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Tom Patterson Theatre
May 10 – September 28 |
Opens May 29
Shakespeare

CYMBELINE


By William Shakespeare

Directed by Esther Jun


“BOLDNESS BE MY FRIEND: ARM ME AUDACITY FROM HEAD TO FOOT!” 

Forbidden love. Familial strife. Political intrigue. In Cymbeline, the final play from Shakespeare’s First Folio, the playwright fuses romance, comedy and tragedy to create a unique fantasia brimming with mistaken identities and gender-swapping disguises. Set in an ancient British kingdom, the story introduces Imogen, one of Shakespeare’s most beloved heroines, as well as the dastardly Iachimo, a worthy contender for all-time greatest villain. 



Production support is generously provided by The Westaway Charitable Foundation.

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CAST & CREATIVE

    Portrait of Allison Edwards-Crewe
    Allison Edwards-Crewe
    Imogen
    2024: Imogen in Cymbeline, Crispin in The Diviners and understudy in Hedda Gabler. Third season. Stratford: Jo March in Little Women, Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, Diana in All's Well That Ends Well, Pierrette in Les Belles-Soeurs. Elsewhere: Serving Elizabeth (WCT); The Color Purple (Citadel and MTC); School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (Obsidian and Nightwood); How Black Mothers Say I Love You (Factory Theatre); Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Citadel); Girls Like That (Tarragon); 'Da Kink in My Hair (Theatre Calgary and NAC); Dreamgirls (Grand Theatre). Film/TV: The Handmaid's Tale (MGM/Hulu), Surviving Evil (Cineflix), Black Actress (JungleWild). Audio Drama: Every…Every Day (Factory Theatre), Liming (Expect Theatre). Training: Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance - Sheridan College. Awards: Dora and Toronto Critics Award for School Girls.... Et cetera: Immense gratitude to my amazing family, friends and Monika Thomas for their ENDLESS love and support. @alllisonec.


     

    Portrait of Lucy Peacock
    Lucy Peacock
    Cymbeline
    2024: Cymbeline in Cymbeline and Stevie in The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? 37th season. Stratford: Recipient of the 2023 Stratford Festival Legacy Award. Over 80 productions including Ophelia, Rosalind, Viola, Portia, Desdemona, Lady Macbeth, Titania, Beatrice, Gwendolyn, Helena, Duchess of Malfi, Masha, Mary Stuart, Volumnia, Queen Elizabeth, and Satan. Also: Three Tall Women, All My Sons, Private Lives, Hello, Dolly!, The King and I, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, Les Belles-Soeurs, The Blonde, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead and Late Night with Lucy. Training: The National Theatre School and the grace and wisdom of all the extraordinary artists, colleagues and conspirators over the years. Et cetera: I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to journey through these stories and Forever Blessed by the Real Story, my husband Christopher and our Harri and Ben.
    Portrait of Jonathan Goad
    Jonathan Goad
    Belarius

    Birmingham Conservatory, 1999

    2024: Belarius in Cymbeline and Christie in The Diviners. 17th season.

    Portrait of Jordin Hall
    Jordin Hall
    Posthumus

    Birmingham Conservatory, 2017/18

    2024: Posthumus in Cymbeline and understudy in Hedda Gabler. Sixth season. Stratford: Richard II, Love's Labour's Lost, Grand Magic, All's Well That Ends Well, Richard III, Henry VIII, The Crucible, The Neverending Story, An Ideal Husband, Julius Caesar, To Kill a Mockingbird. Elsewhere (selected): Montague/Steve in Serving Elizabeth (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Eribo in The Neverending Story (NAC); Othello in Othello (Driftwood Theatre); Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost, Leontes in The Winter's Tale (Dauntless City Theatre); Aaron in Titus Andronicus (Seven Siblings Theatre); Lysander and Robin Starveling in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Humber River Shakespeare). Film/TV: The Kings of Napa (OWN); The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu); Mayday (Discovery); See No Evil (Discovery ID). Training: Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre; Brock University (Performance Concentration). Et cetera: Love, peace, and SOULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TRAIN.

