Christel Bartelse

Comedy Café has entered its (Catacombs) cabaret era! Join us May 24th at 2PM at Catacombs Cabaret for an afternoon of stand-up, storytelling, sketch, improv, and the particular kind of chaos that happens when a room full of funny women get together on a Saturday afternoon. Hosted by the incomparable Christel Bartelse — performer, storyteller, clown, director, and all-around comedy force. New venue, same Firecracker energy. Come for the laughs, stay for the community! May 24 • 2PM Catacombs Cabaret 478 Queen St W, Toronto Ticket link in bio!

Thanks to this fabulous gang (@melaniedahling @jb.disco @tamara_sundaynightlove ) for sharing wonderful, hilarious stories last night, at Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number. And thanks to those who came out. It’s been a delight to produce & host this show. (Year #2) Taking the “summer” off, from this show, (if summer ever gets here) and will resume the show in Sept. Thanks to all the performers who graced the Age Stage over the past few months. And thank you to the team @theburdockmusichall

Coming up May 7, 8pm @theburdockmusichall Last “AGE” show for the season before the “summer” break. This is sure to be a great show with @jb.disco @tamara_sundaynightlove @melaniedahling sharing comedic stories on the theme of Age. The good, the bad, the past, the future?? If you’ve been curious about this show-May is your month. Tickets @showpassyyz

Five storytellers, each with a wealth of experience in improv, take the stage to share true, personal tales—completely unprepared and off the cuff. What could go wrong? Spontaneous True Tales at #ReplayStoryFest 📍 @theburdockmusichall | 1184 Bloor Street West 📅 Sunday, April 19th, 2026 🕖 Doors open at 5:30pm | Show starts at 6pm 🎟️ Tickets are $20 advance | $25 at door 💻 Live-stream tickets are $20 Get your tickets now! (Link in bio ⤴) Hosted by Christel Bartelse (@cbartelse ) 🎤 Christel Bartelse (@cbartelse ) is a multifaceted performer whose work spans acting, comedy, storytelling, clown, and directing. She's known for creating several solo shows including Chaotica, ONEymoon, and A Woman of my Age. She currently produces and hosts "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number." 🎤 Chantal Lim (@lim.chantal54 ) is a Toronto-based storyteller, improviser, and clown. Since starting Second City's improv program online in 2020, she has performed at festivals all over the world. Her award-winning solo show Ancient Dying Chinese Dialect premiered at Toronto Fringe Festival 2023. 🎤 Sachin Sharma (@a.brown.clown ) is an actor, clown, and improviser passionate about creating art in languages beyond English. He co-founded Hinprov- a multilingual improv troupe with all BIPOC artists. With an MBA and Engineering degree, he is what happens when a business suit runs to join the circus! 🎤 Marcel St-Pierre (@shortweird ) is a comedian, writer, and producer. A founding member and former Artistic Director of Toronto's The Bad Dog Theatre Company, Marcel has performed improv, sketch and stand-up comedy across North America with The Second City National Touring Company. 🎤 Michael Salvatore (@michaelsalvatoreto ) is a storyteller and comedian who blends heartfelt and hilarious. He's the co-producer and host of the Listen to This! storytelling show. #ReplayStoryFest #SpontaneousTrueTales #Storytelling #Improv #Toronto #TheBurdock #TorontoEvents #themoth #storytellingtoronto #replaystorytelling10years #thingstodotoronto #theatreto

Still coming off the whirlwind of Saturday Night @replaystorytelling “Replay Story Fest” where @joanneosully & I, in less than 3 weeks wrote, rehearsed, magically memorized & performed our duo storytelling show, “Between Us”. I loved doing it. Tks to Joanne for saying yes to this proposal. Great to work with you. Tks Replay (@paulaflalo @zebulon_actual @lim.chantal ) for including us in your festival. Also shout out to @outsidethemitch for your insight & notes. And to all who came out. I hope we can do it again. #storytelling #replaystoryfest #burdockmusichall

It's officially the long weekend and we know you are loooonging for some more Firecracker laughs! Join us April 19th for another stacked Comedy Cafe in Toronto! Steph McLarty will be hosting a killer group. We've got Amy Cunningham, Christel Bartelse, Emily Jeffers, Sandra Battaglini, Kayla Lorette, Jillian Welsh and our very own Naomi Snieckus back in town. Dark, deadpan, absurd, physical, storytelling, stand-up—this one covers a lot of ground in the best way. April 19 Doors 1:30 / Show 2PM The Rivoli Tickets available now! Tickets in bio 🎟️

