Show Program | Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

AMILYSERIESF ILYSERIESFAM SOMEBODY LOVES YOU, MR. HATCH SERIESFAMIL ERIESFAMILYS ESFAMILYSER SFAMILYSERIE AMILYSERIESF ILYSERIESFAM SERIESFAMIL AXIS THEATRE

February 11, 2024

Photo by Jayda Paige Photography

FA M I LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S ABOUT THE SHOW ERIESFAMILYSERIESFAMI LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S E R I E S Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch is set in a friendly and quaint town in the 1940s. Mr. Hatch is a tall, thin, lonely man who works a simple but important job attaching the aglets to shoelaces at a factory. He often spends time alone and doesn’t have the confidence or desire to make or keep friends.

One day his life turns around when he receives a package on Valentine’s Day with a pink bow that has a message that reads, “Somebody loves you.” Mr. Hatch’s world is turned upside down and he begins to make friends, enjoy all sorts of nice foods and the fun parts of life that he once ignored. After receiving the note, Mr. Hatch goes on a hunt to find out who sent him the mysterious package. Mr. Hatch is loved after all!

In the age of “looking down,” Axis Theatre draws young eyes up to engage them in interactive experiences that educate, inspire, and transform. Audiences experience smart, entertaining interpretations of traditional and cutting-edge physical theatre.

Axis incorporates combinations of red-nose clown, mime, movement, mask work, puppetry, and improvisation to expand the meaning and impact of the stories presented. It is deceptively simple, completely fresh, and memorable.

FA M I LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S CREATIVE TEAM ERIESFAMILYSERIESFAMI LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S E R I E S CHRIS MCGREGOR, DIRECTOR | Chris McGregor has a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Bishop’s University and a Masters in Theatre in Directing from the University of British Columbia. Chris has taught physical theatre, Commedia dell’arte, mask and Red Nose Clown at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Bishop’s University and Studio 58.

He has directed more than 60 productions across Canada, has won four Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and been nominated for four Ovation Awards for directing. Chris began as the part-time Artistic Director with Axis Theatre Company in 2013 and assumed the position of full-time Artistic Director in 2015.

JENY CASSIDY, EDNA & MR. HATCH | Jeny is a veteran puppeteer! She plays Edna in Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch. Since the age of 19 Jeny has been working with puppets as both a performer, and a teacher. An alumni of The University of Victoria, Jeny was the only student in her program with puppetry experience. Since her beginning with puppets, she has designed and crafted countless puppets. Her very first puppet gig on TV landed her in the company of the best film and television puppeteers in Canada, which became like a 6 month apprenticeship for her. Jeny has showcased her puppetry skills in numerous film and television shows.

Photo by Jayda Paige Photography

FA M I LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S CREATIVE TEAM ERIESFAMILYSERIESFAMI LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S E R I E S CHRISTINE REINFORT, MOLLY | Christine plays Molly in Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch.

Originally, from Winnipeg, Christine is a graduate of Studio 58’s acting program and was the recipient of the Jean and Walter Ball Memorial Scholarship. Currently this is her third year as the Resident Artistic Producer for Solo Collective Theatre. Selected theatre credits include A Prayer for Owen Meany, In the Next Room, The Country Wife, Romans in Britain (ETC), 12 Angry Jurors, Macbeth (SRO), Parade (FCP), Oklahoma, Kosmic Mambo, Innocence Lost, Elbow Room Café The Musical: Phase 1 (Studio 58), and Small Parts (Solo Collective Theatre).

SARAH MAY REDMOND, BETSY | Sarah May plays Betsy in Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch.

The majority of her puppet work has been with Runaway Moon Theatre located in Grindrod, BC and Mortal Coil Performance Society in Vancouver. She has worked with theatre companies from all over BC, ranging from Bard on the Beach and the Arts Club Theatre here in Vancouver, Caravan Farm Theatre near Armstrong, to Theatre NorthWest in her hometown of Prince George. She has done a wide range of touring with Green Thumb, Kaleidoscope, Shameless Hussy Productions and of course, Axis Theatre!

She is the recipient of the Dora Award and a Jessie Award for excellence in an ensemble performance.

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FA M I LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S CREATIVE TEAM ERIESFAMILYSERIESFAMI LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S E R I E S JILLIAN PERRY, STAGE MANAGER | Jillian is thrilled to be back touring with Axis Theatre and Somebody Loves You Mr Hatch. She is a Jesse Richardson award winning Stage Manager for Significant Artistic Achievement: Outstanding Stage Manager in Theatre for Young Audiences.

Axis Theatre: Touring Canada and China with Somebody Loves You Mr Hatch; Touring BC with Th’owxiya: The Hungry Fest Dish and across Canada and the USA with Robinson Crusoe and Friday. Touring across Canada with 5 seasons Chelsea Hotel The Songs of Leonard Cohen, Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth, Dead Metaphor, Proud, Urinetown the Musical , Circle Game (Firehall Arts Centre and Tour with Arts Club).

