by William Shakespeare
Adapted by Brad Fraser
Conceived by Jillian Keiley
Directed by Jillian Keiley
Choreographed by Cameron Carver
"a riveting show" – The Guardian
“a wild, decadent ride” – Toronto Star
“jaw-dropping visual scenes” – The Globe and Mail
Audience Advisory: This production includes strong sexual content and partial nudity, mature content, violence and startling sounds. It also makes use of flashing lights, fog and haze effects. Recommended for audiences 18+.
“THIS ROYAL THRONE OF KINGS, THIS SCEPTERED ISLE…”
In a revolutionary adaptation by Brad Fraser, this Richard is the story of a king who believes that God gives him the right to live above the rules and who ultimately suffers the consequences. The story is embedded in a time of great freedom that is soon crushed - the late 1970s and early '80s: when lives were lived at great volume against a suffocating strain of conservatism and fear. Fraser's adaptation maintains Shakespeare's text but draws on sources beyond Richard II.
Setting: Inspired by the glamour, grit and glitter of New York in the late ‘70s and early 80’s.
House Program: Richard II
Runtime: Two hours and 39 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission.*
*Please note that all run times are approximate.
Production support is generously provided by The Westaway Charitable Foundation.
Corporate support for the 2023 season at the Tom Patterson Theatre is generously provided by BMO Financial Group.
Photo credits: Stephen Jackman-Torkoff. Photo by Ted Belton.
(they/them)
2023: King Richard II in Richard II and Roberto Magliano in Grand Magic. Second season. Stratford: Smash in Every Little Nookie, John Brooke in Little Women. Elsewhere: Trout in Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre); Tom in The Glass Menagerie (Grand Theatre); Creator/Performer in Black Boys (Saga Collectif/Buddies in Bad Times); Belize in Angels in America (Arts Club); Leonardo da Vinci in Botticelli in the Fire, Isaac in Sunday in Sodom (Canadian Stage); Philip Clandon in You Never Can Tell (Shaw Festival). Training: National Theatre School of Canada. Et cetera: Stephen is a wandering poet who creates their own Poetic-Dreamscape-Odysseys. They seek to create work that activates the soul and takes us into a world of imagination. Like Willy Wonka. Stephen loves you.
Birmingham Conservatory 2017/18
2023: Henry Bolingbroke in Richard II, Mariano D'Albino in Grand Magic, and King of Navarre in Love's Labour's Lost. Fifth season. Stratford: 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.
2023: Zaira Marvuglia in Grand Magic and Helena Percy, Countess of Northumberland in Richard II. Seventh season. Stratford: Wolsey (Wolf Hall); Daya (Nathan the Wise); Norah (Birds of a Kind); Queen Elizabeth (Shakespeare in Love); Matilda (Zastrozzi). Elsewhere: Indecent, The Normal Heart, Stuff Happens (Mirvish /Studio 180); The Message, Scorched, Mrs.Klein, The Collected works of Billy the Kid, Hope Slide, The Retreat (Tarragon); The Glass Menagerie (Grand); The Virgin Trial (ATP); The Millionairess, Blithe Spirit, Heartbreak House, Councillor at Law (Shaw Festival, 13 seasons); My Name is Asher Lev (HGJT/Studio 180). Film/TV: Station Eleven, Albatross, Orphan Black, Working Moms, Fugitive Pieces, Less than Kosher. Directing: Assistant Director Oslo, King Charles the III (Mirvish/Studio 180) Awards: Best actress - Dora (Patience); Capital Critics (A Doll's House); Austin Int. Film Fest (Albatross); 2018 RBC Emerging Director. Sarah commits herself to new play development and mentorship of young performers.
(he/him)
2023: Edmund Duke of York in Richard II, Holofernes in Love's Labour's Lost and understudy in Grand Magic. 11th season. Stratford: Hamlet, The Miser, The Front Page, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Paradise Lost, Timon of Athens, The Changeling, Shakespeare in Love, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Aeneid, Taming of the Shrew, Possible Worlds, The Beaux' Stratagem, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard III, Julius Caesar, Bartholomew Fair, Shakespeare's Universe. Elsewhere: Dock Spider (Magnus Theatre); The 4th Graders Present An Unnamed Love Suicide (Tiny Room); Jerusalem (OTM/Company Theatre); Silence, Art (Grand Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Western Canada Theatre); Hound of the Baskervilles, Robin Hood (Globe Theatre); Pitmen Painters, Boeing Boeing (Theatre Aquarius); Vigil, Lawrence and Holloman (Prairie Theatre Exchange); Having Hope at Home (Neptune); Twelfth Night, The Tempest (Hartford Stage); Pride and Prejudice (Theatre Calgary/NAC); The Lonely Diner (Blyth Festival); Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth (NAC).
(he/him) Birmingham Conservatory, 2015/16
2023: Duke of Aumerle in Richard II, Brigadiere in Grand Magic and understudy in Love's Labour's Lost. Sixth season. Emilio Vieira is a Toronto-based actor-creator. Stratford Festival credits include: Richard III, The Miser, The Tempest, Coriolanus, Napoli Milionaria!, Tartuffe, Macbeth, All My Sons, Bunny. Elsewhere: The Three Musketeers (RMTC); february: a love story (Globus Theatre); Cymbeline (Shakespeare BASH'd); Towards Youth: a play on Radical Hope (Crow's Theatre); Measure for Measure, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare in High Park); Tartuffe (Canadian Stage); Coriolanus (Dartmouth, New Hampshire). Emilio trained under the direction of Martha Henry and Stephen Ouimette in the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. Thank you for supporting live theatre. Watch february: a love story on demand at februarytheplay.com. Instagram: @suddensparkcollective @emiliovieira.