    Portrait of Irene Poole
    Irene Poole
    Pisanio
    2024: Pisanio in Cymbeline and Morag in The Diviners. 11th season. Stratford: Thérèse Dubuc in Les Belles-Soeurs, Marmee in Little Women, Interpreter in All's Well…, Katherine in Henry VIII, Catalina in Mother's Daughter, Jean Louise in To Kill a Mockingbird, Cassius in Julius Caesar, Breath of Kings, Kate in The Little Years, Katherina in Taming of the Shrew, Olga in Three Sisters. Elsewhere: Bakelite Masterpiece, The Little Years (Dora Award, Tarragon); Leisure Society (Dora Award, Factory Theatre); The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Dora Award, Birdland); Happy Place, The Gigli Concert (Soulpepper); How Do I Love Thee? (Canadian Rep); Manon, Sandra and the Virgin Mary (Buddies…). Film/TV: Frankie Drake, Salvation, Indian Horse, Cardinal, Reign, Murdoch Mysteries, Republic of Doyle. Et cetera: For my Labrador family.
    Portrait of Tyrone Savage
    Tyrone Savage
    Iachimo

    Birmingham Conservatory, 2010/2011

    2024: Iachimo in Cymbeline, Gus in The Diviners and understudy in Hedda Gabler. Ninth season. Stratford: Love's Labour's Lost, Grand Magic, Richard II, Hamlet, Death and the King's Horseman, School for Scandal, Timon of Athens, Merchant of Venice, She Stoops to Conquer, Alice Through the Looking-Glass, Anne Frank, Oedipus Rex, Hay Fever, Three Musketeers, Much Ado, Henry V, Grapes of Wrath. Elsewhere:15 Dogs (Crow's Theatre); A Few Good Men (Drayton); The Matchmaker (Arts Club); Sleuth (Mayfield); Stag and Doe (Neptune); The Gamblers (Talk Is Free); Chasse-Galerie (Storefront/Soulpepper). Film/TV/Video Games: Caillou, Immortals: Fenyx Rising, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, Redwall, Wind at My Back. Training: Circle in the Square, Birmingham Conservatory, UofT. Et cetera: Tyrone dedicates this season to his parents Booth and Janet-Laine. With love beyond measure. 

    Portrait of Christopher Allen
    Christopher Allen
    Cloten
    2024: Cloten in Cymbeline and Lachlan in The Diviners. Stratford debut. Selected theatre credits: Rockabye (ARC Stage); The Master Plan (Crow's Theatre); Redbone Coonhound (Tarragon Theatre); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Bard on the Beach); Sweat (Canadian Stage); Antigone…, Selfie (Young People's Theatre); Julius Caesar, The Comedy of Errors (Canadian Stage); The Adonis Project (The Piece of Mine Festival). Film & TV: Star Trek: Discovery (Paramount+/CBS); Coroner, Workin' Moms (CBC); Murdoch Mysteries (CBC Television, Citytv); 13: The Musical (Netflix). Voiceover: Audiobook: No Bootstraps When You're Barefoot. Education: York University Acting Conservatory. Awards: Dora Award winner and nominee. Online: Instagram: @christopherallen.me.
    Portrait of Noah Beemer
    Noah Beemer
    Arviragus
    2024: Arviragus in Cymbeline and John in Wendy and Peter Pan. Third season. Stratford: Charles Wallace in A Wrinkle in Time, Paul in Rent, Ensemble in Finally There's Sun. Elsewhere: Jack in Into the Woods, Tobias in Sweeney Todd (Dora Nomination), Bosie in The Judas Kiss (Talk Is Free Theatre); Tinman in The Wizard of Oz: The Panto (Drayton Entertainment); Ricky in Ride the Cyclone, Sky in Mamma Mia! (Tweed and Company); Lampwick in Pinocchio (Young People's Theatre); Gabriel in Kiss of the Spider Woman (Eclipse Theatre). Training: Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance, Sheridan College; Mechanicals Program, Factory Theatre. Et cetera: Noah would like to say a big thank you to his family and friends for all their love and support!
    Portrait of Cynthia Jimenez-Hicks
    Cynthia Jimenez-Hicks
    Philarmonous

