PlayMe is a Canadian original audio drama program and theatre podcast produced by the digital division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).[1] It is hosted and produced by Chris Tolley and Laura Mullin, who are artistic directors of Expect Theatre.[2]

PlayMe
Presentation
Hosted byChris Tolley
Laura Mullin
GenreAudio drama
LanguageEnglish
Production
Audio formatMP3
Publication
Original release2016
ProviderCBC Podcasts

The program produces audio adaptations of recent Canadian stage dramas.[3] It is broadcast as a podcast on CBC Radio 1 and SiriusXM Satellite.[4] The podcast has been downloaded in more than ninety countries.[2]

History

edit

It was started as an independent program in 2016 by Chris Tolley and Laura Mullin to extend theatre's reach.[3][2]

In late 2018, it was licensed with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and later it has been distributed as a CBC Podcast, increasing its reach.[4][5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when all the theaters were closed down, the popularity of the program increased.[4]

The series was first broadcast in as a regular program in the fall of 2021 on CBC Radio 1 as part of its Sunday night lineup of narrative radio programs.[6]

Awards

edit
  • Webby Honoree by the International Academy of Arts and Sciences[6]
  • Gold Medal for Audio Drama at the 2020 New York Festival's Radio Award[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ "The Quarantine Chronicles are like bedtime stories for bizarre times | CBC Radio".
  2. ^ a b c Fricker, Karen (April 3, 2018). "The play's the thing … you listen to on a podcast". Toronto Star.
  3. ^ a b Taylor, Kate (December 27, 2017). "PlayMe podcast brings Canadian theatre to your earbuds". The Globe and Mail.
  4. ^ a b c Nestruck, J. Kelly (March 17, 2020). "Canadian plays and productions you can watch or listen to while housebound this week". The Globe and Mail.
  5. ^ "Fiction podcasts are giving new form to the old art of the radio drama | CBC News".
  6. ^ a b "Laura Mullin & Chris Tolley - CBC Media Centre".
  7. ^ "New York Festivals".
edit