radiant vermin
by philip ridley
november 12-22nd 2026
Ollie and Jill want to tell you about their dream home. Some of the things they did to get it, you might find shocking. But they want you to know they did it all baby…
“Radiant Vermin asks uncomfortable questions about the value we place on property, who we believe deserves a home, and how easily we can distance ourselves from our unhoused neighbours. At a time when housing affordability, homelessness, and the rising cost of living are affecting so many people in our city, Radiant Vermin allows us to laugh, feel uncomfortable, and ultimately look more closely at the world we have created around us. As the director, I’m excited to bring this challenging and darkly comic play to Toronto audiences with a small group of exceptional artists.”
Radiant Vermin is a wickedly comedic satire about a young couple who are offered a way onto the property ladder that may turn out to be too good to be true. Through a whirlwind retelling of everything they’ve done to get their dream home, Ollie and Jill show us just how far we might go to build a better life for ourselves. Playful, provocative, and viciously sharp, this outrageous dark comedy comments on the housing crisis, homelessness, and what it really takes to support a family in today’s world. It will leave Toronto audiences shocked, thrilled, and feeling a little more connected to everyone who calls this city home.
Toronto’s Sebastian Biasucci directs this production. Sebastian is currently an Associate Member of The Howland Company, where he helps lead the Howland Reading Group, where he first came across Radiant Vermin. He has also held assistant directing positions with prolific Canadian directors like Weyni Mengesha and Richard Rose.
This three-hander is helmed by Canadian theatre icon Lisa Horner (Mirvish, Shaw Festival, Stratford Festival), Riot King company member Katherine Cappellacci (Young People’s Theatre, 4th Line Theatre, Tweed & Company Theatre), and Toronto newcomer Ziye Hu (Stratford Festival, Mirvish, Tweed & Company Theatre).
The creative team also includes stage manager Zahra Esmail (Canadian Opera Company, Small but Mighty, A Moment for Frayed Nerves TO Fringe), lighting design by Toronto & New York City based Natasha Rotondaro (Global Forms Festival, Second Avenue Dance Company, NYU Tisch), set and costume design by Amelia Mielke-O’Grady (Talk is Free Theatre, Nightwood Theatre, Crow’s Theatre), and sound design by Zach Parsons (Tottering Biped, Assembly Theatre, One For One Productions). Rounding out the production team are Riot King company members Brendan Kinnon and Lindsey Middleton.
creative team
sebastian biasucci
director
Sebastian Biasucci (he/him) is a Toronto-based actor, producer and director. A graduate of TMU's Performance Acting Program, Sebastian has worked with Good Old Neon, Panoply Productions, Hart House Theatre and Rock Bottom Movement.
As an Associate Member of the Howland Company he has been a Shadow Director on The Welkin, Associate Producer on Prodigal and Marketing Manager for Entrances & Exits. Most recently he produced a production of Hannah Moscovitch's The Children's Republic with Richard Rose, Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company and Koffler Arts.
Sebastian is thrilled to be directing Riot King's upcoming production of Radiant Vermin. He's wanted to work on this show since being introduced to it and one of Howland's reading groups and is grateful for the opportunity to be part of this stellar team bringing it to life.
zarah esmail
STAGE MANAGEMENT
zach parsons
SOUND DESIGN
lindsey middleton
PRODUCER
amelia mielke-O’grady
SET/COSTUME DESIGN
natasha rotondaro
LIGHTING DESIGN
brendan kinnon
PRODUCTION MANAGER