Birmingham Conservatory 2022/23
2023: Princess of France in Love's Labour's Lost and Angel in Richard II. Second season. Stratford: Player Queen in Hamlet and Olabisi in Death and the King's Horseman. Elsewhere: 16 characters in No Child (Arts Club); Ann Atwater in The Best of Enemies and Novelette in 'da Kink in My Hair (Pacific Theatre); Same Difference (Theatre Conspiracy); Catherine in The Numbers Game (Storefront Theatre). Film/Tv:Corrective Measures, Swan Song, Voir, The Baby-Sitters Club, Detour, Song Bird, Scared Lies, Sirens. Radio/Recordings: Aisha in Redbone Coonhound (Arts Club), Mama in Rishi & d Douen (Rumble Theatre and Carousel Theatre).Training: Birmingham Conservatory, York University. Awards: Michael Mawson Award recipient, Jessie Award nomination and B.C. Arts Council Pivot recipient.
(she/her)
2023: Swing in Rent and Angel in Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: We'll Meet Again (Drayton Entertainment); 9 to 5 (Capital Theatre); Featured Singer (Royal Caribbean Productions); Dynamite in Hairspray (Theatre Aquarius); Dear Evan Hansen (Mirvish Productions); All Shook Up and Soul Sistas (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); Babe Williams in Panama Game, Columbia in Rocky Horror Show (SCC). Training: Music Theatre Performance at St. Clair College; Second City Improv. Online: Instagram @malindacarroll_. Et cetera: Malinda would like to thank Mom, Hayden and all the friends and family for their love and support. Thanks TH and the Rent creative team for this opportunity. Dream big, anything is possible!
2023: Signora Marino in Grand Magic and Lady Scroop in Richard II. 12th season. Last season, Sarah was seen as Sian Ap Dafydd in 1939 and Siri/Jessica in Hamlet-911. Other Stratford credits: The Front Page, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Paradise Lost, Treasure Island, Romeo and Juliet, The Importance of Being Earnest, Richard III, Private Lives, The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth and The Cherry Orchard. Elsewhere: The Antipodes, Marjorie Prime (Coal Mine); Mustard, The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs, Communion (Tarragon); Domesticated, A Whistle in the Dark, Marion Bridge (Company Theatre); The Penelopiad (Nightwood). Film/TV: Anne with an E, Murdoch Mysteries, Ginny & Georgia. Training: George Brown Theatre School. Awards: Dora Awards for Marion Bridge and The Penelopiad, Toronto Critics Award for Marjorie Prime. For Max.
2023: Harry Percy in Richard II, Waiter in Grand Magic and understudy in Love's Labour's Lost. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: A Few Good Men, Twelve Angry Men, The Miracle Worker, The Birds and the Bees, Death of a Salesman, Brighton Beach Memoirs (Drayton); The Cider House Rules reading (Talk is Free); Suitcases/Provenance workshop (Canadian Stage). Film/TV: Jump, Darling (opposite Cloris Leachman), In The Dark, Murdoch Mysteries, Man Seeking Woman, Bitten, Reign, Close Encounters. Radio/Recordings: Strange Loops (audiobook). Training: The Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Online: Instagram @tomsdup. Et cetera: Thomas dedicates this season to his family; blood and chosen. Hi Mom!
2023: Groom in Richard II, Waiter in Grand Magic and understudy in Love's Labour's Lost. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Green Gables - The Musical, Tell Tale Harbour (The Charlottetown Festival); Cinderella, Elf the Musical, Hello, Dolly!, Les Misérables: School Edition, Evita, A Christmas Carol, Home for the Holidays (Grand Theatre); The Great Cosmic Crisis (Theatre Direct); 365 Days/365 Plays, Everybody, The Most Offending Soul Alive, Bonus Points If You Have Air Conditioning (National Theatre School) Training: The National Theatre School of Canada. Online: www.justineddy.ca, @jstneddy. Et cetera: Justin is an emerging producer, playwright and creator.
2023: Angel in Richard II and appears in Frankenstein Revived. Second season. Mateo G. Torres (GUETCHA GUARITCHA) is a Colombian/Canadian multidisciplinary dance artist, producer, educator, actor and performer with extensive experience nationally and internationally. Stratford: Wendy and Peter Pan (cancelled), Just Short of Reality. Other (selected): Live performance: Kaeja d'Dance (multiple credits); Sashar Zariff Dance Projects (Kismet, Dance Made in Canada); Jacob Niedzwiecki (JQRS); Wind in the Leaves Collective (Eastman); Toronto Heritage Dance (1940). Film: Liminal. Choreography: studies on truths and justice (Allies and Friends - WITLC); I:Variations (Vanguardia Dance Festival); Dearest Love (Porch View Dances); Cornered/Breathing (Festival of New Dance NL). Et cetera: Mateo brings his honest and vulnerable self into his work, and fuses his eclectic movement training, creating a distinct movement quality and performance. Mateo feels very honoured to be a part of the Stratford Festival's 2023 season.
