Based on the novel by Margaret Laurence
Text by Vern Thiessen with Yvette Nolan
Directed by Krista Jackson with Geneviève Pelletier
Choreographed by Cameron Carver
“I TRIED DIVINING ONCE. NOTHING HAPPENED.”
Novelist Morag Gunn, estranged from her only daughter, unable to write, struggling with the bottle, is adrift in a river of memories. Travelling from the present to the past to an imagined future, Morag's journey encompasses her personal struggle for freedom and expression as well as those of the Métis and First Nations peoples of her native Manitoba.
Production support is generously provided by Karon C. Bales & Charles E. Beall, by Cathy & Paul Cotton, by the Harkins & Manning families in memory of Jim & Susan Harkins, by The Fabio Mascarin Foundation and by The Tremain Family.
Birmingham Conservatory, 1999
2024: Belarius in Cymbeline and Christie in The Diviners. 17th season.
(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.
(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, Everybody, Flush, 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.
(she/her) Coast Salish Indigenous (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw)
2024: Appears in The Diviners and understudy in Something Rotten!. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Polly in Pollyanna and Jean in Maggie (Theatre Aquarius); Kathleen in Tell Tale Harbour and Miss Stacy in Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown Festival); Jovie in Elf (Grand Theatre); Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Sophie in Mamma Mia (Arts Club); Eponine in Les Miserables (Chemainus Theatre Festival). Film/TV: Motherland: Fort Salem (Freeform), Dancing Through Christmas (Lifetime), First Native and Borderline (Orca Cove Media). Voiceover: Spirit Rangers (Netflix), Skookum and Chums (Telus), Barbie web shorts (Mattel). Live music: Vocalist for Indigenous music groups M'Girl and Tillicum Shantie. Training: Bachelor of Performing Arts from Capilano University. Online: MichelleBardach.com, IG: @michyb123.
Birmingham Conservatory, 2003
2024: Nostradamus in Something Rotten! and Brooke in The Diviners. 16th season. Stratford: Billy Flynn in Chicago, Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Billy Elliot, Little Shop of Horrors, The Winter's Tale, A Funny Thing Happened..., West Side Story, Oklahoma!, Cymbeline, Camelot. Elsewhere: The Comedy of Errors (Chicago Shakespeare); A Little Night Music (Koerner Hall); Life After, The Wild Party (Musical Stage); Toronto/US National Tour of Matilda - Toronto Critics Award (Mirvish/Dodger); Of Human Bondage, Idiot's Delight (Soulpepper); Company (Theatre 20); The Arsonists, Into the Woods (Canadian Stage); The Magic Fire (Shaw); Beauty and the Beast - Dora Award, The Drowsy Chaperone (Mirvish). Film/TV: Leer Estates seasons 1 & 2 (Stratfest@Home), Murdoch Mysteries, Mittens and Pants, Super Why, Saving Me, Hotel Transylvania, Paw Patrol. Awards: Nominated for an ACTRA, multiple Dora and CSA 's. Love to Christine and Olivia. @danchameroy.
(he/him)
2024: Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten! and understudy in The Diviners. Sixth season. Stratford: Historian/Not Dead Fred in Monty Python's Spamalot, A Wrinkle in Time, Chicago, Here's What It Takes, Billy Elliot, Little Shop of Horrors, The Music Man, Rocky Horror Show, The House of Martin Guerre. Elsewhere: Tim in Chris, Mrs, Doody in Grease (Winter Garden); Sondheim: A Celebration (New Stages); Camelot (Drayton Entertainment); Anne of Green Gables (Grand Theatre); Riff in West Side Story (BMT); What a Wonderful World (VPP); Carnival Cruise Lines; Footloose, My Fair Lady, Legally Blonde and The Addams Family (Grand Theatre HSP). TV: Murdoch Mysteries. Training: Canada's National Ballet School, Dance Steps London, Beal Performing Arts. Online: @thefirmstonator. Et cetera: Love to Ash and his parents. Huge thanks to Donna, Laura, Bruce and the wonderful TH gang, and all the mentors who have helped along the way.
