Artists

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  Adapted from William Shakespeare and Directed by Ravi Jain

  

  Adapted from William Shakespeare and Directed by Ravi Jain

  Toronto-based stage director Ravi Jain is a multi-award-winning artist known for making politically bold and accessible theatrical experiences in both small indie productions and large theatres. As the founding artistic director of Why Not Theatre, Ravi has established himself as an artistic leader for his inventive productions, international producing/collaborations and innovative producing models which are aimed to better support emerging artists to make money from their art. 

  Ravi was twice shortlisted for the 2016 and 2019 Siminovitch Prize and won the 2012 Pauline McGibbon Award for Emerging Director and the 2016 Canada Council John Hirsch Prize for direction. He is a graduate of the two-year program at École Jacques Lecoq. He was selected to be on the roster of clowns for Cirque du Soleil. Upcoming, Ravi will premier the live version of What You Won’t Do For Love, starring David Suzuki, and in 2023 he will be directing his co-adaptation of the Indian Epic Mahabharata.

  "Be truthful, gentle and fearless" - M.K Gandhi

  Le metteur en scène torontois Ravi Jain est un artiste primé reconnu pour les expériences théâtrales à la fois inédites et accessibles qu’il propose au public aussi bien dans de petits espaces indépendants que dans de grandes salles. Fondateur et directeur artistique du Why Not Theatre, il a fait sa marque à titre de leader artistique avec ses productions originales, ses collaborations internationales et ses modèles de production novateurs, qui visent à encourager les artistes émergents à mieux vivre de leur art.

  Deux fois finaliste du Prix Siminovitch (2016 et 2019), Ravi Jain a remporté le prix Pauline McGibbon du metteur en scène émergent (2012) et le prix John-Hirsch du Conseil des arts du Canada en mise en scène (2016). Diplômé du programme de deux ans de l’École Jacques Lecoq, il a été sélectionné au nombre des clowns du Cirque du Soleil. Prochainement, Ravi Jain présentera en salle What You Won’t Do For Love, avec en vedette David Suzuki, et mettra en scène en 2023 sa coadaptation de l’épopée indienne Mahabharata.

  « Agis avec sincérité, douceur et courage » - M.K. Gandhi

  NAC media featuring Ravi Jain

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  Hamlet Christine Horne

  

  Hamlet Christine Horne

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  Horatio/ASL and Visual Translation Dawn Jani Birley

  

  Horatio/ASL and Visual Translation Dawn Jani Birley

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  Rosencrantz/Player King/Gravedigger/Guard Miriam Fernandes

  

  Rosencrantz/Player King/Gravedigger/Guard Miriam Fernandes

  Miriam Fernandes is the Co-Artistic Director of the Toronto-based company Why Not Theatre and has worked as an actor, director and theatre-maker around the world.

  As a director, her work includes Metamorphoses (University of Toronto’s Drama Centre), Hayavadana (Soulpepper Theatre), Nesen (MiniMidiMaxi Festival, Norway) and The First Time I Saw the Sea (YVA Company, Norway).

  As a creator, she is currently co-writing/adapting for the stage the ancient epic, Mahabharata (Why Not Theatre/Shaw Festival), developing a Deaf/hearing production of Lady Macbeth (in partnership with 1S1 Collective), and is a co-writer and performer in What You Won’t Do for Love with Drs. David Suzuki and Tara Cullis.

  Miriam has trained with Anne Bogart’s SITI Company, and is a graduate of Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She is the recipient of the JBC Watkins Award and was nominated for the inaugural Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize.

  Miriam Fernandes est la codirectrice artistique de la compagnie torontoise Why Not Theatre. Elle a travaillé comme actrice, metteuse en scène et artiste de théâtre partout dans le monde.

  En tant que metteuse en scène, on lui doit les œuvres Metamorphoses (Drama Centre de l’Université de Toronto), Hayavadana (Soulpepper Theatre), Nesen (Festival MiniMidiMaxi, Norvège), The First Time I Saw the Sea (compagnie YVA, Norvège).