    (she/her) 

    2024: Wendy in Wendy and Peter Pan and Philarmonus in Cymbeline. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Broadway and San Francisco Companies); Play That Goes Wrong (Neptune); A Christmas Carol, The Party, The Candidate (Citadel); Girls Like That (Tarragon); This London Life (Grand); Boys, Girls and Other Mythological Creatures (Carousel Players). Film/TV: From (MGM), Barbelle (Boss&Co), Marry F Kill (Incendo), Law & Order (Citytv), Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), Hudson & Rex (Citytv), Love's Match (Champlain Spring Prod), In the Dark (CW). Training: National Theatre School. Online: www.cynthiajimenezhicks.com, @cynthia.jimenez.hicks. Et cetera: Thank you Emma and my family for their endless support. I'd like to dedicate this season to all the shooting stars we have lost since 2020. And to Cameron, for teaching me how to fly.

    Portrait of Matthew Kabwe
    Matthew Kabwe
    Caius Lucius
    2024: Caius Lucius in Cymbeline and Ross in The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? Third season. Stratford:Love's Labour's Lost, Richard II, Grand Magic, Hamlet, Death and the King's Horseman. Elsewhere: Duke Vincentio in Measure for Measure, Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing, Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night (Repercussion Theatre); Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Canadian Stage); Sir in Encore (Tableau D'Hôte); Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in The Mountaintop (Persephone Theatre). Film/TV/Video Games:Toopy and Binoo: The Movie, La Maison Bleue, Outriders: Worldslayer. Training: Dawson College, Soulpepper Academy. Awards: Outstanding Lead Performance META for Martin in MOB (Centaur Theatre). Online: matthewkabwe.com, agencebridgetdechene.com. Et cetera: Matthew sends wishes of love and thanks to his many supporters; especially Dr. AAHW. Matthew is thrilled to be returning to the Stratford Festival for his third season. Matthew is also B.
    Portrait of Wahsontí:io Kirby
    Wahsontí:io Kirby
    Cornelius

    Birmingham Conservatory, 2022/23

    2024: Cornelius in Cymbeline and Tootles in Wendy and Peter Pan. Fourth season. Stratford: Costard in Love's Labour's Lost, Angel in Richard II, Becky in Hamlet-911 and Evelyne Rice in 1939. Elsewhere: Stella in Celestial Bodies (Geordie Theatre); Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet (National Theatre School of Canada); Ensemble in Aqsarniit (Confederation Centre of the Arts, two seasons); Speck in Mistatim (Red Sky Productions - Prologue Showcase). Film/TV: Caitlin in Mohawk Girls (voiceover, four seasons). Training: Dawson College Professional Theatre Program; National Theatre School of Canada. Et cetera: Kanien'kehà:ka from Kahnawá:ke Mohawk Territory. Wahsontí:io dedicates this season to their family and friends. Tsi nèn:we enkonnoronhkhwá:ke.

    Portrait of Josue Laboucane
    Josue Laboucane
    Philario, Gaoler

    (he/him) Birmingham Conservatory, 2012/13

    2024: Philario, Gaoler in Cymbeline, Lazarus in The Diviners and understudy in Hedda Gabler. 11th season. Josue is a Métis actor, teaching artist and mask maker from the traditional territory of the Dane-zaa, Treaty 8, Fort St. John, BC. Stratford: Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear, Hamlet, Death and the King's Horseman, Merry Wives of Windsor, Front Page, Comedy of Errors, Napoli Milionaria!, Tempest, Timon of Athens, Madwoman of Chaillot, The Changeling, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aeneid, Taming of the Shrew, Love's Labour's Lost, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Beaux' Stratagem, Mary Stuart, Measure for Measure, Othello. Vancouver: 4 seasons at Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival; The Exquisite Hour (Relephant); Wizard of Oz, Seussical (Carousel); The Emperor's New Threads (Axis). Training: Birmingham Conservatory, Director Martha Henry; Studio 58; Canadian National Voice Intensive. Twitter: @josuelaboucane. Instagram: @laboucanej.