2023: Dr. Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein Revived and Lord Willoughby in Richard II. Second season. Elsewhere: Four seasons at the Shaw Festival (Peter, Peter and the Starcatcher; Johnny, Juno & the Paycock), seven seasons at Bard on the Beach (Shakespeare, Shakespeare In Love; Proteus, Two Gents), and performances across Canada in companies such as Terra Bruce, Groundling, RMTC, Citadel, Theatre Calgary, Vancouver Playhouse, Arts Club, Ruby Slippers, and Belfry… recent highlights: Done/Undone by Kate Besworth (BOTB; released on STRATFEST@HOME); Gary, Noises Off; Bob Cratchit/Jacob Marley, Dolly Parton's Christmas Carol; Lt. Kaffee, A Few Good Men; Dimmesdale, Scarlett Letter. Voice Over: Paw Patrol: The Movie, Pinkalicious, Screen Time. Film/TV: Good Witch, Murdoch Mysteries, The Strain, Fringe, Percy Jackson: Lightning Thief. Training: Studio 58, McIlroy & Associates. Et cetera: Charlie moonlights as a photographer, musician, and director. Online: Instagram @charlie_byrd.
2023: "Seasons of Love" Soloist in Rent and Angel in Richard II. Stratford debut. Hello there, thanks for checking out my bio. It's my favourite place to meet new people, (or I guess talk about myself to new people lol.) If we happen to meet I'd love to hear about who you are too, it's only fair :) I am Matthew "Nova" Joseph (he/they), a singer/songwriter/actor based out of Hamilton, Ontario. I am absolutely pumped to be part of this stellar crew and could not be here without the help of my friends, family and TH. Hmu on socials @_novary_ , stay up y'all!
2023: Lord Ross in Richard II, Nathaniel in Love's Labour's Lost and appears in Grand Magic. Second season. Stratford: 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: VFC, La Maison Bleue, Outriders. 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 everyone who has supported him. Matthew is thrilled to be returning to the Stratford Festival for his second season. Matthew is also B.
Birmingham Conservatory, 2022/23
2023: Costard in Love's Labour's Lost and Angel in Richard II. Third season. Stratford: Becky in Hamlet-911 and Evelyne Rice in 1939. Elsewhere: The Widow in Burning Vision, 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.
2023: Angel in Richard II and understudy in Love's Labour's Lost. Fifth season. Stratford: June in Chicago, No One Is Alone: A Sondheim Celebration, Here's What It Takes (2020), Zaneeta Shinn in The Music Man, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet: Remixed (workshop), The Rocky Horror Show, Guys and Dolls, H.M.S. Pinafore. Elsewhere:Mary Poppins (Grand Theatre); Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto (Drayton); Rumspringa Break! (Grow) (CMTP/Theatre Sheridan); The Voices of Canada, We Are Canadian (Charlottetown Festival). Training: Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance, Sheridan College. Online: @heatherkosik, heatherkosik.com; Photography: @kosikphotos, kosikphotos.com. Et cetera: Thank you always to my family for your endless love and support. Big love to my Devon, my biggest fan - thanks for being you.
2023: Longaville in Love's Labour's Lost and Angel in Richard II. Second season. 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). Social Media: @chrismejaki (TikTok/Instagram). Et cetera: Chris is a Grass Dancer, makes a mean spaghetti, and loves a good story.
2023: The Creature in Frankenstein Revived and Abbot of Westminster in Richard II. 11th season. Stratford: Why We Tell the Story, Up Close and Musical: Voice of a Preacher's Son, Billy Elliot, Little Shop…, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, HMS Pinafore, Carousel, Crazy for You, Jesus Christ Superstar, Moby Dick, To Kill a Mockingbird, My One and Only. Broadway: La Bohème, Jesus Christ Superstar. Elsewhere: HMS Pinafore (Vancouver Opera); Ragtime (Theatre Calgary); Follies (Koerner Hall); Sweeney Todd, Floyd Collins (Shaw Festival); Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast (Grand Theatre); Little Mermaid, Mikado (Drayton); Evangeline (Charlottetown); Kismet, Of Thee I Sing (Encores! N.Y.C.); 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. Et cetera: Vocal tutorial instructor, Sheridan College. Online: marcusnance.com. Instagram: @nance.marcus.
2023: Signora Zampa in Grand Magic and Duchess of York in Richard II. Second season. Stratford: Disability Consultant and Dramaturg for Richard III. Acting: Angel in How it Ends, Jenny Diver in The Threepenny Opera (Sick + Twisted); Anne in Shakespeare's Will, Richard III in Richard III, the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Ariel in The Tempest (Shakespeare in the Ruins). Playwriting: Head - the Anne Boleyn Musical (Shakespeare in the Ruins, published by Scirocco Drama); How it Ends (Sick + Twisted/Prairie Theatre Exchange published by Playwrights Canada Press). Training: National Theatre School. Et cetera: Debbie is a founder and former AD of Shakespeare in the Ruins and the current founding AD of Sick + Twisted Theatre. She lives in Winnipeg (Treaty 1) and in a cabin on the shore of Lake Winnipeg (Treaty 2). Love always to Arne, Gislina and Solmund.
