≈ 2 hours and 30 minutes · With intermission
Last updated: February 20, 2019
Artistic Director’s Notes
Theatre isn’t just the art of the story but the art of how the story is told. When you want a story told in an absolutely unique, absolutely game-changing way, you turn to a team of theatre makers who are guaranteed to blow the doors off anything they put their minds to. Ravi Jain and Why Not Theatre are firmly situated in this camp. So, although a new version of Hamlet wasn’t initially forefront in my mind for programming this season, I knew that if Ravi had his hands on it, this production would not be your average Hamlet. And Ravi and his team deliver. By refocusing the storyteller role to Horatio, and with the brilliant and disarming Dawn Jani Birley in that role, this revisionist Hamlet makes us see the collapse of Elsinore in a whole new light; a light so striking that I consider this particular Hamlet to be a shining example of a brave, new, Canadian work. With the company’s ingenious new take on each and every character, a provocative design and Ravi’s riveting interpretation, I hope you find it as thrilling as I do.
Director’s Notes
Classic plays are universal. They transcend time, language, borders and cultures. At the core of a classic is a central question that addresses fundamental reflections on who we are as humans – to quote Shakespeare they hold a “mirror up to nature”.
Without knowing it, when watching a new production of a classic, many artists and audiences who’ve seen earlier versions of a play seek the Xerox copy of what they remember. And for a long time, this limit to our imaginations excluded many talented artists from being able to interpret these stories, and limited the resonance and contemporary meaning of the plays for audiences.
For Prince Hamlet, we wanted to set our imaginations free in order to rediscover this “old” story anew. Our ensemble defies conventional casting. The incredible Christine Horne stars as Hamlet, and Horatio (the central character of this adaptation) is played by the sensational Dawn Jani Birley. Our production is bilingual, both English and ASL are fully integrated, which is rare, and provides unique access to Shakespeare’s text for both Deaf and hearing audiences. By changing the perspective of the storytellers, we break expectations, discover new aspects of the story and contemporize it – without changing the language or story itself.
Tonight, our aim is to have more people see themselves in the “mirror” being held “up to nature” and in doing so reflect on deeper truths contained in this play, confront the history of the theatre, and more importantly, reveal something deeper about the audience themselves.
We hope you enjoy it, and thank you for coming to the theatre.
Why Not Theatre
Why Not Theatre is an agile, international theatre company based in Toronto, Canada, rooted in the values of innovation, community and collaboration. Our work is inventive, cross-cultural, and reflects our passion for the exploration of difference. We challenge the status quo by examining what stories are being told, and who is telling them. More than just a theatre company, we develop creative strategies to build a healthier and stronger arts ecology. We MAKE and tour critically-acclaimed and award-winning new work, SHARE resources with other companies and artists to produce and tour their work, and PROVOKE change through new producing models and the presentation of work for new audiences. We are led by a core team of Founding Artistic Director Ravi Jain, Managing Director Owais Lightwala and Executive Producer Kelly Read.
Artistic and General Director: Ravi Jain
Managing Director: Owais Lightwala
Executive Producer: Kelly Read
Administrator: Kira Allen
Associate Producer: Kevin Matthew Wong
Associate Producer: Tom Arthur Davis
Associate Producer: Taliesin McEnaney
Associate Artistic Director (Metcalf Foundation Intern): Miriam Fernandes
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Pilot Supporter: Kingfisher Foundation
Ignite Partners: Blake & Susan Hutcheson + Bea Santos, Tamara Zielony, Cooper Equipment, Chanchlani Foundation, Charles & Marilyn Baillie
Why Not Theatre acknowledges the support of the Performing Arts Residency program at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
ASL-English Interpreting Services
ASL – English interpreting services for Prince Hamlet provided by Gloria Brifoglio, Kelly Ferguson, Sheila Johnston, Kate Lewis and Sean Power and funded by the Finnish Government (KELA).
Artists
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees