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WELCOME TO OUR 2026 SEASON

I am thrilled to welcome you to an extraordinary year of theatre. Our 2026 season celebrates curiosity, courage, and the exhilarating artistry of taking bold creative leaps. Each play in this year’s lineup is united by fearless imagination. These remarkable playwrights embrace risk in ways that feel fresh, daring, and deeply resonant. Their stories challenge expectations and invite us to see the world - and ourselves - from new perspectives.

As a company devoted to developing new work, we believe theatre should be alive with possibility: a space where boundaries are pushed, narratives are expanded, and discovery happens night after night. This season embodies that spirit

I cannot wait to share these powerful stories with you. Welcome to 2026.

Fiona Mongillo Artistic Director

As the Executive Director of Here For Now Theatre, I am so genuinely excited to be on this journey with you. I have sat where you are sitting now, watching this company create something truly special, and I have felt the magic that unfolds on this stage.

Together, we will continue our commitment to great actors, thoughtful directors, strong scripts, and performances that move us, now within this beautifully re-configured, intimate thrust space that brings artists and audiences closer than ever before.

Thank you for believing in this work. Your support has made all of this possible. With all of us gathered here, sharing this space and this moment, I know we will continue to create bold, powerful theatre in the Rose McQueen Performance Space, work that is alive, daring, and deeply human

Crystal L. Spicer Executive Director

GHOSTS OF MY HOUSE

by Susanna Fournier

Is this a family dinner or a Greek tragedy?

A mother and her three daughters gather to mark the anniversary of a death. But the past has other plans.

Ghosts of My House is a darkly funny exploration of family, grief, memory, and the pressures on modern women to have it all. Loosely inspired by Agamemnon, this raw, lyrical new work unravels the stories women inherit while also invoking ancient archetypes that refuse to rest.

A Note from the Artistic Director

Susanna Fournier, playwright of Ghosts of My House, has spoken about how this play is loosely inspired by the Greek Tragedy Agamemnon, and while that connection isn’t immediately obvious, upon closer inspection you begin to feel it in the emotional architecture of the family. This is a play about what gets passed down - anger, grief, memory, and the lingering presence of a patriarchal figure who is no longer there but still shapes everything.

Susanna is such a special playwright because she’s constantly playing with form. The language moves fluidly between natural conversation and something more heightened and mythic, often in the same breath, and always with surprising humour. It creates a theatrical world that feels both ancient and completely contemporary at once - a family story that somehow carries the echo of something much older underneath it.

Fiona Mongillo

Artistic Director Here For Now Theatre

Show Sponsor: Robert Lott and Dr. Anne Robinson

Production Supporters: Crystal L. Spicer

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

Laura de Carteret*

Mum

Kelly Van der Burg*

M Cast

Creative Team

Susanna Fournier

Playwright

Adam Campbell

Sound Designer

Sam Snyders

Associate Sound Designer

Siobhan O’Malley L

Sarah Wilson* B

Leora Morris Director

Ariel Slack Set Designer

Jennie Wonnacott Costume Designer

Darren Burkett

Lighting Designer

Delaney Small*

Stage Manager

Running Time: Approximately 70 minutes, with no intermission

Because of the close, immersive nature of our theatre, we’re unable to seat latecomers once the performance has started. For the same reason, we can’t offer re-entry if you step out during the show. We invite you to arrive early, settle in, and enjoy the full experience with us.

For more information about the show and to see production photos scan the QR code:

“GhostsofMyHousewasdevelopedwithsupportfromtheOntarioArtsCouncil,the CanadaArtsCouncilandCanadianStage.GhostsofMyHousereceivedadditional developmentsupportfromandpremieredatHereforNowTheatre(Stratford,ON)inJuly 2026

GhostsofMyHouseisproducedbypermissionofthePlaywrightandMarquisLiterary (ColinRivers)wwwMQlitca

SusannaFournierisamemberofthePlaywrightsGuildofCanada”

*TheparticipationoftheseArtistsisarrangedbypermissionofCanadianActors’Equity AssociationundertheprovisionsoftheDance-Opera-TheatrePolicy(DOT)

Askafemaleactorhowshefeelsabout‘availableroles’forwomenin moststoriesandshe’lltellyou.Askafemalepersonhowshefeelsabout the‘availableroles’forwomeninsocietyandshe’lltellyou.Askme,and I’llwriteyouseveralplays.