    Portrait of Julie Lumsden
    Julie Lumsden
    Helen, Mother

    (she/her)

    2024: Helen, Mother in Cymbeline and Pique, Scots Morag in The Diviners. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Louise in Gypsy, Bella in Gaslight, On The Razzle, A Christmas Carol, EverybodyFlush, Brigadoon (Shaw Festival); Marianne in Sense and Sensibility, Sarah Ballenden (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Timon of Athens (Shakespeare In The Ruins); Charlie Brown, James and the Giant Peach (MTYP); Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth (Magnus Theatre); Les Flats (Le Cercle Moliére); Les Misérables, The Little Mermaid (Rainbow Stage). Opera: Mother in Amahl and The Night Visitors (Edmonton Opera); Rose/Marguerite in Li Keur (Manitoba Opera); Peer Gynt (Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra); MESSIAH/COMPLEX (Against The Grain/The Banff Centre). Voiceover: Those Pink Mountain Nights and The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson (Harper Collins). Training: Bachelor of Music (Voice Performance), University of Manitoba. Online: www.julielumsden.com. Et cetera: "Onward and upward!" For Uncle Darin, always. 

    Portrait of Evan Mercer
    Evan Mercer
    Lord 2, Brother

    Birmingham Conservatory, 2024

    2024: Lord 2, Brother in Cymbeline and appears in The Diviners. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Truffaldino in A Servant of Two Masters, The Flying Doctor, Orlando in As You Like It, Our Eliza (Perchance); John Dodge in Middletown (NTS); Squawk (RCAT); Falling Trees (Poverty Cove); The Beauty Queen of Leenane (TNL); Salt-water Moon (Rising Tide); Almost Baymous (HalfHandsome). Film/TV: Son of a Critch (CBC); Hudson and Rex (CityTV); Little Dog (CBC); Frontier (Discovery/Netflix); Riverhead (Riverhead Prod.); Body and Bones (Scattered and Small Inc.). Et cetera: I am grateful and delighted to be making my debut on the Stratford stage. Thanks to you, the audience, for making what we do possible.

    Portrait of Marcus Nance
    Marcus Nance
    Jupiter
    2024: Jupiter in Cymbeline and Doc Giles, Crocodile, Skylights in Wendy and Peter Pan. 12th season. Stratford: Frankenstein Revived, Richard II, Why We Tell the Story, Billy Elliot, Little Shop..., Music Man, Guys and Dolls, HMS Pinafore, Carousel, Sound of Music, Crazy for You, Man of La Mancha, Camelot, Jesus Christ Superstar, Moby Dick, To Kill a Mockingbird, My One and Only. Broadway/Off-Broadway: La Bohème, Jesus Christ Superstar; Kismet, Of Thee I Sing (Encores!). Elsewhere: Natasha Pierre… Comet of 1812 (Crow's Theatre); HMS Pinafore (Vancouver Opera); Ragtime (Theatre Calgary); Follies (Koerner); Sweeney Todd, Floyd Collins, (Shaw); Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast (Grand Theatre); Little Mermaid, Mikado (Drayton); Evangeline (Charlottetown); J.C.S. (La Jolla); Dark Star Requiem (Luminato); Porgy and Bess (Toronto Symphony); Elsewhereless (Tapestry). Film/TV: Queen Tut, Good Sam, Murdoch Mysteries, Departure, Mayday, Prodigal Son, The Producers. Training: Fresno State University. Online: www.marcusnance.com. Instagram: @nance.marcus.
    Portrait of Anthony Palermo
    Anthony Palermo
    Lord 1, Brother

