒加恩

03/26/2026

Look at this talent! These actorswill be featured in Erased, touring to the Heidelberger Stückemarkt in Germany, performing May 4. 🔥

We’ll be introducing the rest of the amazing Erased cast over the next few days here. 🤓

To help get these four talented actors to Germany, along with the 13 other team members, consider donating to our gofund me. Link in bio 💵

03/17/2026

ERASED has been invited to attend the prestigious Heidelberger Stückemarkt in Heidelberg, Germany this May 2026!

But we need your help to make this happen! 11 performers, 2 directors, 2 designers, 1 producer and 1 stage manager are flying out and any donation you can make can help us get there.

Thank you to all who have donated to us, we are giddy with excitement because we have hit 50% of our initial goal of $3500. Help us reach this goal!

Visit our GoFundMe to learn more about Open Heart Surgery Theatre and Heidelberger Stückemarkt and DONATE.

Any little bit helps and even if you just reshare this post, it can have a huge impact!

Click the link in my bio to donate or click here to help make this amazing experience happen: https://gofund.me/a0e666808

Erased
Written and Directed by Coleen Shirin MacPherson
Movement Director Alix Sideris
Set, Props and Lighting Design by Nick Blais
Costume Design by Jung A Im
Sound Design by Richard Feren
Composer and Musical Director Amy Nostbakken
Stage Manager Tara Mohan
Producer and Tour Manager Lisa Alves

Performed by Nancy McAlear, Annika Tupper, Miranda Calderon & Ericka Leobrera

The Disappeared: Zina Ahmed, Dylan Carter, jenna geen, Melissa Kiley, Emma Ly, Zoe Magirias & Jobina Sitoh 司徒加恩

Open Heart Surgery Theatre 💐

photo: Henry Chan

Our performers for our original production include Sochi Fried, Kat Kahn and Rose Tuong whose work is embedded in this play

Erased was originally produced by Open Heart Surgery Theatre, Ulla Laidlaw in partnership with Theatre Passe Muraille where it had its premiere in November 2024 and support for the development of the play.

Coleen Shirin MacPherson

03/11/2026

We're bringing ERASED to Germany and we need your help! ✈️

ERASED has been invited to the prestigious Heidelberger Stückemarkt in Heidelberg, Germany this May 2026!

11 performers, 2 directors, 2 designers, 1 producer and 1 stage manager are heading out to Germany!

With the precarious nature of our funding structures and the long wait times for Canada Council for the Arts Touring funding, we find ourselves in a tricky position. This tour will benefit our 17-person team immensely, and sharing our work in Europe is not only a dream come true but an incredible opportunity to grow and expand artistically.

Please donate and share our fundraiser to help us out! Anything you can spare is monumental for us!

With each donation you will receive a cheeky postcard from us in Germany!

GoFundMe Link below:
https://www.gofundme.com/manage/erased-get-to-germany

12/08/2025

We have exciting news! Can’t wait to share!

Address

Hepbourne
Toronto, ON

Website

http://www.openheartsurgerytheatre.com/

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