WhenIwrite,I’mattemptingtocreatemorefreedom.Thisisindirect tensionwiththewaysinwhichstories,societies,andfamiliesexpect womento“keepitalltogether”.We’retoldwe’recaretakers;thatit’sour jobtotakecareofeveryoneandofthesystemsaroundusevenifthose systemssuck Fartoooftenwomenaremadetofeelthatiftheydon’t performtheseroles,theyhavenovalue.It’snotjustmenwhoenforce theseexpectations,butotherwomentoo.

GhostsofMyHouseasks;whatmighthappenwhenawomanrefusesto takecareandplayalongwithbrokensystemsintheworld,inherfamily, andmostofallinherself?Whathappenswhenweletwhat’sbroken break ifwestopholdingonandstartlettinggo?

Itmightbeterrifying.Itmightbeugly.Itmightbesurprising.Itmight breakourhearts.Andyet,itmightbreakusfree.

Susanna Fournier Playwright

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Thedaybeforeourrehearsalsbegan,IhadtheprivilegeofseeingHere ForNow’sLoveUsMost Withhumour,cruelty,andtenderness,it capturedthat2016momentwhenwomeninthetheatrewerebeginning topubliclynametheconfinesofthesystemswewerealllivinginside,the “storieswewerecaughtin”.Inmanyways,GhostsofMyHousefeelslike afollow-uptotheconversationtenyearslater.

Oncewehavenamedthestructures,dynamics,behavioursthatkeepus stuck-thenwhat?Thereisstillsomuchtorageat,somuchtogrieve.So howdowetransformthatrageandgriefintosomethingthatmight releaseus,nourishus,fertilizeussothatwecanshowuptoourlives morefully?Ifweturnawayfromtheghostshauntingus orthepeople weourselveshavebeenhaunting howmightwe“changethestory”?

Whathasbeendelightfulandchallengingtodiscoverinrehearsalisthe waytheplayitselfkeepstransmuting.Weneversettleinsideitsrulestheframegetswider,theformunfamiliar.Itkeepsremindingusthat theremaybeotherwaystotellthestory,andperhapsmoreradical waystoliveit.

Whilemuchofthishappenstoagroupoffictionalwomeninafamily home,inSusanna’swritingwearealsoalways,undeniably,heretogether inthisroomwitnessingnotonlythefiction,buteachother.Thereis nowheretohide fortheactorsorfortheaudience Intheatre,when thefrontofhouseturnstheperformancespaceovertothestage manager,theyoftensay,“Thehouseisyours.”So:thehouseisyours.

Leora Morris Director

COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES

DARRENBURKETT-LIGHTINGDESIGNER

Darrenisthrilledtobebackforthewhole summerseasonatHFN!PreviousDesignwork: ApplesinWinter[Set,LightingandCostume], DinnerwiththeDuchess[Setinaco-prowith CrowsTheatre],12Dinners[Set],LifeWithout [SetandCostume],TheFox[Set](HereFor Now),LegallyBlonde[Set](MetroTheatre),

Wizard of Oz [Set] (Pulse Productions), Something Rotten, Seussical The Musical [Set], Mamma Mia! [Set and Lighting] (Secondary Characters), and multiple set and lighting designs for dance and theatre schools in Vancouver. As an actor, he has worked across the globe. Many thanks to the whole HFN team for the unwavering trust in me, and his family, friends and especially Hunter for their never ending love and support!