    2024: Billy in The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? and Lord 1, Brother in Cymbeline. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Admetus in Alcestis, Orgon in Tartuffe, Frank Thorney in The Witch of Edmonton (Theatre Erindale); She, Men, and the Giant Snake (Soulpepper Theatre); Retrograde (Toronto Fringe); Julius Caesar, Bare: A Pop Opera, Ghost Quartet, Essay (University of Toronto). Film/TV: Workin' Moms Seasons 6 and 7 (CBC/Netflix); Macy Murdoch (CBC/Shaftesbury); Pie Boy (Ace Entertainment Inc). Writer/Composer: The Gray: A Wilde Musical (Hart House Theatre); One Song Glory (Musical Stage Company); Mythic Women (University of Toronto). Training: Theatre and Drama Studies - University of Toronto/Sheridan College. Online: www.anthony-palermo.com, @anthxnypalermo. Et cetera: Grateful to be making my Stratford debut this season and for the endless support of my family and friends.

    Portrait of Jennifer Rider-Shaw
    Jennifer Rider-Shaw
    Soldier

    (she/her)

    2024: Soldier in Cymbeline and understudy in Hedda Gabler and The Diviners. 14th season. Stratford: 13 seasons including Lady of the Lake in Monty Python's Spamalot, Velma Kelly in Chicago, Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, Maggie in A Chorus Line, Sally Simpson in Tommy, Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street. Elsewhere: In 2019 Jennifer revived the role of Sally Simpson in The Who's Tommy In Concert, performing alongside Pete Townshend at The La Jolla Playhouse. She has also performed on stages across Canada: The Shaw Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Charlottetown Festival, Grand Theatre, Theatre Aquarius, Drayton Entertainment, Ross Petty Productions and YES Theatre. Training: Music Theatre Performance (Sheridan), Acting (Red Deer College). Awards: Recipient of the 2022 William Needles award. Et cetera: All my love to Robert, Josephine, Mom and Dad. Thanks as always to Bruce and TH. 

    Portrait of Rick Roberts
    Rick Roberts
    Duke

    2024: Duke in Cymbeline and Martin in The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? Third season. Stratford: Capulet in R+J, Zastrozzi in Zastrozzi. Elsewhere: Copenhagen (NAC); Prodigal (Howland/Crow's Theatre); Prince Hamlet (Why Not Theatre); Animal Farm, Waiting for Godot and Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Soulpepper); Enemy of the People, Within the Glass, The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs, Molière, John and Beatrice and Rune Arlidge (Tarragon Theatre); Proud (Belfry Theatre); Julius Caesar (Citadel Theatre). Film/TV: Transplant (CTV/NBC); Jack, Fortunate Son, This Life, Coroner (CBC); Still Mine, North of Albany, FarCry 6 (Ubisoft). Director: Miss Caledonia, Person of Interest, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Soulpepper). Playwright: Orestes, Fish/Wife, Kite, co-wrote the musical Mimi with Melody Johnson and Allan Cole (Tarragon Theatre). Awards: ACTRA and CSA award. Training: National Theatre School of Canada. 

    Portrait of Jake Runeckles
    Jake Runeckles
    Lady in Waiting, Soldier

    (she/her) Birmingham Conservatory, 2018

    2024: Peter Pan in Wendy and Peter Pan and Lady in Waiting in Cymbeline. Second season. Stratford: The Neverending Story, Henry VIII, The Crucible. Elsewhere: I and You (Outlook Theatre), The Secret Garden (Young People's Theatre), The Nails (SummerWorks), Animal Nature (Clay and Paper Theatre). Film/TV: Impulse. Training: George Brown Theatre School, Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. Online: @jakeruneckles.