2023: Waiter in Grand Magic, Forester in Love's Labour's Lost and understudy in Richard II. Second season. Tyler was coerced into acting by his grade eight English teacher and has not yet found a way to stop. Selected Credits include: The Cop in Blind Date (Charring Cross Theatre and Edinburgh Fringe); Ash in Evil Dead: The Musical, Officer Lockstock in Urinetown: The Musical, Padraic in The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Ground Zero Theatre/ Hit & Myth Productions); Lewis Hake in The Mystery of Evelyn Strange (Vertigo Mystery Theatre); The Hero in Iraq and Back (Ghost River Theatre); Little John in Robin Hood (Alberta Theatre Projects); The man in Laughing Wild, Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (Seraph Theatre Company); Malcolm in Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs (Dark Forest Theatre).
(he/him) Birmingham Conservatory 2012/13
2023: Sir John Bushy in Richard II, Marcade in Love's Labour's Lost and Waiter in Grand Magic. Sixth season. Stratford: The Neverending Story, The Crucible, Shakespeare in Love, The Aeneid, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Love's Labour's Lost, King John, Antony and Cleopatra, Mother Courage and Her Children, Romeo and Juliet, Three Musketeers, Merchant of Venice. Elsewhere: The Neverending Story (National Arts Centre); Ajax in Afghanistan, Intuition of Iphigenia, Elektra in Bosnia (WIW, Greece Tour); Phaedra, The Bacchae, Agamemnon (Hydrama Centre, Greece); Serious Money (Nightwood); Russian Dolls (Buddies); Machina Nuptialis (Corpus); Bent (Theatre Engine). Film/TV/Radio: The Strain, Murdoch Mysteries, Bay Street in The Drop ('23), Gus in ****** Roommate. Training: TMU, Birmingham Conservatory (under Martha Henry). Awards: Lindsay Thomas Award. Online: @fishermans_enemy23. Et cetera: Dedicated to Martha.
2023: Gervasio D'Aloisi in Grand Magic, Bishop of Carlisle in Richard II and Boyet in Love's Labour's Lost. 20th season. Stratford: Chicago, The Miser, Finally There's Sun, Music Man, Rocky Horror, Guys and Dolls, The Lion, the Witch…, Shakespeare in Love, Hamlet, The Alchemist, Crazy for You, Tommy, Grapes of Wrath, The Misanthrope, Kiss Me, Kate, Cyrano de Bergerac, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Odyssey, Midsummer Night's Dream, Coriolanus. Elsewhere: goldfish (Here For Now); Every Brilliant Thing, The Foursome, For the Pleasure… (New Stages); Fleeto, Oh, the Humanity, 4th Graders (Tiny Room); London Road (Dora Award), Indian Ink, Into the Woods, Dream (Canadian Stage); Assassins (Dora Award) (TIFT); Frog and Toad (MTYP); Orson's Shadow (Pilot Group); A New Brain (Musical Stage Company); Shrek, A Christmas Story (Grand); The Producers (Mirvish/Neptune); Seussical, Sylvia (Aquarius); The Three Musketeers (Chicago Shakespeare); Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Citadel); Three Sisters (ATF).
Birmingham Conservatory 2010/2011
2023: Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost, Head Waiter in Grand Magic and Thomas Mowbray in Richard II. Eighth season. Stratford: 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.
2023: Joanne Jefferson in Rent and Angel in Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Gloria Thorpe in Damn Yankees, White Christmas, The Importance of Being Earnest, Shawground, 1922 in Concert, Charley's Aunt, Duke and the Two Irenes, Song for a Winters Night (The Shaw Festival); Home For the Holidays (Theatre Aquarius); Emcee in Cabaret, Finding Black Joy, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Grand Theatre); Mamma Mia! (Stage West); Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet (Capitol Theatre); Sophie in Mamma Mia! (Rainbow Stage). Voiceover: We the Culture (Facebook). Training: Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance, Sheridan College. H.B. Beal Secondary and C.C.H. Online: Instagram @oliviasinclairbrisbane. Et cetera: Olivia dedicates her debut season to her amazing support system, her family both chosen and biological, her friends and mentors, and 10 Talent. To anyone moving through life with joy, bravery, kindness and deep love.
2023: Dull in Love's Labour's Lost, Angel in Richard II and understudy in Grand Magic. 13th season. Stratford: Little Women, Every Little Nookie, The Physicists, Pericles, The Trojan Women, The Swanne, As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, Long Day's Journey…. Elsewhere: The Wedding Party (Crow's, Vancouver Arts Club); The River (Coal Mine); The Africa Trilogy (Volcano/Luminato); The Real World?, Rune Arlidge, Lion in the Streets, Motel Hélène (Tarragon); Body and Soul, Blood (Passe Muraille); Escape from Happiness (Factory); Doc, Leaving Home, The Price, Our Town, Miss Julie (Soulpepper); Macbeth, Othello (NAC); A Moon for the Misbegotten (Centaur); Streetcar Named Desire, How I Learned to Drive, Suddenly Last Summer (Citadel). Film/TV: American Gods, Cardinal, Remember, One Week, Men With Brooms, The Detail, Reign, Orphan Black, Slings and Arrows. Awards: Two Doras; Amelia Hall Guthrie. Et cetera: Love to C & A.
