Well, the last few months have sped by-
I’ve been working at The Grand Theatre, in London, Ontario, as the Apprentice Artistic Director. More on that later… It’s been a super experience and I’ve been mentored by the wonderful and thoughtful Susan Ferley, the Artistic Director. I’ve learned an immense amount about running a large theatre company and have also directed Macbeth (with 19 high school students!), The Little Prince, (with a wonderful cast) and a number of short Canadian plays, (at The Playwrights’ Cabaret, co-directed with Susan Ferley and Jeff Culbert).
The next few months are full of contrast, which is why I decided to reconnect with the ol’ blog.
First on the list is a new British play that I’m directing at SummerWorks Theatre Festival in Toronto. It’s called The Sad and Cautionary Tale of Smackheaded Peter, by Simon Glass. It’s a tongue-in-cheek fable about Peter, born on the impoverished Thamesmead Estate in south-east London (UK). His quest is to free the poor and bring peace on earth with low-cost heroin. Oddly, it doesn’t all go well… It’s a subversive, hysterical combination of high and low art- if you’re nearby Toronto during this excellent summer festival please come along.
Next, it’s back to The Grand! I’m directing the Grand’s High School Project on the Main stage this summer- the 1930’s musical, Anything Goes. We’ll have about 45 teens in the production- and all the people in the production, on-stage and back-stage are mentored by the theatre professionals at the theatre. It’s a unique and inspiring production experience. I caught the tail-end of the rehearsals for Grease last year and it was very exciting. I’m looking forward to working with all departments and tapping along with Cole Porter’s wonderful melodies…
After that eight-week rehearsal process I’ll be zooming back to the UK to direct two new solo plays at The Old Red Lion, Suicide Brunette by Gary Mitchell and The Native, by Christopher Hanvey. More on these solo pieces a little later- I will say though, that they’re going to be virtuoso acting pieces-
So, I hope to share some experiences from these three entirely different rehearsal/production processes. It’s a season of contrasts… I’m delighted to be working on such a range of material, in wonderful circumstances, with excellent peeps! And a little terrified about it all as well…
More soon…
The Sad and Cautionary Tale of Smackheaded Peter is going to be a blast!
You rule. I don't know how you fit it all in…