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

CYMBELINE


By William Shakespeare

Directed by Esther Jun

Audience Advisory »


“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. Cymbeline’s daughter, Innogen, one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated heroines, is thrust into the world of court politics and ruthless personal ambitions when she chooses a lover beneath her station. Deceived by the dastardly Iachimo, a worthy contender for the Bard’s all-time greatest villain, Innogen must fight to protect her honour and agency.

“Simply magical” – Postmedia 

“An exciting story with unexpected twists and turns” – Broadway World




Runtime:

Three hours, including one 20-minute intermission*
*Please note that all run times are approximate


The 2024 Season is supported by Ophelia Lazaridis.


Support for the 2024 season at the Tom Patterson Theatre is generously provided by

BMO logo

           

Production Sponsor:

The Westaway Charitable Foundation

CAST & CREATIVE

CAST

    Portrait of Allison Edwards-Crewe
    Allison Edwards-Crewe
    Innogen
    2024: Innogen 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 Edward Albee's 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. Stratford: Directing - The Crucible. Acting - Monty Python's Spamalot, Henry VIII, To Kill a Mockingbird, Hamlet, The Alchemist, King Lear, A Midsummer…, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Pentecost, Phèdre, The Music Man, King John, Pericles, Orpheus Descending, Henry IV, Henry VI, Fiddler…, As You Like It, Fuente Ovejuna, Julius Caesar, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Bartholomew Fair, The Brothers Karamazov. Elsewhere: A Whistle in the Dark, Speaking in Tongues (Company Theatre); Our Class, The Laramie Project (Studio 180); King Lear (Soulpepper); Arcadia (Theatre Junction). Directing: John (Company Theatre). Film/TV: Reign, Alias Grace, Dark Matter, Dorsal, Nikita, Republic of Doyle, Heartland, Murdoch Mysteries, Unnatural History, Othello, Rookie Blue. Training: NTS, Birmingham Conservatory, U.Waterloo, Banff Centre. Teaching: NTS, Fanshawe. Et cetera: This season of playing Dads is for my Dad.

    Portrait of Jordin Hall
    Jordin Hall
    Posthumus Leonatus

    Birmingham Conservatory, 2017/18

    2024: Posthumus Leonatus 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 Caleigh Crow
    Caleigh Crow
    Lady in Waiting

    (she/they)

    2024: Piquette in The Diviners and Lady in Waiting in Cymbeline. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: All Other Women in Rise, Red River (Théâtre Cercle Molière); Performer in Indians and Cowboys (Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society); Band in We're Gonna Die (Verb Theatre); Beth in The Born Again Crow (Thumbs Up Good Work Theatre). Radio: Porter in USS Artemis (Boathaus Studios); Meena in The Strid (Downstage Theatre). Directing: antigone lives* (Why Not Theatre). Playwriting: There is Violence and There is Righteous Violence and There is Death (Playwrights Canada Press). Et cetera: Love to Sacha, Senor, Bill and Frank. Miss you Mom.

    Portrait of Cynthia Jimenez-Hicks
    Cynthia Jimenez-Hicks
    Philarmonous (Soothsayer)

    (she/her) 

    2024: Wendy in Wendy and Peter Pan and Philarmonus (Soothsayer) 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 Edward Albee's 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, Jailer

    (he/him) Birmingham Conservatory, 2012/13

    2024: Philario, Jailer 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, Ghost Mother

    (she/her)

    2024: Helen, Ghost Mother in Cymbeline and Young 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 Chris Mejaki
    Chris Mejaki
    Roman Captain, Briton Servant