ADAMCAMPBELL-SOUNDDESIGNER

AdamCampbellisaDora-nominated composer,sounddesignerandmusician. OriginallyfromSummerside,PrinceEdward Island,Adamhasworkedassound designer/composerwithStratfordFestival, BlythFestival,HumanBodyExpression, TarragonTheatre,CanadianStage,HereFor

Now Theatre, Edmonton Opera, Capitol Theatre and more. Adam made his Here For Now debut as sound designer and composer for 2025’s Reproduktion, and is thrilled to join HFN for several productions this season Adam has toured and performed throughout North America as a percussionist with TorQ Percussion Quartet and Ladom Ensemble, and regularly plays in the pit for musical theatre productions with companies such as Mirvish Productions and Stratford Festival. In 2019, Adam released his debut solo singer-songwriter album, Guess I’m A People Too, featuring a mix of folk, rock and 90’s-tinged original music. Adam currently lives in Stratford, Ontario, with his wife Alice and their cats Ninja and Nazca

COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES

LAURADECARTERET -MUM

Aworkingartistforthepast40years,Ms de Carterethasmadenumerousappearancesin featurefilms,televisionandperformedon stagesacrossthecountry andabroad.

Selectedfilmandtelevisionguestappearances include:SloPitch,Bet,TheBoys,CruelIntentions,Accused,Lawand OrderCriminalIntent:Toronto,Mrs.America,DanBrown’sTheLost Symbol, PrettyHardCases,Y:TheLastMan,VWars,Seed (CanadianScreenAwardNomination–BestActressinaComedy), Georgetown,Standoff,MeanGirls

Stageappearancesinclude:PaulAndLindaPlanAThreesome(Here ForNowTheatre)TheBeautyQueenofLeenane(Neptune),Tout CommeElle,Hamlet(DoraNomination–BestActress),HalfLife (NecessaryAngel),Sideman(Tarragon).

Ms.deCarterethasnarrateddocumentariesfortheCBCandthe NFBandhasvoiceddozensofradiospotsandcartoons.

SUSANNAFOURNIER-PLAYWRIGHT

SusannaFournierisanaward-winning Canadiantheatre-makerandeducator.She’s bestknownforheradventurousperformance texts,interdisciplinaryproductions,andthat gigshehadinX-Men.Susanna’scompany, PARADIGMproductions,producedher acclaimedtrilogy,TheEmpire,asafullseason of theatre and radio-drama podcast. Her other texts include take rimbaud, PYPER, Next Time I Die, HEART/BODY, Always Still the Dawn, antigone lives*. As an educator, Susanna shapes performance pedagogy and coaches Canada’s next generation of artists She’s taught at Toronto Metropolitan University, Armstrong Acting Studios, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Randolph College, and Cawthra Park Secondary School. www. susannafournier.com

COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES

LEORAMORRIS-DIRECTOR

Leoraisadirector/creatorwhosplitshertime betweenCanadaandtheUSA.Herworkhas beendevelopedorproducedatplaceslikethe BelfryTheatre,AllianceTheatre,Public Theater,NYUTisch,CoalMineTheatre,Olney TheatreCenter,andNACL.PreviousCanadian projectsincludeTheSoundInside(Toronto

Theatre Critics’ Award - Best Director) and Knives in Hens (Coal Mine Theatre), The Philosopher’s Wife by Susanna Fournier, and He Left Quietly by Yaël Farber/Duma Kumalo (2014 SummerWorks Best Production). Leora resides in Vancouver, where she is on faculty at the University of British Columbia. MFA Directing, Yale School of Drama. www.leoramorris.com

SIOBHANO’MALLEY-L

SelectedTheatreCredits:MayinIAmAn Island,JillBanfordinTheFox,JessicainSpit, BelleinPostAlice,RoryinAHundredWordsfor Snow,RueinWhack!(HereForNowTheatre); ElizaDoolittleinPygmalion(GuildFestival Theatre);FannyinMaryofShantyBay(Theatre bytheBay);MaryinMary’sWedding,Helenain

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Festival Players of Prince Edward County); Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing (The SecretShakespeare Series); Catherine Givings in In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), Martha in Spring Awakening, Rosalind in As You Like It, and Yelena in Uncle Vanya (The Lir). Training: Honours BA in Acting, The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art (Trinity College Dublin/RADA). Siobhan is an Artistic Associate and Marketing Coordinator with Here For Now Theatre.