FRANK RADAR, PUPPET MAKER | Frank Radar has just retired from teaching Art and Drama at Semiahmoo Secondary School in Surrey, BC after 22 years. As a puppet maker, Frank has been designing puppets for over 10 years for a variety of companies including Theatre Bagger and Mortal Coil Performance Society, both of Vancouver. His puppet designs for the acclaimed children’s show The Little Old Man were nominated for a 2009 Jessie Richardson award. Frank designed our star puppet, Mr. Hatch for Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch.

BARBARA CLAYDEN, PUPPET COSTUME DESIGNER | Barbara Clayden has been a theatre artist for over 30 years, designing costumes for various theatre and dance companies around Vancouver including the Arts Club Theatre, Bard on the Beach, Blackbird Theatre, Carousel Theatre, Electric Company, the Firehall Arts Centre, Neworld Theatre, Presentation House, Pi Theatre, Rumble, Studio 58 and Theatre Replacement. She has been nominated for numerous Jessie Awards and won a few along the way. Barbara created Mr. Hatch’s stylish outfit.

FA M I LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S CREATIVE TEAM ERIESFAMILYSERIESFAMI LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S E R I E S JESSICA OOSTERGO, PEOPLE COSTUME DESIGNER | Jessica Oostergo is a set, costume and props designer from Vancouver.

She shared a 2015 Jessie Richardson Award for her costume and design contributions to HAMELIN: A NEW FABLE for Axis Theatre.

She is a freelance artist with skills ranging from scenic painting, producing, hat building, creative collaboration, production design and much more. Recently she designed a number of productions including; Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook (Snapshots Collective), The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide (Tremors/ Rumble), The Lawyer Show-Legally Blonde: The Musical (Touchstone/Carousel), 4Play: New Work by Excited Writers (Studio 58) and the Pitman Painters (United Players). Jessica is a graduate of Studio 58.

STEPHEN BULAT, SOUND DESIGNER/MUSIC | Stephen has been active in the Vancouver theatre and music scene for over 20 years. Theatre companies he has worked for include The Arts Club Theatre, Bard on the Beach, The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre, Pacific Theatre, Shameless Hussy Productions, Axis Theatre Company and Hoarse Raven Theatre.

Stephen has worked as a producer, composer, sound designer, lighting designer, technician, musical director and musician. He has musically directed such shows as The Rocky Horror Show, West Side Story and the Vancouver premiere of Hedwig & The Angry Inch which was nominated for a Jessie Richardson Award as a “Hot Ass Band”. As a sound engineer and music producer, Stephen has recorded a diverse range of ensembles including Realtime A Cappella Quartet, The Melodious Mandolins and The Vancouver Cast Recording of The Rocky Horror Show. He has also composed and written original music for various documentaries and films, including the feature films Bar None & Sub Human.

FA M I LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S CREATIVE TEAM ERIESFAMILYSERIESFAMI LY S E R I E S FA M I LY S E R I E S MIMI ABRAHAMS, LIGHTING DESIGNER | Mimi Abrahams is a well established master of the backstage. Traditional stage lighting design credits include resident designer for Vital Spark Theatre, Pascals Saunier’s “Jazztown – Le destin du Jazz-Club!” “Girls Like That” with Shameless Hussies, “Old Man and the Sea,” Johnny Greenwood’s “Radio Rewrite” with Turning Point Ensemble, “Somebody Loves you Mr. Hatch” and “Troll Grandfather” with Axis Theatre. “Into The Woods” and “Auntie Mame” with West Point Grey Academy.Less traditionally, you may have seen her work at The Vancouver International Burlesque Festival, Vancouver Theatresports League, Science World, Redshift Music Society, and the Museum of Anthropology. Production design includes Saltwater Moon” with Hoarse Raven and Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses” at the Pacific Theatre. She is he Production Manager for The Chutzpah! Festival and Indian Summer Festival. She enjoys creating learning and networking opportunities for others interested in the “dark arts” of the backstage. Including the “Ladies of the Backstage” networking Group, mentoring, and seeking out interns.

SHIZUKA KAI, SET DESIGNER | Shizuka is a Vancouver-based artist known for her set design and puppets, masks, costumes, illustrations and directing.

Select Design credits: Sweat (Citadel Theatre/Arts Club Theatre Company), Topdog Underdog (Arts Club Theatre Company), The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, On My Walk, and Go, Dog. Go! (Carousel Theatre for Young People), Hamelin: A New Fable and Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch (Axis Theatre).

Puppet/Puppeteer credits: Slime (The Only Animal), The Japanese Problem (Universal Limited), The Pipeline Project (Itsazoo Productions), Zoetrope (Risky Nights Series - Studio 58), Azano (Boca Del Lupo), and Medea -Rokujo (Yayoi Theatre Movement).

Shizuka was hailed by Vancouver’s theatre critic Colin Thomas as “an emerging star of theatrical design”. She is a two-time Jessie Richardson Award winner and four-time nominee, Ovation Award nominee, and recipient of the Earl Klein Memorial Scholarship.