    Birmingham Conservatory, 2022/2023

    2024: Roman Captain, Briton Servant in Cymbeline and appears in The Diviners. Third season. Stratford: Longaville in Love's Labour's Lost and Angel in Richard II. Elsewhere: Dr. Seward/Renfield/Jake in Written in Blood (Talk is Free Theatre); Orestes/Odysseus in The Trojan Girls and The Outhouse of Atreus (Outside the March); Writer/Reader in Weesageechak Begins to Dance (Native Earth Performing Arts). Film/TV: Principal in The Exchange, Actor in Unexplained. Radio/Recordings: Reader in This Place (CBC Radio). Training: National Theatre School (2018), Centre for Indigenous Theatre (2015). Awards: Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prizes, Protégé of Keith Barker (2023). Social Media: @chrismejaki (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok). Et cetera: Chris is also an emerging playwright, has one of the loudest laughs you'll ever hear, and will absolutely destroy you in a game of cribbage. x.

    Portrait of Evan Mercer
    Evan Mercer
    Second Lord, Ghost Brother 1

    Birmingham Conservatory, 2024

    2024: Second Lord, Ghost Brother 1 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
    First Lord, Ghost Brother 2

    2024: Billy in Edward Albee's The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? and First Lord, Ghost Brother 2 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
    Queen's Guard 2

    (she/her)

    2024: Queen's Guard 2 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 Edward Albee's 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 Anthony Santiago
    Anthony Santiago
    Frenchman, Ghost Sicillius
    2024: Frenchman, Ghost 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's Guard

    (they/she)

    2024: Queen's Guard 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.

    Portrait of Michael Wamara
    Michael Wamara
    Guiderius

    (he/him) 

    2024: Guiderius in Cymbeline and Curly in Wendy and Peter Pan. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: The Spectator's Odyssey - o'dell'Inferno (DLT/Luminato); Is God Is (Obsidian/Necessary Angel/Canadian Stage); Is God Is (National Arts Centre). Film/TV: Children Ruin Everything (CTV); On The Rox (Warner Bros); Wake (Last Frame Pictures); Counterfeit (CF Productions). Training: Toronto Metropolitan University: School of Performance. Online: @michaelwamara. Et cetera: I would like to dedicate this season to all of my family and friends who didn't make it to this moment but are still here. 

CREATIVE

    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.

     

    Echo Zhou 周芷會
    Set and Lighting Designer

    (she/they)

    2024: Set and lighting designer of Cymbeline. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: White Muscle Daddy (Buddies in Bad Times); Electric Messiah (Soundstreams); Rocking Horse Winner, Dragon's Tale (Tapestry Opera); A Poem for Rabia (Tarragon Theatre); The Chinese Lady (Studio 180); Benevolence (Benevolence Collective); Between a Wok and a Hotpot (Cahoots Theatre); The Year of the Cello (Theatre Passe Muraille); HMS Pinafore (Vancouver Opera); Every Brilliant Thing (Thousand Islands Playhouse); White Girls in Moccasins (Manidoons Collective); Mr. Shi and His Lover and I Swallowed a Moon Made of Iron (Music Picnic). Training: BFA at Toronto Metropolitan University. Awards: Dora Award - Best Scenic Design, Between a Wok and a Hotpot. Online: echozhoudesign.com. Et cetera: For grandpa. 獻給親愛的嗲嗲.

    Michelle Bohn
    Costume Designer

    (she/her)

    2024: Costume designer of Cymbeline. Eighth season. Stratford: King LearLes Belles-Soeurs, Hamlet, All's Well That Ends Well; I Am William (Samantha McCue, co-designer). Off-Broadway: Costume designer: A Four-Letter Word (Classic Stage Company); Designer: Richard III, King Lear, Macbeth (New York Classical Theatre); Orpheus (Next Wave Festival). Off-Off-Broadway: Costume designer: Displaced Wedding (New Worlds Theatre). Selected Regional: Costume designer: The Three Musketeers (RMTC); New (RMTC, Canadian Stage); Jukebox Hero (Mirvish); Measure for Measure (Canadian Stage); Theory (Tarragon); The Nether, Between Riverside and Crazy (Coal Mine); The New Canadian Curling Club (Blyth Festival); Amadeus, The Gamblers (Talk is Free); The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Kimberly Akimbo (SouthernRep). Designer: Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Could I Have This Dance? (Rebecca Cohn Auditorium); Pleasureville (The Guild). Film/TV: Save Me, For the Record (CBC Gem); NOLA. Online: michellebohndesign.com.