ARIELSLACK-SETDESIGNER

ArielSlackisamultidisciplinaryartistwho writes,performs,anddesigns,andiscurrently PropsBuyerattheStratfordFestival Some theatrecompaniestheyhaveworkedforasa setdesignerincludeCarouselTheatre, Geekenders,TumbleweedsTheatre,Ensemble TheatreCompany,thefranktheatre,and

now… Here For Now! Ariel has also been an assistant designer at the Stratford Festival on 5 shows, and was the winner of the 2022 Cultchivating the Fringe Award (Vancouver Fringe Festival) for their one person show How to Believe in Anything. They are a Jessie Award nominee, an Ovation Award winner, and completed their first international tour with Tumbleweeds Theatre's show A Little Green Leaf last fall Proud associate member of ADC and Studio 58 grad See more at: https://arielslack.squarespace.com/

DELANEYSMALL-STAGEMANAGER

Credits:DeathofaSalesman(Stratford Festival)Octet(Crow's/Soulpepper/Musical Stage),Flex(Crow's/ObsidianTheatre),The MasterPlan(Theatre Aquarius/Soulpepper/Crows),Liarsata Funeral(PSFT),ShirleyValentineand Pollyanna(TheatreAquarius),MammaMia and Once (Thousand Islands Playhouse), Jeeves at Sea (Chemainus Theatre), Jenny's House of Joy (Foster Festival), Turn the Page (Sheridan College), An Enemy of the People (Theatre Erindale). Training: Sheridan College Technical Production Program She would like to thank her family and friends who have always encouraged her to pursue her passion for theatre!

COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES

SAMSNYDERS-ASSOCIATESOUND DESIGNER

Samisanemergingtheatreartistfrom Mitchell,Ontario,gladtobebackforhisthird seasonatHereForNow.PreviouslyatHFN, Samstage-managedApplesinWinter, HumourMe,StickAround,TheSaviour,and PaulandLindaPlanaThreesome,andsound-

designed The Rules of Playing Risk No stranger to the Rose McQueen Stage, Sam also played Aaron in last year's Forget About Tomorrow. Other acting credits include Boris Trigorin in The Seagull (Strands of the Night), Pierre in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (AUTS McGill), Jason in Medea (Player's Theatre) and Moe in Pomona (Moyse Hall). Sam recently graduated from McGill University with a BA in English: Drama & Theatre. Thank you, always, to his family and friends for their constant support.

KELLYVANDERBURG-M

SelectedCredits:IAmAnIsland(HereForNow Theatre),BuyingTheFarm(Drayton Entertainment),PerfectWedding(Upper CanadaPlayhouse),RenovationsforSix (Aquarius),RomeoandJuliet,AMidsummer Night’sDream(LeroyStreetTheatre). Film/TV:Borje(Crave),Heartland(CBC),

Designed With Love(Lifetime), Decoys (CBC Gem), Cardinal (Netflix), IT: Chapter 2 (WarnerBros), The Kennedys After Camelot (Reelz), and Canadian Indie Feature Body and Bones. Training: BA in Theatre; Bishop’s University. Graduate of the CBC Actor’s Conservatory Et cetera: Thank you to Christo, Reaney and Clarence for your support and love