    Portrait of Anthony Santiago
    Anthony Santiago
    Frenchman, Sicillius
    2024: Frenchman, Sicillius in Cymbeline and Royland in The Diviners. Third season. Stratford: Earl of Gloucester in King Lear, Antonio in Much Ado About Nothing, Player King and Priest in Hamlet and Elesin in Death and the King's HorsemanElsewhere: Matthew Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables: The Musical (Gateway Theatre), Ezra in Heaven, Crooks in Of Mice and Men, Belize in Angels in America Part 2 (Citadel Theatre); Jerry in Betrayal (Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre); Bill in Best of Enemies (Pacific Theatre); Peter in Company (Raincity Theatre); Brucie in SWEAT (The Arts Club/Citadel Theatre); Virgilio in Coriolanus (Bard on the Beach); Robert in Dear Elizabeth (Wunderdog Theatre). Training: Grant MacEwan University for Musical Theatre. Awards: Black Shoulders Legacy Award 2023, Jessie Richardson Theatre Award for Company, Rain City Theatre. Et cetera: Much love to Mammy, Santi, James, Nya-Manet and AKC.
    Portrait of Tara Sky
    Tara Sky
    Queen Soldier

    (they/she)

    2024: Queen Soldier in Cymbeline and Tiger Lily in Wendy and Peter Pan. Fourth season. Stratford: Cordelia in King Lear, Ginette Ménard in Les Belles-Soeurs and Beth Summers in 1939. Elsewhere: Christine in Where the Blood Mixes (Soulpepper); Ensemble in Reasonable Doubt (Persephone Theatre); Celeste in Think of the Children, Ensemble in Serious Money, Joan and Jennifer in 7 Stories, Ensemble in We came from dust, Banquo and Lady Macduff in Macbeth (NTS); Young Grete in Holy Mothers (SummerWorks); Angel in Nativity (NAC). Film/TV: Delivery, The River You Step In, Ruby Sky P.I. Training: National Theatre School of Canada, Etobicoke School of the Arts. Instagram: @tara.kitty.sky, @taraskybeads. Et cetera: Thank you, ʼanálhzaqʷ, to the trailblazers who paved the way for me to be on stages like this one.

    Esther Jun
    Director

    (she/her) Langham Directors' Workshop, 2016

    2024: Director of Cymbeline. Artistic Associate, Planning, and Director of the Langham Directors' Workshop for the Stratford Festival. Sixth season. Stratford: Director: Les Belles-Soeurs, Little Women, I Am William. Assistant director: John Gabriel Borkman, Richard III (2020). Elsewhere: Director: Between a Wok and a Hotpot (Cahoots); The Great Leap (Cleveland Playhouse); Kim's Convenience (TIP); Planet Munsch (George Brown); Pal Joey, The Gamblers, Amadeus (Talk Is Free); The Promised Land (Soulpepper); The Omnibus Bill (Counterpoint Players); Theory, Girls Like That (Tarragon); The Private LifeCabaret (Theatre ARTaud); The Last Wife (Belfry, GCTC); Rococo (Shaw); Bremen Rock City (Song Trolley Productions); Cowboy Mouth, Trout Stanley (Heart In Hand); Yellow Face (Hart House); Fear and Misery of the Third Reich (DeusXM). Training: B.A. Directing, Drama Centre London. Et cetera: Assistant Artistic Director at Tarragon (2016-2018); Co-Founder of Directors Lab North. Love & gratitude to Mike, Lola, the kitties and Frida. www.theestherjun.com.

     

PLAY SCHEDULE

Take advantage of various special deals to save on tickets!
Fri, May 10
2:00 PM
Tue, May 14
8:00 PM
Thu, May 16
2:00 PM
Fri, May 17
2:00 PM
Wed, May 22
2:00 PM
Fri, May 24
2:00 PM
Sat, May 25
8:00 PM
Mon, May 27
2:00 PM
Wed, May 29
8:00 PM
Fri, May 31
8:00 PM

TOM PATTERSON THEATRE  
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