    Njo Kong Kie
    Composer

    2024: Composer of Cymbeline. Second season. Picnic and ping pong enthusiast. Composer of music for dance, drama and music theatre. Compositions: Soundtrack for Infinity (Volcano); The Year of the Cello (Theatre Passe Muraille); chamber operas knotty together, La Señorita Mundo (SummerWorks); concert-theatre Picnic in the Cemetery (Ansan Street Arts Festival, Canadian Stage); song-cycle I swallowed a moon made of iron (Canadian Stage, PuSh and OzAsia festivals); music theatre Mr. Shi and His Lover (Toronto Theatre Critics Award: Best New Musical. Tarragon Theatre, National Arts Centre, Cervantino Festival, Thousand Cranes Festival); opera short film Death Mask (VIFF, Inside Out, Berlinale). Music director: La La La Human Steps, Stratford (I Am William). His works have been used in dance productions nationally and abroad. In development: New works with Douglas Rodger, Liza Balkan and Evalyn Parry. Online: musicpicnic.com, @musicpicnicTO.

    Olivia Wheeler
    Sound Designer
    2024: Sound designer of Cymbeline. Third season. Stratford: Associate sound designer and composer of A Wrinkle in Time, Assistant sound designer of Every Little Nookie, Hamlet-911 and 1939. Elsewhere (selected): Sound designer of The Fixing Girl (Young People's Theatre); De Profundis, The Walk-Up (Soulpepper); Mad Madge (Nightwood); ECHO (Next Stage); Here Lies Henry, Armadillos (Factory Theatre); Between a Wok and a Hot Pot (Cahoots); It'll Come to Me (Theatre SKAM). Associate sound designer of Three Women of Swatow (Tarragon Theatre) and Bad Parent (Soulpepper/vACT/PTE). Assistant sound designer of Mahabharata (Why Not). Music director and composer of Julius Caesar and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival). Training: University of Victoria, Department of Theatre and School of Music. Online: oliviagwheeler.com, @liv.g.wheeler. Et cetera: Thanks to my family, friends, and mentors - this is for you.
    Anita Nittoly
    Fight and Intimacy Director

    2024: Fight and intimacy director of the 2024 season. Seventh season. Stratford: Fight director of The Rez Sisters and intimacy director of Serving Elizabeth (2021); Fight director for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Selected Fight/Intimacy Director Credits: 3 Sisters (Soulpepper); Bad Roads (Crow's); WildWoman (Soulpepper); Hamlet (The Rose); Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (TIP); Fall on Your Knees (Canadian Stage/Neptune/NAC); Maggie (Theatre Aquarius); Counter Offence (Segal Centre); Fairview (Canadian Stage); Prodigal (Crow's); Trojan Girls & The Outhouse of Atreus (Factory); Our Place (Cahoots/TPM); Kronborg (Confederation Centre). Other: Stage combat instructor, fight director, and sexual choreographer at the National Theatre School. Selected Stunt Performer/Stunt Actor Credits: Law and Order: Toronto, SEE, Star Trek: Discovery, Pretty Hard Cases, Titans, The Boys, Rabbit Hole, What We Do in the Shadows, various Ubisoft motion capture productions. Online: anitanittoly.com.