What happens when two veteran storytellers who barely knew each other keep getting invited onto the same stages, and keep telling eerily similar stories from their lives? What began as a bit of side-eye and a quiet "who is that, anyway?" has evolved into a shared story told between them. Between Us at #ReplayStoryFeest 📍 Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West 📅 Saturday, April 11th, 2026 🕖 Doors open at 6:30pm | Show starts at 7pm 🎟️ Tickets are $20 advance | $25 at door 💻 Live-stream tickets are $20 Get your tickets now! (Link in bio ⤴) Between Us brings together two seasoned storytellers and queens of the solo show who, after developing a friendship over the years, compare notes on womanhood, fertility struggles, loss, and life's adventures. Sometimes they agree. Sometimes they don't. It's funny, honest, and just a little bit scrappy—in the best way. 🎤 Christel Bartelse (@cbartelse ) is a multifaceted performer whose work spans acting, comedy, storytelling, clown, directing, writing, and education. She's known for creating several solo shows including Chaotica, ONEymoon, and A Woman of my Age, which have toured across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. Christel produces and hosts the Toronto hit, "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number." 🎤 Joanne O'Sullivan (@joanneosully ) has dedicated her career to either telling stories or helping people tell theirs. Her television writing credits include This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Baroness von Sketch Show, and CBC's From the Vaults. She's written and performed in four solo shows and currently hosts and produces the popular storytelling room The Spit. #ReplayStoryFest #BetweenUs #Storytelling #Toronto #LiveShow #TrueStories #TheBurdock #TorontoEvents #StorytellingTO #SoloShow #WomenInComedy #themoth #storytelligntoronto #replaystorytelling10years #thingstodotoronto #theatreto

Memories from last night’s Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number @burdockbrewery @theburdockmusichall (courtesy of our very own @matthewmclaren8040 ) Y’all want to keep yer eyes peeled for the next one. Featuring: @yawexperience @miss.susan.evelyn and Chris Rosati Hosted by force of human nature, @cbartelse One of our favourite people and performers in the city ❤️ Co-Producer @emilygraves.mov #comedy #theatre #improv #storytelling #aging toronto podcast age burdock

Another fabulous evening at Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number @theburdockmusichall . Thanks to the wonderful audience who came out. Always amazing to meet new people & see old friends. And thank you the performers Chris Rosati, @yawexperience & @miss.susan.evelyn . And thanks @matthewmclaren8040 for the photos. (Book him for your events) Next Show: May 7, 8pm -Hope to see you there!

Coming up, Tuesday!! Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number. A comedy & storytelling show, that hits differently, depending on your Age. I’m hosting these shows bi-monthly now, so after a sold out January, we are back for March. Doors 7:30, Show 8pm A fabulous line-up featuring @yawexperience @miss.susan.evelyn & Chris Rosati Tixs @showpassyyz #comedy #storytelling #burdockmusichall

Through the thick of this Winter, I had the absolute pleasure to trek to rehearsals @torontofilmschool and work on this Play with the incredible Term 5’s. I never got tired of it, i never took it for granted, I loved digging into the work, directing this, playing and laughing, and really pushing this group, and the best outcome is seeing how far these actors grew through our process. And now, they are ready for tonight. For some, this is their first time on Stage, and so rewarding and exciting to watch. Show is on for 3 nights, & it’s Free. Come check it out. The 5W’s-this group of Jurors, are ready for deliberation. Special thanks to @hartoftheannex for the opportunity, @hello.rxmeo for your awesome SM skills & Alumni @admiral_iddy for jumping in as our Guard. #torontofilmschool #livetheatre

Such a fabulous afternoon celebrating Phenomenal Women @firecrackerdept Comedy Cafe, at our new venue @rivolitoronto . Everyone was incredible. So many laughs!! Incredible packed crowd. Tks @funnystephmclarty @snieckus @briewats0n @alolabrowne @tashonyourscreen @cleverusername119 @funnymarthachaves @valeriesboyle #internationalwomensday