Hello there!
Here we are: another season at the Stratford Festival of Canada - my second.
Acting in 3 shows at the very same venue (the beloved in-the-round Tom Patterson Theatre) has been a completely unique experience; last year, I was in 3 shows in 3 very, very different spaces. Indeed, this season has that delightful "summer camp" feel to it. I welcome it.
The three shows also feature, for the most part, the very same cast; so bonding and backstage jokes have been flowing freely - I also welcome that! And what a brilliant group of actors...
Timon of Athens and The Changeling (photo above) are up and running, and I've found my groove in those plays; learning more and more after every performance and constantly finding new ways to deepen the work - it's endlessly challenging. There's no question about it: rep theatre is indeed the best training ground for an actor. It expands the imagination and enforces rigorously physical and mental discipline. And yes, I welcome it! :)
We began rehearsals for Madwoman of Chaillot two weeks ago, and since I don't do much in that show, I have had - to my delightful surprise - quite a lot of free time in the last 3 weeks. YES, I welcome it! It's been great spending time with family - Zeke is already 16 months old, and he's running around and spewing words like a little human person...it's astonishing...constant transformation.
I hope you can catch these shows. I'm immensely proud of the work we've achieved in bringing these classics to 2017 in such fresh, immediate and gorgeous ways. I absolutely love, love performing them every time, and am already dreading having to say goodbye to the wonderful cast and the magical worlds we've created in these shows in the Fall...
Life in the Theatre: constant suffering...
See you at the theatre, amigos.
RB.