I was recently in Calgary with this great bunch of creative artists.  We workshopped my play WAVES before the actors performed it in a Public Reading for an intimate gathering.  As a result of winning the Scripts on Fire Playwriting Competition through Fire Exit Theatre, Artistic Director Val Lieske flew me out to Calgary and put me up in a hotel.  I worked on WAVES with dramaturge/director Samantha MacDonald and the five lovely actors who devoted their time and talents to reading, analyzing, questioning and discussing all aspects of my play.

Me and Val Lieske – Artistic Director of Fire Exit Theatre

Digging into my play with a group of strangers who know nothing about me or my work is probably one of the most fun parts of writing.  It’s both exiting and nerve-raking.  But it allows me to to sit back, listen and reflect on the text while others devote their energies in understanding what this play is about.  Many questions were asked of me and I thoroughly enjoyed being challenged coming up with answers.  It was also a joy to see these actors discover the play for the first time, and learning throughout the rehearsal process more and more about the nuances sprinkled into the play’s text/sub-text.  There were moments in the rehearsal that I found myself thinking not so much as the playwright but as an audience member.  That’s a credit to each of the actors and what they brought to the parts and to Samantha who directed with quick precision and great insight.

Val Lieske, Dramaturge/Director Samantha MacDonald and Me

I felt safe with Samantha and she’s really good at what she does.  Prepared.  Confident.  And gracious.  And she tapped in beautifully to the play’s themes and tones.  Samantha was complimentary and appreciative of my work, recognizing all the different elements I weaved throughout WAVES.  She asked the right questions to the actors and made me think about what I had written.  That’s what a dramaturge does.  They are not there to edit the work, but respond to what’s on the page and leave it to the writer to make changes if they feel it is warranted.  In fact the play’s ending had, what I consider, a significant change that elevated the feeling I wanted an audience going away with.

Me with the Actors.  Dorin McIntosh, Aaron Krogman, Glynna MacKenzie, Diana-Marie Stolz, Sarah Glubish

I had a wonderful time watching these actors perform the play for the Public Reading.  They spent 2 days with Samantha and I working on their characters and understanding the over-arching themes.  And when it came time for the live audience, they were prepared and delivered.  I can’t thank them enough for their graciousness, kindness and commitment and for the joy it gave me listening to my dialogue come to life.  This part of the job of writing is never boring.  It is exhilarating, frightening, fulfilling and oftentimes cathartic and it’s why I do what I do.

Val was an awesome host.  For anyone who knows, works for this fine lady or has the pleasure to meet her, consider yourself blessed.  I was grateful for this experience and the biggest takeaway was that I was encouraged – encouraged as a writer, encouraged to keep on keeping on.  Writing is hard work.  Life is hard work.  Wherever you can find encouragement, grab onto it, seek it and most of all, be thankful.

Me and my Mom

It is inevitable, whenever I present a play to actors or an audience, the question often arises where I get my ideas and where did the play come from.  There is no easy answer to that question.  Some of the plays come from my life experience, other people’s lives, the news, the world and most of all a whole lot of imagination. It’s usually all of those elements packed into one crazy package. And then when you start to write, the play takes on a life of its own.  Suffice to say, the death of my mom in November of 2023 had a profound effect on my life and was the impetus of WAVES – a play that tackles grief in all its many shades.  It’s a story with wicked humour, deep insights and ultimately it leads the viewer to a healing journey.  Whatever journey you’re on today, I hope you find the courage to keep on keeping on. My mother did, right to the end of her complicated, beautiful, wonderful life.