  En ce moment, cette créatrice travaille à la coécriture et la coadaptation à la scène du récit épique Mahabharata (Why Not Theatre et Festival Shaw), à la conception d’une version de Lady Macbeth destinée aux personnes sourdes et entendantes (en collaboration avec le collectif 1S1), et à la coécriture du film What You Won’t Do for Love, dans lequel elle partage l’écran avec David Suzuki et Tara Cullis.

  Miriam a été formée avec Anne Bogart, de la compagnie SITI, et est diplômée de l’École internationale de théâtre Jacques Lecoq, à Paris. Elle a remporté une bourse J.-B.-C.-Watkins et a été mise en nomination à l’édition inaugurale des prix Johanna Metcalf des arts de la scène.

  NAC media featuring Miriam Fernandes

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  Polonius Barbara Gordon

  

  Polonius Barbara Gordon

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  Ophelia Ho Ka Kei (Jeff Ho)

  

  Ophelia Ho Ka Kei (Jeff Ho)

  Jeff Ho is a theatre artist, originally from Hong Kong. As an actor, he has toured as Ophelia in Why Not Theatre's Prince Hamlet across Canada and the United States over a span of five years. Other credits include: I Forgive You (Artistic Fraud), Orestes (Tarragon Theatre), trace (Remount - NAC/Factory Theatre),  Box 4901 (Buddies in Bad Times), camera obscura (hungry ghosts) (the frank theatre/QAF - Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Production - Small Theatre), Hana's Suitcase (Young People's Theatre, tour: Toronto, Montreal and Seattle), Kim's Convenience (CBC), The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu), and Orphan Black (BBC America).

  As a playwright, his works include cockroach (Tarragon Theatre), Iphigenia and the Furies (On Taurian Land) (Theatre Passe Muraille/Saga Collectif/Architect Theatre), Antigone:  方 (Young People's Theatre), and trace (NAC/Factory Theatre/b current). His plays are published by Playwrights Canada Press.  

  Jeff is grateful to have been honoured with a Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best New Canadian Play (Iphigenia); the Jon Kaplan Legacy Fund Award for a Young Canadian Playwright; the Bulmash Siegel Playwriting Award; finalist for the Playwright's Guild of Canada's Drama award (cockroach); finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award (Iphigenia and Antigone); nominated for four Dora Awards. He is a graduate of the National Theatre School and is currently an MFA candidate at York University.

  Jeff Ho est un artiste de théâtre, originaire de Hong Kong. Comme acteur, il a joué le rôle d’Ophélie en tournée au Canada et aux États-Unis pendant cinq ans, dans la pièce Prince Hamlet du Why Not Theatre. Il a également joué dans les pièces suivantes : I Forgive You (Artistic Fraud), Orestes (Tarragon Theatre), trace (Remount – CNA/Factory Theatre), Box 4901 (Buddies in Bad Times), camera obscura (hungry ghosts) (the frank theatre/QAF – Prix Jessie Richardson pour la meilleure production – Small Theatre), Hana’s Suitcase (Young People’s Theatre en tournée à Toronto, Montréal et Seattle), Kim’s Convenience (CBC), The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) et Orphan Black (BBC America).

  Comme dramaturge, il a notamment écrit Cockroach (Tarragon Theatre), Iphigenia and the Furies (On Taurian Land) (Theatre Passe Muraille/Saga Collectif/Architect Theatre), Antigone : 方 (Young People’s Theatre), et trace (CNA/Factory Theatre/b current). Ses pièces sont publiées chez Playwrights Canada Press.

  Jeff est lauréat du Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best New Canadian Play (Iphigenia), du Jon Kaplan Legacy Fund Award for a Young Canadian Playwright et du Bulmash Siegel Playwriting Award. En plus d’avoir été cité pour quatre prix Dora, il a été finaliste du prix Drama de la Playwright’s Guild of Canada (Cockroach) et du Prix littéraire du Gouverneur général (Iphigenia Antigone). Il est diplômé de l’École nationale de théâtre et est actuellement candidat à la maîtrise en beaux-arts à l’Université York.