2023: Alexi Darling in Rent and Angel in Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Be Kind, Rewind and True North Mixtape in Toronto Fringe Festival (Randolph Theatre). Film/TV: Series lead in The Next Step, guest appearance in The Hardy Boys and Ten Truths About Love. Radio/Recordings: Narrator for Queer Little Nightmares by David Zomparelli & David Ly. Training: Wexford Collegiate for the Arts, private coaching with Suzanne Bastien. Online: @daniverayo. Et cetera: Dani is also a professional dancer and teacher, and is mostly self-trained in all of her disciplines. Dedicating this to my family, friends, partner, Wex and mentors. To my fellow queer artists with a dream, this is for you and proof that your dreams will come true so long as you give it your all!
2023: Sir Justin Green in Richard II, Waiter in Grand Magic and understudy in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: Jean Delorme in 1939. Elsewhere: Flute/Philostrate in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare BASH'd); Private Harris in Timothy Findley's The Wars (Grand Theatre); Chip Tolentino in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Hart House Theatre); Algernon Moncrieff in The Importance of Being Earnest (Theatre Erindale). Film/TV: Save the Date (Watersign Productions); Revenge of the Black Best Friend (CBC Gem). Training: Theatre and Drama Studies Program, University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College. Online: johnwamsley.ca. Instagram: @wamsley. Et cetera: For Mom, Dad, Meagan and Andrew. Thank you for everything.
2023: Steve in Rent and Angel in Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Peter in Peter's Final Flight (Ross Petty Panto); Mush in Newsies (Theatre Sheridan); Mazz in Pump Up the Volume (Canadian Music Theatre Project); Bernardo in West Side Story (Brott Music Festival); Ensemble in Apocalypsis (Luminato Festival). TV: Host on YTV's The Zone & The Zone Weekend. Training: Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance, Sheridan College. Online: Instagram @alex_wierzbicki. Et cetera: Alex would like to dedicate his festival debut to Ma & Pa for their continued love and support, to his dear friends for their encouragement, and to his fur baby Elvis.
2023: Queen Isabel in Richard II and Jaquenetta in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: Princess Elizabeth in Richard III and ensemble in The Miser. Elsewhere: Jo in Little Women (Opera Nuova); Adriana in The Comedy of Errors (Theatre Calgary); Isobel in Bull (683); Dracula, The Birds, Don Juan Comes Back From the War (Studio Theatre); Vasilisa in Baba Yaga (AMTC); Carolyn in The Bridges of Madison County (Dry Cold Productions); South Pacific (Rainbow Stage); Rebecca in The Seduction Theory (Sarasvati Productions). Training: University of Alberta BFA Acting, Birmingham Conservatory. Awards: John Hirsch Award (2022), Rainbow Stage Emerging Artist Scholarship. Online: Find Hannah on Instagram @hannahwiggles. Et cetera: Love and thanks to Mom, Dad, and Miriam.
2023: Swing in Rent and Angel in Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Bob in 9 to 5 (Port Hope Festival); Ensemble in Dixon Road (Musical Stage Co.); Orsino in Twelfth Night The Musical (Theatre Sheridan). Training: Sheridan College- Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance. Online: @travaewilliams on social media. He is also an upcoming singer/ songwriter with music on all music streaming platforms @travaewilliams. Personal note: To God be the glory and so much love to my beautiful family and friends. Blessings.
2023: Adaptor for Richard II. Brad Fraser is the author of many successful plays including the worldwide hit Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, Poor Super Man and Shelley's Shadow. His films include Love and Human Remains, Leaving Metropolis and a South Korean version of Kill Me Now. For TV he was a producer and writer on the groundbreaking Queer as Folk and he has written extensively for other media. He earned his Master's degree from the University of Toronto, has taught many classes on writing, acting and directing, and recently saw the release of his memoir, All the Rage. He can be found on Facebook and Twitter.
2023: Director of Richard II. Fifth season. Jillian was the founding Artistic Director of Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, and served as the Artistic Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre from 2012 to 2022. Directing Highlights: Under Wraps, AfterImage, The Cheat, Fear of Flight, The Chekhov Variations, Salvage: Story of a House, Between Breaths, Colony of Unrequited Dreams, Oil and Water, I Forgive You (Artistic Fraud); Christmas Carol, Twelfth Night, Metamorphoses, Tartuffe, Copenhagen (NAC); Bakkhai, The Diary of Anne Frank, As You Like It, The Neverending Story and Alice Through the Looking-Glass (Stratford Festival); Tell Tale Harbour (Charlottetown Festival); Grand Ghosts (The Grand Theatre); Tempting Providence (TNL). Jillian has Honorary Doctorates from Memorial University and York University. She was the winner of the Siminovitch Prize for Directing and the Canada Council's John Hirsch Prize.