    Alyssa Martin
    Movement Director

    2024: Movement director of Cymbeline. Fourth season. Stratford: Movement director of Les Belles-Soeurs, Little Women; Choreographer of I Am William. Elsewhere: Choreographer: Sex Dalmatian, DINO, Kid Sister, hollow mountainfantasylover, String Quartet No. 14 in G Major, Dolphin, MANICPIXIEDREAMGIRLS (Rock Bottom Movement); Sugar Water (National Ballet of Canada Micro-Commission); PUS (Roadtrip Collective); Bin Chicken (Toronto Dance Theatre); Lizard of Pause (Leah Skerry); Girls Like That (Tarragon Theatre); Pal Joey (Talk is Free Theatre); Nashville Stories, Cherry Corsage (David Bernstein). Training: Toronto Metropolitan University BFA Honours in Dance. Awards: Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Choreographer, Outstanding Production (2) and Outstanding Ensemble (2); Canadian Stage Award for Direction; Jack McAllister Award; Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts nominee. Online: www.rockbottommovement.com, @itsalyssamartin. Et cetera: Supported by Bulmash-Siegel Foundation; Artistic Director, Rock Bottom Movement; Associate, Artist Development Programmes, National Ballet of Canada.

    David Chinchilla
    Associate Fight Director

    2024: Associate fight director of the 2024 season. Third season. Stratford (selected):King Lear, Richard III, Little Women. Elsewhere: Hamlet (Hit & Myth Productions); The Amen Corner (Shaw Festival); Romeo and Juliet (National Theatre School); Girl in the Photograph (Chameleon Productions). Selected Film and TV (Acting and Stunts):FUBAR, The Fabric of Christmas, Chucky, Far Cry 6, Mayor of Kingstown, Reacher, Revenge of the Black Best Friend, The Hot Zone, The Boys, Dark Matter, Kill Joys, Teen Titans, Lucky Day, Amazing Race Canada, Frankie Drake. Training: Humber Theatre Performance program, various martial arts schools, acting for film and TV at the renown Pro Actors Lab in Toronto. Online: Instagram: @davidchinchillaofficial. 

    Erika (E.D) Downie
    Assistant Director

    (they/them) Langham Directors' Workshop, 2024

    2024: Assistant director of Cymbeline. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Director: Turn of the Screw (Abridged Opera/Windsor Symphony Orchestra); Der Fliegende Holländer (Abridged Opera); Sweeney Todd (Royal City Musical Productions); The Play About the Baby (Seven Siblings Theatre); Sonnet Show (Humber River Shakespeare Co.); Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Seven Siblings Theatre). Assistant director: Llandovery Castle (Dir. Liza Balkan) (Opera Laurier, Wilfrid Laurier University). Training: M.A. Shakespeare and Theatre (Shakespeare Institute University of Birmingham UK); B.F.A. Acting University of Windsor; B.A. Drama University of Windsor. Online: erikadownie.ca. Et cetera: To my parents Leonia and John, my sister Jessica, und mein Schwager Piotr, forever a debt of gratitude for their constant love and support of my shenanigans and journey. And for the bog witch, E.B.

    Madeline Blondal
    Assistant Set and Costume Designer

    (she/her)

    2024: Assistant set and costume designer of Cymbeline. Stratford debut. Madeline is an emerging set and lighting designer from Calgary, Alberta. Recent design credits include The Dark Lady (Lunchbox Theatre), Cottagers and Indians (Lunchbox Theatre), After Faust (RISER and Invisible Practice), Smoke (Tiny Bear Jaws), Ministry of Mundane Mysteries: Sound Off (Outside the March), Caribbean Muskrat (Teatro La Quindicina), Hireath (Bright Young Things), En Attendant...Godot (L'UniThéâtre) and Enchanted Antlers 2021-2023 (Theatre Prospero). Selected assistant credits include Meteor Shower (Theatre Calgary) and Bears (Punctuate!). Madeline holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Alberta in Drama (Theatre Design). 

