Featured image: Header image from the official Lynn Slotkin website.
Those of us who love community theatre in the Durham Region are often, by nature, theatre
lovers in the fullest sense. We delight in the energy of volunteer-driven productions close to
home—but many of us also venture west, drawn by the depth and range of professional
theatre available in Toronto.
With so many stages, companies, and productions to choose from, a familiar question arises:
What should I see? And just as importantly, who can I trust to help me decide?
For decades, that answer has been Lynn Slotkin and The Slotkin Letter.
A Voice Built on Knowledge, Care, and Consistency
Known affectionately—and respectfully—as The Slotkin Letter, Lynn Slotkin’s writing has long been a steady, independent voice in Canadian theatre. Her reviews and commentary focus on professional productions, offering informed, fair-minded analysis that respects both the artists onstage and the audience in the seats.
The Letter is free, unbiased, and thoughtful—qualities that feel increasingly rare in an era of sound bites and reaction-driven commentary. Lynn does not write to tear the theatre down, nor to offer easy praise. She writes to engage: to contextualize, to question, and to help us think more deeply about what we are seeing.
Importantly, The Slotkin Letter does not review amateur or community theatre, and neither does Durham’s Community Stage. This is not a judgment; it is a recognition of two different ecosystems.
The foundation of community theatre lies in volunteering, inclusion, learning, and the shared joy of working together. It thrives when nurtured, not critiqued. Professional theatre, on the other hand, benefits from informed critical reflection—and Lynn Slotkin has spent decades offering exactly that.
More Than Reviews: Advocacy Through Presence
Lynn’s advocacy for theatre goes beyond the written word. It is evident in her commitment—being present, attentive, and writing responsibly for the art form’s future.
Her work often includes insightful coverage of Indigenous productions, alongside broader commentary on the health and direction of Canadian theatre. In a cultural climate where the arts can feel increasingly fragile or disposable, her voice reminds us that theatre still matters—and that thoughtful engagement is a form of support in itself.
As Lynn has written:
“We have to keep showing up. Critics, audiences, artists—if we want theatre to survive, we all have to stay in the room. I write because I care deeply, and because I believe in the power of theatre to challenge, connect, and change us.”
These are not the words of a gatekeeper. They are the words of a gardener, someone helping to keep the landscape alive, resilient, and prosperous.
A Natural Fit for Durham Theatre Audiences
For those of us who attend local productions and travel to Toronto for professional work, The Slotkin Letter is a natural companion. It helps us choose wisely, see more deeply, and stay connected to the larger theatrical conversation happening across our province and country.
Recently, I also had the pleasure of registering for Lynn Slotkin’s lecture series, Setting the Scene: The Roots of Toronto Theatre, hosted by Miles Nadal JCC. Her research and insights were a poignant reminder of how theatre in Toronto has evolved—and why preserving its legacy matters.
The series also brought back memories of studying with early pioneers of Toronto theatre at York University, including Mavor Moore, Malcolm Black, and Jeff Henry. Those threads—past and present, community and professional—are all part of the same theatrical tapestry.
Visit The Greenroom
To make this resource easy to find, I have highlighted The Slotkin Letter in The Greenroom here on The Trouper. If you love theatre, are curious about what is happening on professional stages in Toronto, and value informed, independent perspectives, this is a voice worth hearing.
You can also visit The Slotkin Letter directly via the link included here, and I encourage you to explore it regularly—it is a valuable window into the depth, diversity, and ongoing life of Canadian theatre.
Community theatre may be where many of us make theatre. Professional theatre is often where we reflect on it. Both matter. Both deserve care. And voices like Lynn Slotkin’s help keep us all—artists, audiences, and advocates—firmly in the room.