2023: Choreographer for Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere as Director/Choreographer: No Place Like Home (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Little Mermaid (Theatre Royal Bath); The Addams Family, The Wizard of Oz, Sweet Charity (St. Lawrence College). As Choreographer: Cabaret (Grand Theatre); Sweeney Todd [UK & Toronto], Something Bubbled, Something Blue (TIFT/Outside the March); Alice in Wonderland (Soulpepper/MTYP); Spring Awakening (Redgrave Theatre), La Strada (UK Regional Tour), Manhattan Parisienne with Alain Boublil (The Other Palace.) Online: www.cameron-carver.com; Instagram @cam_carver Training: Sheridan College MT and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (MA Theatre Directing). Awards: Dora Award- Sweeney Todd (Outstanding Original Choreography 2022); Les Enfants Terribles Award 2022; UK Theatre Award- Little Mermaid (Best Show for Young People). Et cetera: Much love to my mom (Lola Haché) and Rachael at Talent House. xofc
2023: Set designer of Richard II. 19th season. Stratford: Chicago, Billy Elliot, Little Shop of Horrors, The Music Man, The Rocky Horror Show, Guys and Dolls, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Hosanna, The Comedy of Errors, An Ideal Husband - set; The Crucible, A Chorus Line, Bunny, The Sound of Music, Christina, The Girl King, Taking Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, Edward II, The Triumph of Love - set and costumes. Elsewhere: Design for Jasper at the Signature Theatre, Off-Broadway for Yonder Window, set for Embrasse at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, costumes for Frame by Frame at The National Ballet of Canada and Ex Machina, set for Hadrian at the Canadian Opera Company, and costumes for Ricciardo e Zoraide at the Rossini Festival in Pesaro, Italy.
2023: Costume Designer of Richard II. Sixth season. Bretta is a set, lighting and costume designer for theatre, opera and circus. She is the resident designer at Catalyst Theatre, where she creates and tours new musicals across Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. Bretta also designs for New York Theatre Workshop, The National Theatre, Birmingham REP, the RSC, Cirque du Soleil, the National Arts Centre, Theatre Calgary, Edmonton Opera, Calgary Opera, Citadel Theatre and Grand Theatre. She is the recipient of over 25 awards including nominations for the Lucille Lortel Award. She represented Canada in Prague at the Scenography Quadrennial and her costume designs have been exhibited in Moscow, Beijing, Taipei and Canada. Online: bretta-gerecke.com.
2023: Composer of Richard II. Stratford debut. Andrew Craig aka Rhapsodius serves as an artivist (artist+activist) and educator, based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Now in his third decade of professional artmaking, he creates, performs, directs, and produces original music, theatre, and video content, in addition to his teaching practice and social justice work. More information at www.rhapsodius.com.
2023: Creative Consultant of Richard II. Second season. Stratford: Director of Bunny. Elsewhere: SGS is the Artistic Producer for the National Creation Fund at Canada's National Arts Centre. She co-founded FOLDA, Spiderwebshow, Baby Grand Theatre, Women Making Scenes, and Die in Debt Theatre. SGS is a former AD of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and Associate AD at English Theatre (NAC). Over her award-winning career, SGS co-led the directing program at NTS, was the first Artistic Associate for Magnetic North Theatre Festival and was Associate AD at Factory Theatre in Toronto. Originally from Montréal, SGS now lives on unceded Mikmaki territory in Southwest Nova Scotia where she co-stewards Birchdale, an historic off-grid retreat, with partner Tracey Erin Smith. SGS calls Canada home. Huge thanks and love to Jill and Brad and the entire team. Online: @sarahgstanley.
2023: Supervising fight director for the 2023 season. 12th season. Stratford: Supervising Fight Director 2022, Associate: 2013-2020 seasons, Assistant: 2004, 2009 seasons. Elsewhere: Fight director - Bengal Tiger... (Crow's Theatre); Black Drum (Soulpepper); Peter and the Starcatcher, Sweet Charity, Cyrano (Shaw); Don Giovanni, War and Peace (COC). Film/TV Stunts (selected): The Boys (four seasons), See, FUBAR, Jack Reacher, What We Do In The Shadows, The Lost Symbol, Hardy Boys, The Man from Toronto, It Chapter Two, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Schitt's Creek, Murdoch Mysteries, Ginny & Georgia, Jupiter's Legacy, Supergirl, Impulse, I Was Lorena Bobbitt, Save Me, Frankie Drake, Titans, Umbrella Academy, The Expanse, Designated Survivor, Suicide Squad, Dark Matter, Killjoys, 12 Monkeys, Bitten, The Strain, Pompeii, Orphan Black, Total Recall. Training: Supreme Fight Master Elite Level 3. BFA, Ryerson University. Awards: SAG nomination, Best Stunt Ensemble, 2021, 2023 Paddy Crean. Online: @GeoffScovell.
(they/she/he)
2023: Intimacy director of Richard II. Third season. Stratford: Movement director of The Birds. Intimacy choreographer and movement director of Every Little Nookie. Elsewhere: Soulpepper Theatre: Choreographer of Kamloopa. Tarragon Theatre; Associate director and movement facilitator of My Sister's Rage. Awards: 2023 Urjo Kareda Award, Protégé for the 2021 Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prizes, JAYU's 2021 Arts for Human Rights Award, My Entertainment World 2019 Critic's Pick award for Outstanding Dance Performance. As an active speaker, facilitator, curator and intimacy professional, collaboration is the departure point for Aria's choreographic work created under their company POLITICAL MOVEMENT. Online:www.politicalmovement.ca.