SARAHWILSON-B

SarahwasborninSudburyandnowlivesin Stratford RecentactingcreditsincludeFifteen Dogs(Crow’s/NAC)andPride&Prejudice (Grand).She’sactedinmanyshowsat SoulpepperandperformedatCanadianStage, theStratfordFestival,andseveralother theatresaroundtheprovince Selectedwriting

credits include lyrics for De Profundis: Oscar Wilde in Jail (Soulpepper), lyrics and co-book for ROSE (Soulpepper), and Inside American Pie (Harmony House PEI/Mirvish). She is the recipient of two Dora Awards for Best New Musical, a Dora as part of the ensemble of Soulpepper’s Of Human Bondage, and a Gold Medal at the New York Festival of Radio and Drama. Upcoming: Revolutionary Women in Blues (Writer/Soulpepper), Inside the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Writer/Harmony House).

JENNIEWONNACOTT-COSTUMEDESIGNER

Jenniehasenjoyedatwo-decadetheatre careerasacostumecutterandtailor,designer andprofessor.Asatheatreprofessionalthat takesjoyinthesuccessofherpeers,Jennie recentlymadetheswitchtoacareerinart administrationtoassistinfacilitatingwhat artistsdobest!Selectdesigncreditsinclude12

Angry Men and Steel Magnolias (Drayton Entertainment), and The Magic Flute (UWO). Jennie has surpassed 24 seasons at the Stratford Festival in wardrobe production. She is the 2016 recipient of the Pauline McGibbon award, and recently completed an MA is Arts Leadership from Queens University.

HERE FOR NOW THEATRE

Founded in 2012 by Artistic Director Fiona Mongillo, Here For Now Theatre began as a pop-up company in Stratford dedicated to bold contemporary plays and underrepresented voices. With a focus on intimate, actor-driven productions, the company quickly established a reputation for fearless storytelling and powerful performances

In 2020, while theatres across the country were closed, Here For Now launched a groundbreaking outdoor repertory season on the lawns of The Bruce Hotel. The innovative season drew national attention and critical acclaim, creating a unique gathering place for artists and audiences at a time when live theatre felt especially vital.

In the years that followed, the company continued to grow its national profile, commissioning and developing new plays while building a loyal and expanding audience.

In 2025, Here For Now opened its permanent 60-seat home in the beautifully restored Perth County Registry Office and unveiled the Rose McQueen Performance Space.

Today, Here For Now produces year-round programming that champions daring new work and the immediacy of live performance, bringing audiences together for powerful, intimate theatre in the heart of Stratford.

Fiona Mongillo | Artistic Director

Crystal L. Spicer | Executive Director

Marie Farsi | Interim Associate Artistic Director

Siobhan O’Malley | Artistic Associate & Marketing Coordinator

Adam Steinbach | Technical Coordinator

Jocelyn Nicholson | Social Media & Audience Experience Coordinator

Mark Uhre | 2026 Season Artwork

Sara-Jeanne Hosie | Show Images

Ann Baggley | Production Photography

Siobhan O’Malley | Promotional Photography

Jocelyn Nicholson and Fawn Adair| Trailers

Tabworks | Bookkeeping & Payroll

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Susan Moffat | Chair

Frances O’Malley | Past Chair

Alix Grice | Secretary

Laura Dinner | Treasurer

Jessica B. Hill | Artist Representative

Dr. Patrick Smith

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We acknowledge that our theatre stands on the traditional territory of the Anishnabek, Haudenosaunee, and Ojibway/Chippewa peoples. We recognize the enduring presence and deep artistic traditions of Indigenous communities in this space and across Turtle Island

As storytellers, we honour the generations of knowledge keepers, artists, and caretakers who have shaped this land’s history. We commit to listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships as we share and celebrate the power of theatre, and invite you to do the same.

Thank you to our Sponsors

FoundationSponsor

TheWilliamandNonaHeaslip Foundation

SeasonSponsors

LarryBeare

SylviaChrominska

Billand JanetL’Heureux

KellyandScottMorrison

BeverlyandDouglasValentine

TechnicalEquipmentSponsor

RobertLottandDr AnneRobinson

Workshop and Development Sponsor