    Simran Kapoor
    Assistant Lighting Designer

    2024: Assistant lighting designer of Cymbeline, Hedda Gabler and The Diviners. Second season. Stratford: Assistant lighting designer of Grand Magic and Wedding Band. Lighting designer of Langham DWP's A Tennessee Williams Suite and The Fall of the House of Atreus: A Cowboy Love Song. Elsewhere: Assistant lighting designer of Peter's Final Flight (Ross Petty Productions) and Contemporaneity (Anandam Dance Theatre). Lighting designer of Inheritance of Dance (Yi Dance), Do You Think You're Better Than Me? (Fringe), The Late Wedding (Theatre at York), Fruits of Labour (Devised Theatre Festival), Art of Time (Dance at York), Music Media Concert (MMC York), and Thirumagal. Training: Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Theatre Production from York University. Awards: Canadian College Cricket Women's Nationals MVP and Women's Ontario Cup MVP & Best Bowler 2019. Online: simrankapooroffici.wixsite.com/simran-kapoorEt cetera: Love and gratitude to Mom, Grandma, Steve and Gavin.

    Nicolas Van Burek
    Assistant Fight Director

    2024: Assistant fight director of CymbelineRomeo and Juliet and Wendy and Peter Pan. 11th season. Nicolas Van Burek is a multilingual actor, stunt actor, fight director, teacher and coach. As an actor, he has worked in almost every Canadian province in theatre, television, voice, video games and film for nearly forty years. After ten years as a lead actor at the Stratford Festival from 1997-2007, Nicolas returned to Toronto to focus on work in film, television, voice and video games. He has amassed numerous credits as a stunt actor in shows like Reacher, 12 Monkeys, Suits, The Boys and Star Trek. He currently teaches stage combat at Centennial College. Nicolas is a proud father to five-year-old Zayla, who is his toughest boss. 

    Melissa Rood
    Stage Manager
    2024: Stage manager of Cymbeline and assistant stage manager of The Diviners. 24th season. Stratford: Favourites include Much Ado About Nothing, Coriolanus, Every Little Nookie, Shakespeare in Love, The Last Wife, Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Funny Thing…, Into the Woods, Henry V, Christopher Plummer's A Word or Two and Beau Dixon's cabaret, Freedom. PSM for the Langham Directors' Workshop Presentation and key collaborator for the Festival's first theatre arts production camp. Elsewhere: Opera, dance, new works and events, including Walter Borden's The Last Epistle of Tightrope Time at the NAC; The Wedding Party, Stars: Together, Julius Caesar (Crow's). Education: Sheridan College (Theatre Arts - Technical Production); University of Waterloo (Social Work). Et cetera: Stage Management Instructor at University of Windsor, University of Toronto, Sheridan College, National Theatre School. For Dad.
    Martine Beland
    Assistant Stage Manager

    (she/her)

    2024: Assistant stage manager of Cymbeline. 16th season. Stratford Festival credits include three seasons as production stage manager of the Avon Theatre and stage manager of Fuente Ovejuna, Pentecost, Don Juan, Elephant Song/The Human Voice, The Birds and Quiet in the Land. She was also the assistant stage manager of numerous productions including Every Little Nookie, Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet, Carousel, Treasure Island, Richard III, Henry IV. Last summer Martine was the stage manager for Shaw Festival's A Game of Love and Chance and Blithe Spirit. Other stage management credits include The Last Epistle of Tightrope Time (Neptune Theatre); Unleashed, Peter Pan (Alberta Ballet); Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Anastasia, The Velveteen Rabbit and The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition (Canada's Ballet Jorgën). 

    Lily Cardiff
    Assistant Stage Manager

    (she/her)

    2024: Assistant stage manager of Cymbeline and Hedda Gabler. Fourth season. Stratford: Assistant stage manager of Grand Magic, Love's Labour's Lost and the Langham Directors' Workshop Presentation (2023). Apprentice stage manager of All's Well That Ends Well and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Elsewhere: Stage manager of Adam's Unplugged Puppet Party (The Pucking Fuppets Co.); The '94 Club (Crave Productions); Folks Like Us (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Assistant stage manager of La Bête and The Other Place (Talk Is Free Theatre). Apprentice stage manager of Light (Tarragon Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Sudbury Theatre Centre); Come Down From Up River (Theatre Orangeville); Driving Miss Daisy (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Training: BFA with Honours in Performance Production and Design, TMU. Awards: Karen P. Hay Award, 2023; Jean A. Chalmers Apprentice Achievement Award, 2022. Et cetera: Dedicated to the story and the storytellers. 

