About Spicy Day
“Spicy Day theatre company manages to take the audience on such an unexpected journey that is simultaneously fun and yet incredibly poignant.“ – New Ottawa Critics
Described as “two local female performers who have a very strong and defined perspective” (New Ottawa Critics), and “side-splittingly funny” (Apt613), award-winning theatre company Spicy Day has been creating new, critically-acclaimed productions since 2016.
We're committed to creating new, interactive work that sparks conversation and unites audiences in laughter, togetherness, and shared unique experience.
From our debut production In Waking Life, a partially-improvised comedy about two kooky psychic sisters, to The Brotherhood which tackles sexism within the guise of a magic show, to the honest and empowering A Period Piece, we love to find new and engaging ways to tell stories that need to be told.
Originally from Ottawa ON, MONICA BRADFORD-LEA (she/her) is a Toronto-based playwright, actor, and producer. With diverse training in clown, puppetry, and Shakespeare, she is passionate about uniting audiences through laughter, while provoking conversation about society and identity.
She is co-founder of Spicy Day theatre company, with which she has created, performed, and toured original plays since 2016.
Monica was nominated for the 2019 Prix Rideau Award for Emerging Artist, and two of her plays were both nominated for “Outstanding New Work” that same year. In addition to her work with Spicy Day, she is an experienced arts marketer, having worked 8+ years in marketing at Canada’s National Arts Centre. She is currently working in marketing & development at Tarragon Theatre. Monica is also known for her critically-acclaimed solo horse girl clown play, Beth-Anne.
LAUREN WELCHNER (she/her) is an award-winning Toronto-based actor, playwright, and producer. Having studied musical theatre at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, she loves to incorporate many theatrical disciplines into the work she creates. A co-founder of Spicy Day, she is passionate about creating work that means something with humour and heart.
Outside of her theatre work, Lauren is co-founder and manager of Toronto events company Popscotch Events. @popscotch.events
Recent credits include: Producer (world premier of Inge[new] - In search of a musical), Artistic Producer of Summer Ensemble (Crane Creations, 2022), A Period Piece (Spicy Day, TACTICS MainStage Series), The Brotherhood (Spicy Day - Toronto workshop), In Waking Life (Spicy Day, Summer Theatre Smiths Falls).
Why are we called Spicy Day?
Güüd quvestian! In August 2017 we toured In Waking Life to the Victoria Fringe festival. It became a routine that every other day we would shower and wear lipstick, and “just feel a little spicy” that day. This brings us joy and here we are. Here’s to feeling spicy every day.