2024: Appears in Something Rotten! and The Diviners. Eighth season. Stratford: Monty Python's Spamalot, Frankenstein Revived, Liz in Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, HMS Pinafore, A Chorus Line, A Little Night Music, Crazy for You, The Beaux' Stratagem. Elsewhere (selected):Return to Grace (Fallsview Casino, Bangkok Thailand); Chicago, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan (Drayton); Joseph…, Beauty and the Beast (Theatre Aquarius); Dance Legends (Drayton, Grand Theatre). Film/TV (selected): Just Short of Reality (STRATFEST@HOME), The Boys, What We Do in the Shadows, Warehouse 13, Hellcats, L.A. Complex, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure. Training/Teaching: Graduate of Sheridan College, Musical Theatre Performance; certified yoga instructor, mentor and trainer to dancers. Online: @bethanykovarik. Et cetera: Forever grateful for the support of family and friends. Love to Mom, Dad, Chad, Ryan, Andrea, James and Talent House.
Métis Nation of Alberta
2024: Appears in Something Rotten! and The Diviners. Sixth season. Stratford: Chicago, Billy Elliot the Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, Guys and Dolls, HMS Pinafore, A Chorus Line, The Hypochondriac. Elsewhere: Holiday Inn, White Christmas, Brigadoon (Shaw Festival); Anne of Green Gables, Jesus Christ Superstar (Charlottetown Festival); Rock of Ages (Elgin Theatre); Mary Poppins (YPT); West Side Story (Citadel Theatre); Clara's Dream, Shumka at 50! China Tour (Shumka/SPI Productions). Film/TV: Mother of All Shows, Canada's Got Talent Season 2. Training: Grant MacEwan University, Theatre Arts. Instagram: @Djmah5. Et cetera: Jordan would like to thank everyone at The Talent House, his family, friends and mentors for all the incredible support. Remember: "on the opposite side of fear is opportunity". A special thanks to my rock, my love Christine.
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.
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.
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.
(she/her) Birmingham Conservatory, 2024
2024: Portia in Something Rotten! and appears in The Diviners. Second season. Stratford: Joanne Jefferson in Rent, Richard II. 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 (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 this season to her amazing support system, her family both chosen and biological, her friends and mentors. To anyone moving through life with bravery, joy, kindness and deep love.
Birmingham Conservatory, 2000
2024: Hedda Tesman in Hedda Gabler and Eva, Duchess in The Diviners. 15th season. Sara is delighted to return to the Festival following a year playing Sally in the Original Broadway Company of Tom Stoppard's Leopoldstadt. Stratford: Shakespeare's Juliet, Olivia, Cordelia, Jessica, Rosalind; Elizabeth/Robyn (Serving Elizabeth), Ruth (Blithe Spirit), Célimène (The Misanthrope), Wendy (Peter Pan), Madame de Tourvel (Dangerous Liaisons), Gwendolyn (The Importance of Being Earnest), Laurencia (Fuente Ovejuna), Mabel (An Ideal Husband). Broadway: Cecily in Travesties, Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest. Off Broadway: Beatrice-Joanna in The Changeling. In the UK:Love Me Do (Dorothy), Intimate Apparel (Mrs. Van Buren). Elsewhere: Two seasons at the Shaw Festival playing Saint Joan and Ann Whitfield in Man And Superman, Beatrice at The Old Globe, Titania and Ariel at Shakespeare Theatre DC and many other worldwide adventures! Et cetera: For B, always.
2024: Director (with Geneviève Pelletier) and Dramaturg of The Diviners. Fourth season. Stratford: Associate Director: All My Sons, Assistant Director: Love's Labour's Lost, Mother Courage and Her Children. Elsewhere: The Retreat (Imago Theatre); Dancing at Lughnasa (Shaw); A Doll's House: Part 2 (Mirvish/RMTC); Liars at a Funeral (Blyth Festival); Lion in Winter, Fly Me to the Moon (Grand Theatre); Sexy Laundry, Perfect Wedding, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Space Girl (Prairie Theatre Exchange); Dock Spider (Magnus Theatre); Iago Speaks (Shakespeare by the Saskatchewan); Awaken (Shakespeare by the Ruins/zone41); Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Sense and Sensibility, Morning After Grace, Private Lives, The Seagull (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre). Awards: Gina Wilkinson Prize, Jean Gascon Award. Online: kristajackson.net, imagotheatre.ca. Et cetera: Artistic & Executive Director of Imago Theatre in Montreal.
2024: Director (with Krista Jackson) and Cultural Consultant of The Diviners. Stratford debut. Geneviève Pelletier is a francophone Red River Métis actor and theatre director from the Red River Valley. Since 2012, she is the artistic and general director of le Théâtre Cercle Molière in Saint-Boniface, Manitoba. She is interested in nurturing a fertile creative space that includes as many cultures as there are voices, one that reflects the various communities she is engaged with.
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