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  Guildenstern/Player Queen/Gravedigger/ Guard/Osric Hannah Miller

  

  Guildenstern/Player Queen/Gravedigger/ Guard/Osric Hannah Miller

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  Claudius Rick Roberts

  

  Claudius Rick Roberts

  Rick appeared in R+J (Stratford Festival). His digital play Orestes premiered at the Tarragon Theatre this year.  Recent appearances include Nurses (Corus/Global); This Life and Fortunate Son (CBC); All My Puny Sorrows and the upcoming film North of Albany (Slykid & Skykid).  He played the role of Jack Layton in the CBC TV movie Jack. He recently appeared at the NAC in Why Not Theatre’s Prince Hamlet. Other recent favourites include Animal Farm, Waiting for Godot, The Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Soulpepper); Within the Glass and Enemy of the People (Tarragon Theatre). Rick has written and directed several plays and has developed projects for television. He is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.   

  Rick a joué dans R+J (Festival de Stratford). Parmi ses apparitions récentes, citons Nurses (Corus/Global), Fortunate Son et This Life (CBC); All My Puny Sorrows et North of Albany (Slykid & Skykid). Il a joué le rôle de Jack Layton dans le téléfilm Jack de la CBC, pour lequel il a reçu le Canadian Screen Award et le prix ACTRA du meilleur comédien. Il a récemment joué au CNA dans Prince Hamlet de Why Not Theatre. Parmi ses autres coups de cœur récents, mentionnons Animal Farm, Waiting for Godot, The Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Soulpepper); Within the Glass et Enemy of the People (Tarragon Theatre). Rick a écrit et mis en scène plusieurs pièces et a développé des projets pour la télévision. Il est diplômé de l’École nationale de théâtre du Canada.

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  Laertes Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah

  

  Laertes Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah

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  Gertrude Karen Robinson

  

  Gertrude Karen Robinson

  Before they arrived at the NAC for rehearsals, we asked a few questions to the members of the 2014-15 Ensemble about themselves.

  1)      What are you working on over the summer? My garden.  Schitt's Creek, a new CBC sitcom starring Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara that premieres  in January of 2015 and Corner Gas: The Movie.

  2)      What are you looking most forward to when you arrive at the NAC? Dunno really.  Trying to remain open-hearted about whatever comes my way.

  3)      How did you get involved in acting? Youngest of four.  My parents thought it was maybe a personality quirk, definitely a phase.  BOOM!

  4)      What’s the most interesting thing that has happened to you on stage? That moment when all invested elements align. There is a circle of communication between actors and audience, behind-the-scenes is a well-executed ballet, the breathing is deep and relaxed, and the angels attend. And conversely, that moment when nothing works, despite everyone's best efforts.  It's all interesting.

  Raised in: Kingston, Jamaica | Based in: Toronto, ON

  For the NAC:

  Saint Carmen of The Main (co-production with Canadian Stage), nativity, Romeo & Juliet, Belle (Factory Theatre), The Play’s The Thing (co-production with Soulpepper).

  Theatre:

  Minotaur (Young People’s Theatre – Dora Mavor Moore Award Outstanding Ensemble nomination);Pacamambo (Canadian Repertory Theatre); The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble (ObsidianTheatre/Factory Theatre); Intimate Apparel (Alberta Theatre Projects - Betty Mitchell Award nomination); The Africa Trilogy (Volcano Theatre/Luminato Festival); If We Were Birds (Tarragon Theatre); Stuff Happens (Studio 180/Mirvish Productions); Eternal Hydra (Crow’s Theatre - Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination); Doubt, a parable (Citadel Theatre - Sterling Award); The Tempest (Canadian Stage); 'da KINK in my hair (US & UK - NAACP Best Ensemble Award); Shakespeare’s Universe, Harlem Duet, The Duchess of Malfi, Agamemnon (Stratford Festival).

  Other: 

  Film/TV: The Gospel According to the Blues (Gemini nomination), Ghett'A Life (Salento Int'l Film Fest Best Actress Award), King, Working the Engels, Saving Hope, Lars and the Real Girl, H2O, Slings and Arrows. Upcoming: Schitt's Creek (CBC); Corner Gas: The Movie.

  Nous avons posé quelques questions aux membres de l’Ensemble 2014-15 pour apprendre à les connaître avant leur arrivée au CNA pour les répétitions.