    Holly Korhonen
    Assistant Stage Manager

    2024: Assistant stage manager of Wendy and Peter Pan and Cymbeline. 23rd season. Stratford: Assistant stage manager - Monty Python's Spamalot; A Wrinkle in Time; Richard III; The Miser; Rez Sisters; Little Shop of Horrors; Rocky Horror Show; Timon of Athens; The Madwoman of Chaillot; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; A Little Night Music; The Taming of the Shrew; Love's Labour's Lost; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Blithe Spirit; Charlie BrownMerry Wives of Windsor; Kiss Me, Kate; Dangerous Liaisons; The Importance of Being Earnest; Cabaret; My One and Only; South Pacific; Oliver!; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Edward II; The Count of Monte Cristo; Anything Goes; Henry VI. Stage manager - Birmingham Conservatory, 2006 and 2007. Awards: Recipient of the Tanya Award and four Guthrie Awards. Et cetera: Holly would like to thank Steve and Jackson for all their love and support.

    Meghan Callan
    Production Stage Manager

    (she/her)

    2024: Production stage manager of the Tom Patterson Theatre. 24th season. Stratford: In Meghan's 20+ seasons, she has served as Production Stage Manager at all of the Festival's stages including the Tom Patterson Theatre Canopy (2021). She has worked on Paradise Lost, The Virgin Trial, The Tempest (2010), A Little Night Music, The Physicists, Jesus Christ Superstar and Tommy, among others. Training: Meghan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Production from York University. Elsewhere: Meghan stage-managed Light at Tarragon Theatre; and The Goator, Who is Sylvia? and The Virgin Trial at Soulpepper Theatre. She has worked at the National Arts Centre, Citadel Theatre, toured New Brunswick with TNB, and stage-managed car and industrial trade shows and concerts. Meghan sends big thanks and respect to Ella and Beatrice. Peter, we all miss you.

    Elizabeth McDermott
    Production Stage Manager
    2024: Production stage manager of the Tom Patterson Theatre and assistant stage manager of Hedda Gabler. 11th season. Stratford: Production stage manager: Festival, Avon, Tom Patterson theatres. Assistant stage manager: A Wrinkle in Time, Billy Elliot, Othello, The Music Man, To Kill a Mockingbird, Shakespeare in Love, The Hypochondriac, The Sound of Music, The Taming of the Shrew, Love's Labour's Lost, As You Like It, King of Thieves. Elsewhere (selected): King Lear, Twelfth Night (SiHP); A City, Divisadero (Necessary Angel); Cracked (UW/Collective Disruption); Comfort (Red Snow Collective); The Road to Paradise, Night (Human Cargo); Miracle on 34th Street (STC); Bella (HGJTC); Anne of Green Gables, Canada Rocks! (Charlottetown); Falling: A Wake (Blyth); The Barber of Seville (Soulpepper); Binti's Journey, Head à Tête, Old Man and the River (Theatre Direct); Danny, King of the Basement (Roseneath); Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, All's Well That Ends Well (SLSF).
    Abby Stevenson
    Production Assistant

    (she/her)

    2024: Production assistant of the Tom Patterson Theatre. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Stage manager: The Phoenix Lottery (Theatre Aezir); Chicago, The Wizard of Oz (Theatre Western); God of Carnage (King's Players); Twelfth Night, Cymbeline (Summer Shakespeare); 7 Stories (ASTC). Abby has also been a producer, lighting designer, running crew, ASM, PA and actor. Training: Western University. Et cetera: Abby sends all her love to E, J and L - thank you for everything.

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