2023: Associate sound designer of Richard II and assistant sound designer of Rent, King Lear, Frankenstein Revived and Les Belles-Soeurs. Stratford debut. Stratford: DWP 2022 (sound designer); Chicago, Hamlet and Death and the King's Horseman (assistant sound designer). Elsewhere: Associate sound designer for Orphée+ (Edmonton Opera); sound designer for John Ware Reimagined (Blyth Festival); composer for video projects Alone Together, Four, What Happened To Lee (Human Body Expression); composer, musician for A Midsummer Night's Dream (Stratford Pirate Transmission); orchestra for Singin' In The Rain, Piaf/Dietrich, Ain't Too Proud, (Mirvish); percussionist with TorQ Percussion Quartet and Ladom Ensemble. Recording: Debut album Guess I'm A People Too (2019) available on all platforms. Et cetera: Thinking of you this season, Peter.
2023: Associate fight director. Second season. Stratford:Richard III, Little Women. Elsewhere (selected): Instructor for the National Theatre School of Canada from 2016-2023; Peggy Picket Sees the Face of God (Soulpepper); Guys and Dools (SAC). Stunts (selected):kill joys, See, Hardy Boys, Dark Matter and Frankie Drake. Film and TV acting (selected): Hotzone, The Coroner, The Expanse and Netflix's upcoming FUBAR. Instagram: @davidchinchillaofficial.
(he/him) Langham Directors' Workshop
2023: Assistant director and cultural consultant of Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Acting - Bobby in Choir Boy (Canadian Stage/Arts Club); Orestes in Iphigenia and the Furies (on Taurian Land) (TPM/Saga Collectif); Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Theatre Rusticle); Woke in Shove it Down My Throat (Buddies in Bad Times/Pandemic); Cassius in Portia's Julius Caesar (Shakespeare in the Ruff); Bayard Rustin in The Seat Next to the King (Minmar Gaslight). Directing: Director - Shakespeare's Nigga, Queen Margaret (Shakespeare in the Ruff); Associate Director - Redbone Coonhound (Tarragon); Assistant Director - The Brothers Size (Soulpepper). Training: Humber College Theatre Performance. Awards: My Theatre 2017 Critics' Pick Award - Outstanding Performer in a Small Production (The Seat Next to the King). Online: Instagram @eyokway. Et cetera: Oceans of love and gratitude!
(she/they)
2023: Assistant set designer of Richard II and Wedding Band. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Theatre Critic - Kingston Theatre Alliance. Creative Consultant - Why Are You Like This? Productions. Co-Hostess - Cabaret Brouhaha. Training: BFA, Performance Creation (Concordia University). Online: Instagram: @freddy.vancamp. Et cetera: Freddy would like to thank her parents, Chad and Nicole for their continued and unending support.
2023: Assistant costume designer of Richard II. Stratford debut. Danielle lived in Berlin, Germany for three years working on immersive, experimental and site-specific theatre. She has been working within the film industry for the last three years as a Costumer, Background Costume Coordinator and Assistant Designer, for films such as U.S. vs Billie Holiday, Pet Semetary 1969 and Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation. Danielle also works as a Fiber Artist and mounted a costume and photography exhibition in both Montreal and Toronto titled, "Unravelling", depicting mental health struggles represented in various wearable art pieces. Danielle has a BFA in Art History and Film Studies from Concordia University. Danielle has been attending the Stratford Festival annually for almost 18 years with her family and would like to dedicate her participation in this production to them. Online: @daniellefagendesigns, www.daniellefagen.weebly.com.
2023: Assistant lighting designer of Grand Magic, and Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: The Royale (The Citadel Theatre); Martyr (ARC); In Studio, Brantwood (Sheridan College); Fixer: A New Musical (Imagination Works); Ralph and Lina (Ahuri Theatre); This Is How We Got Here,Ipperwash, Inner Elder, I Call Myself Princess, HUFF (Native Earth); AMAAL, IMPACT 21 (MT Space); SPAWN (Wild Woman Theatre); Other Side of The Game (Obsidian Theatre); Good Morning Viet Mom (Cahoots Theatre); Boblo, Sea Sick (Theatre Centre). Training: Technical Production (Humber College, 2008). Awards: Dora Audience Choice Award Outstanding Production (Brantwood, 2016). Online: @bcbIV. Et cetera: For Boni and Pat. May your love for each other continue to be an example.
2023: Assistant sound designer of Grand Magic, Wedding Band and Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Sound design and composition credits include Gaslight (Vertigo Theatre); The Importance of Being Earnest (Theatre Calgary); All I Want For Christmas, The Pink Unicorn (Lunchbox Theatre); Grace & Glorie, Lilia! (Rosebud Theatre). Original compositions have been featured in Parts & Labour (Fieldwork), Alberta Kitchen Party (Alberta Theatre Projects) and Flibbertigibbet's Story Exhibit (Quest Theatre). Alixandra also works as a composer for musical theatre. Her musical Home for the Holidays made its world premiere at Lunchbox Theatre in December 2022. Online: alixandracowman.com. Et cetera: Born in Regina and based in Calgary, Alixandra is a prairie woman through and through. She is thrilled to be spending time surrounded by the incredible artists at the Stratford Festival this year. Boundless gratitude to Conrad for the neverending love and support.
(they/she)
2023: Assistant fight director. Stratford debut. Christina graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada as an actor and has been so happy to find themself doing lots of different creative work, including fight directing and stunts! Big thanks to Geoff and the team for this wonderful learning opportunity.