  1)      Sur quoi travaillez‑vous cet été? Mon jardin. Schitt's Creek, une nouvelle série de la CBC, mettant en vedette Eugene Levy et Catherine O'Hara, dont la première aura lieu en janvier 2015 et Corner Gas: The Movie.

  2)      Qu’attendez‑vous avec le plus d’impatience de votre séjour au CNA d’Ottawa? Je ne sais vraiment pas. J’essaie de garder le cœur ouvert à tout ce qui pourrait survenir.

  3)      Comment êtes‑vous devenu acteur/actrice? Je suis la plus jeune de quatre enfants. Mes parents pensaient qu’il s’agissait peut‑être d’une bizarrerie de ma personnalité, une lubie qui passerait forcément. BOUM!

  4)      Quelle est la chose la plus intéressante qui vous soit arrivée sur scène? Le moment où tous les éléments s’alignent. Il y a un cercle de communication entre les acteurs et le public, en coulisses il y a un ballet bien exécuté, la respiration est profonde et détendue, et les anges veillent! Et, à l’inverse, le moment où rien ne va plus, malgré les meilleurs efforts de tout le monde. Tout est intéressant.

  A grandi à Kingston, Jamaïque | Vit à Toronto, ON

  Au CNA : 

  Saint Carmen of The Main (une coproduction avec Canadian Stage), nativity, Romeo & Juliet, Belle (Factory Theatre), The Play’s The Thing (une coproduction avec Soulpepper).

  Théâtre : 

  Minotaur (Young People’s Theatre); Pacamambo (Canadian Repertory Theatre); The Gravitational Pull Of Bernice Trimble (ObsidianTheatre/Factory Theatre); Intimate Apparel (Alberta Theatre Projects, mise en nomination pour un Prix Betty Mitchell); The Africa Trilogy (Volcano Theatre/Luminato Festival); If We Were Birds (Tarragon Theatre); Stuff Happens (Studio 180/Mirvish Productions); Eternal Hydra (Crow’s Theatre, mise en nomination pour un Prix Dora Mavor Moore); Doubt, a parable (Citadel Theatre, Prix Sterling); The Tempest (Canadian Stage); 'da KINK in my hair (É.-U. et Royaume-Uni, Prix NAACP dans la catégorie Meilleur ensemble); Shakespeare’s Universe, Harlem Duet, The Duchess of Malfi, Agamemnon (Stratford Festival).

  Autres : 

  The Gospel According to the Blues (mise en nomination aux prix Gemini), Ghett'A Life (Prix de la meilleure actrice au Salento Int'l Film Fest), King, Working the Engels, Saving Hope, Lars and the Real Girl, H2O, Slings and Arrows. Prochain : Schitt's Creek (CBC); Corner Gas: The Movie.

  NAC media featuring Karen Robinson

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  Set and Costume Designer Lorenzo Savoini

  

  Set and Costume Designer Lorenzo Savoini

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  Lighting Designer André du Toit

  

  Lighting Designer André du Toit

  André du Toit (he/him) – Lighting Designer

  RECENT: Lady M (Margaret) (1s1 Theatre); Prince Hamlet, What You Won’t Do For Love (Why Not Theatre); Romeo & Juliet (Stratford Festival); This Was The World, Harlem Duet, Guarded Girls (Tarragon Theatre); Getting Married, The Orchard (Shaw Festival); Italian Mime Suicide, Paolozzapedia (Bad New Days); Now You See Her (Nightwood Theatre, Quote Unquote, Why Not Theatre); on air (adelheid); Quiver (Nightwood Theatre). UPCOMING: speaking of sneaking (Buddies in Bad Times).

  André du Toit (il/lui) – éclairages

  PRODUCTIONS RÉCENTES : Lady M (Margaret) (1s1 Theatre); Prince Hamlet, What You Won’t Do For Love (Why Not Theatre); Romeo & Juliet (Festival de Stratford); This Was The World, Harlem Duet, Guarded Girls (Tarragon Theatre); Getting Married, The Orchard (Festival Shaw); Italian Mime Suicide, Paolozzapedia (Bad New Days); Now You See Her (Nightwood Theatre, Quote Unquote, Why Not Theatre); on air (adelheid); Quiver (Nightwood Theatre). À VENIR : speaking of sneaking (Buddies in Bad Times).