2023: Stage manager of Richard II. 29th season. Stratford: Several productions including last season's Hamlet. Also Coriolanus, The Who's Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar (Stratford/La Jolla/Broadway), Shakespeare in Love, and the Miller-Plummer King Lear (Stratford/Lincoln Center). Elsewhere: National Arts Centre, Segal Centre, RMTC, Citadel, Shakespeare Theatre (DC), Canadian Stage, Theatre Plus, Passe Muraille, Tarragon, Native Earth and Factory.
2023: Apprentice stage manager of Richard II. Second season. Stratford: Festival Theatre production assistant (2022). Elsewhere: Ciaran has been working as a freelance stage manager and theatre artist since 2016. Selected credits include: Apprentice stage manager - Fall On Your Knees (Canadian Stage); The Grand Re-Opening Festival (Grand Theatre). Assistant production manager - You Can't Get There From Here Volume 2 (Factory Theatre). Production stage manager - rabbit hole (Toronto Metropolitan University). Stage manager - Beneath the Bed (Theatre Born Between); Wonderful Town, City of Angels (Randolph College); The Scarborough Project (Tarragon Theatre/Scarborough Arts); Nasty (Maelstrom Art Collective). Training: BFA, Performance: Production and Design, Toronto Metropolitan University. Et cetera: Love and infinite gratitude to their family, born and built, and to Emma, for everything.
2023: Assistant stage manager of Richard II and Love's Labour's Lost. Stratford debut. Elsewhere:Don Giovanni, Carmen, Die Vögel, Il Trittico (Pacific Opera Victoria); ELF: The Musical, Mary Poppins, A Christmas Carol (2017/2018), Chariots of Fire, Home for the Holidays (Grand Theatre); The Music Man, Serving Elizabeth, Kim's Convenience, Ring of Fire (Thousand Islands Playhouse); R.U.R. A Torrent of Light, Oksana G (Tapestry Opera); Treemonisha (Volcano); Passing Strange (The Musical Stage Company/Obsidian); The Ballad of Stompin' Tom (Sudbury Theatre Centre); The Brothers Size, The Testament of Mary, Hosanna, The Odd Couple (Soulpepper); Disney's Newsies (Drayton); Good Morning Viet Mom (Cahoots); Stage Fright (Lighthouse Festival Theatre).
2023: Assistant stage manager of Richard II and Wedding Band. Fifth season. Stratford: Assistant lighting designer of Little Women and Wendy and Peter Pan. Apprentice stage manager of I Am William. Production assistant for the Avon Theatre and The Langham Directors' Workshop. Elsewhere: Stage manager on WaterFall (Gargantua Theatre); apprentice stage manager on Julius Caesar (Crow's/Groundling Theatre); stage manager/associate lighting designer on Kiviuq Returns: An Inuit Epic (Qaggiavuut, National Theatre of Greenland, Tarragon Theatre); writer/director of The Stage Manager's Guide to Dating Assholes (self-produced at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Toronto Fringe Festival). Training: MA in Art History and BFA in Theatre Production from York University. Awards: Outstanding Global Achievement Award from York University, Guthrie Award from Stratford Festival.
2023: Production stage manager of the Tom Patterson Theatre and stage manager of Wedding Band. 17th season. Stratford: Production stage manager of the Studio Theatre (2018, 2019); Stage manager - Freedom Cabaret 2.0: Black Music That Shaped the Dream of America, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet (2017), Bunny, Possible Worlds, Hirsch; Assistant stage manager - Tartuffe, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Evita, Kiss Me, Kate, Macbeth, Rice Boy, Romeo and Juliet (2008), Caesar and Cleopatra, My One and Only, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Duchess of Malfi, The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead; Apprentice stage manager - Noises Off; Production coordinator - Just Short of Reality (Stratfest@Home). Elsewhere: University of Waterloo, Inter Arts Matrix, Theatre Sheridan, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Erindale, Theatre Direct Canada/Eldritch Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille/Obsidian Theatre Company, Bluewater Summer Playhouse, Charlottetown Festival. Training: Sheridan College.
2023: Production stage manager of the Tom Patterson Theatre and stage manager of Rent. 27th season. Stratford: Shows include Chicago, Billy Elliot, A Chorus Line, Crazy for You, Fiddler on the Roof, Camelot, Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Hello, Dolly!, The King and I and others. Elsewhere: Over 40 years as a stage manager in live entertainment including gala events, music concerts, opening ceremonies and fundraising events. Over 25 years with the Canadian Opera Company as a stage manager; production stage manager and resident director of Jersey Boys, Toronto; 25 years as a singer/dancer and choreographer in Canadian theatre; associate director/choreographer to her mentor, Alan Lund. Et cetera: Love to Paul, daughters Stephanie and Jennifer, son-in-law Andrew, and her grandchildren, Kennedy, Koston and Connor. Happy to be working through this pandemic!!
2023: Tom Patterson Theatre production assistant. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Brianna has stage managed for Toronto Dance Theatre, Director's Lab North, Just For Laughs Montreal, and Toronto Fringe's 2021 Primetime Festival. She has also worked as the Assistant Stage Manager for TouchX (Kaeja Dance), Digital Production Coordinator for Toronto Fringe's 2022 Next Stage Festival and as the Dresser for Bentboy and Snow White (YPT). Training: McMaster University, Theatre and Film, The National Theatre School of Canada, Production Design and Technical Arts.
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