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  Sound Designer Thomas Ryder Payne

  

  Sound Designer Thomas Ryder Payne

  Thomas Ryder Payne is a composer and sound designer for theatre, dance and film. 

  For Crow’s Theatre: Bad Roads, The Master Plan, Perceptual Archaeology, Red Velvet, Uncle Vanya, Orphans For The Czar, MixTape, Julius Caesar, A&R Angels, Boy In The Moon, Wedding Party, The Watershed, Someone Else.

  Other Theatre: Designs for Stratford, Festival Shaw Festival, Mirvish, Productions Soulpepper, Canadian Stage, Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraiile, Young People’s Theatre, Modern Times Stage Company, Aluna, Theatre Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Theatre Gargantua, Nightwood Theatre, Toronto Dance Theatre, National Arts Centre, Centaur Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Great Canadian Theatre Company, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, and many others.

  Film/TV: Plain View, 7A, Blood Harvest, Hero.Traitor.Patriot, Alegra & Jim, Robert’s Circle.

  Education/Training: Studied composition with James Tenney, Honours BA, York University.

  Thomas Ryder Payne est compositeur et concepteur sonore pour le théâtre, la danse et le cinéma. Il a notamment travaillé pour les organisations suivantes : le Centre national des Arts, le Festival de Stratford, le Festival Shaw, Mirvish Productions, le Soulpepper Theater, la Canadian Stage, le Tarragon Theatre, le Factory Theatre, le Theatre Passe Muraille, le Young People’s Theatre, le Crow’s Theatre, Modern Times, Aluna, Buddies in Bad Times, le Nightwood Theatre, le Toronto Dance Theatre, le Theatre Calgary, la GCTC et le Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. Thomas a reçu quatre prix Dora Mavor Moore et 25 mises en nomination.

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  Stage Manager Neha Ross

  

  Stage Manager Neha Ross

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  Assistant Stage Manager Tamara Protic

  

  Assistant Stage Manager Tamara Protic

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  Production Manager Andrew Pye

  

  Production Manager Andrew Pye

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  Producer / Company Manager Kevin Matthew Wong

  

  Producer / Company Manager Kevin Matthew Wong

  Kevin Matthew Wong (he/him) is a theatre creator, projection designer, performer and producer. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Broadleaf Theatre, which merges environmentalism and live performance.

  His co-creation The Chemical Valley Project is a multimedia solo-performance, created in collaboration with Aamjiwnaang First Nation Water Protectors Vanessa Gray and Beze Gray, and co-creator Julia Howman. Over the past three years, The Chemical Valley Project has toured across Canada and internationally and has recently been adapted as a museum installation.

  Kevin has been lucky to work with Cahoots Theatre, the Koffler Centre, Music Picnic, Theatre Passe Muraille, Paprika Festival, The Gardarev Center, and others. Kevin is a Producer at Why Not Theatre, working on projects such as Mahabharata, Prince Hamlet, and What You Won’t Do For Love. He's also an organizer with Artists for Climate & Migrant Justice and Indigenous Sovereignty.

  Kevin Matthew Wong est artiste de théâtre, concepteur de projections, interprète et producteur. Il est cofondateur et directeur artistique du Broadleaf Theatre, qui allie militantisme environnemental et prestations en direct.

  The Chemical Valley Project est un spectacle solo multimédia qu’il a cocréé avec Julia Howman en collaboration avec Vanessa Gray et Beze Gray, protecteurs des eaux de la Première Nation Aamjiwnaang; le spectacle a tourné partout au Canada et sur la scène internationale au cours des trois dernières années, et a récemment été adapté pour une installation muséale.

  Wong a notamment collaboré avec le Cahoots Theatre, le Koffler Centre, Music Picnic, le Théâtre Passe Muraille, le Paprika Festival et le Gardarev Center. Producteur au Why Not Theatre, il a œuvré à différents projets, tels Mahabharata, Prince Hamlet et What You Won’t Do For Love. Kevin Matthew Wong est en outre l’un des organisateurs de la coalition Artists for Climate & Migrant Justice and Indigenous Sovereignty.

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