Hamlet Presented by RBC Starring Ahad Raza Mir digital program

PRESENTING SPONSOR

HAMLET PRESENTED BY RBC STARRING AHAD RAZA MIR

OCTOBER 12, 13, 14, 18, 2023 / 8:00PM OCTOBER 14, 2023 / 2:00PM

1 THEATRE LANE, BRAMPTON, ON L6V 1A3 905.874.2800 THE ROSE I 1 THEATRE LANE, BRAMPTON, ON L6VTHE 1A3ROSE I 905.874.2800

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HAMLET I STARRING AHAD RAZA MIR

DIRECTOR NOTE Welcome to The Shakespeare Company and Hit and Myth’s production of Hamlet presented by Brampton on Stage. We are so excited to bring our lean and mean brand of Shakespeare to the city of Brampton! Originally slated to be programmed for 2020, this production had to be postponed several times due to Covid-19, so it is a testament to the great resolve and commitment of the city of Brampton that we are here now, performing one of Shakespeare’s greatest works for you.

In our production of Hamlet, we explore the multifaceted nature of “seeming” and the profound impact it has on the lives of these characters.

Throughout the play, we witness a world where appearances are deceiving; where individuals wear masks and hide their true natures and intentions.

Hamlet’s Denmark is a world where nothing is quite as it ‘seems’. Hamlet himself is acutely aware of this; acknowledging that “The time is out of joint.”

After a ghostly visitation – without which there is no play -- our protagonist questions the authenticity of the spirit’s message and the intentions behind it. Afterall, the supernatural is mysterious, unknown and potentially dangerous. Or is it? Perhaps the spirit world exists to guide us and protect us from repeating the sins of the past. Hamlet becomes increasingly consumed by the idea that nothing can be taken at face value, and as he becomes further entangled in the web of “seeming,” we might – ourselves – begin to grapple with our own perceptions and question the motives of those around us. This adds layers of complexity to the play, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. At its core, Hamlet is a ghost story – or at least a supernatural thriller, and thus it is fitting to be presenting it in October with Hallows Eve on the horizon.

On behalf of the entire production team, we would like to express our gratitude to the unwavering commitment shown by the team at Brampton on Stage, and Steven Schipper for providing us with this extraordinary opportunity to bring this production to life. A heartfelt thanks to the cast, designers, and crew for their dedication and tireless efforts in bringing Hamlet to fruition. We hope you enjoy the show.

Haysam Kadri Director

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EVAN BULIUNG (CLAUDIUS) Evan Buliung has been seen across various stages and screens in Canada. Notable among appearances are Clement Virgo’s “BROTHER,” “Under The Banner of Heaven,” leading roles in Hulu’s “HOLLY HOBBIE,” and Global’s “DEPARTURE.” He’s a longtime member of the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, portraying characters such as Sky Masterson in “GUYS AND DOLLS,” Mercutio in “ROMEO AND JULIET,” and Jack in “THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.” Evan’s musical theater repertoire: Dora Award-winning performance in “FUN HOME”, “WE WILL ROCK YOU”, “LORD OF THE RINGS.” and “DEAR EVAN HANSEN” He’s thrilled to make his Rose theatre debut with this wonderful company.

JOEL COCHRANE (GHOST OF HAMLET’S FATHER/PLAYER KING/PRIEST) Joel is the Artistic Producer of Hit & Myth and is delighted to be back with TSC. Joel has co-produced over 30 professional shows in Calgary with a variety of companies. Selected acting credits include: Richard III, The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, King Lear, All’s Well That Ends Well, The Three Musketeers, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Equivocation, Othello, Titus Andronicus, William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead, The Big Sleep, The Christians, Shadowlands, The Money Shot, Sequence, High Life, No Exit, A Steady Rain, Race, A Behanding in Spokane, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, And So It Goes.

THE ROSE 1 THEATRE LANE, BRAMPTON, ON L6V 1A3 905.874.2800

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HAMLET I STARRING AHAD RAZA MIR

BRYNN GODENIR (OPHELIA) Brynn Godenir is a multi-disciplinary artist and graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. She currently resides in Toronto but is a proud prairie girl, born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She has a passion for movement-based play, classical text, and adorable fluffy dogs.

Recent theatre credits include Space Girl (Prairie Theatre Exchange), Like We Used To (Roseneath Theatre), and Liars at a Funeral (Assistant Director, Blyth Festival). Recent TV credits include Burden of Truth (CBC/CW), Coroner (CBC/CW) and Titans (HBO/NETFLIX). Select film credits include Love Strikes Twice (Hallmark), Take Me Back For Christmas (Vortex Media), and A Charming Valentine (CME). She is also set to appear in the films Erase & Rewind (Clique Pictures), Writing a Love Song (Vortex Media), Scared Sh*tless (Happy Cat Productions), and Rich Kid (OMNI).

ANITA MAJUMDAR (HORATIA) Anita Majumdar is an international awardwinning actor, playwright, classically trained Indian dancer-choreographer and illustrator.

Having starred in leading roles from coast to coast for almost 2 decades, her most produced work, The Fish Eyes Trilogy, is published by Playwrights Canada Press. As well, she was the recipient of Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Performance (Boys with Cars, Nightswimming/Young People’s Theatre). Currently, Anita is currently commissioned with Nightswimming to write A Girl Has No Gym. Her illustration series Shakespeare’s South Asian Ladies commissioned by The Shakespeare Company and Hit n’ Myth Productions can be seen at the Rose Theatre during this production.

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AHAD RAZA MIR (HAMLET) Ahad Raza Mir is a Canadian Pakistani film and television actor whose career is deeply rooted with the Shakespeare Company.

Returning to his native Pakistan, he has established himself as one of the country’s most successful actors, having earned all of Pakistan’s most prestigious acting awards including the Lux Award for Best Actor and three Hum Awards including Best Actor. He has gone on to work with Netflix, Zee5 and the BBC with his last show “World on Fire”. After a hiatus from the stage, Mir played Hamlet in the Shakespeare Company’s 2019 production, which won him The Betty Mitchel Award for best Actor. Along with acting Mir has been an ambassador representing MNC’s such as PepsiCo, Unilever, Nestle, L’Oréal and Coca-Cola.

He is honoured to be performing for the GTA.

CALLAN POTTER (LAERTES/GUILDENSTERN) Callan Potter is a Canadian actor, writer, and artist. Originally from Stratford Ontario. Film/ Television: Workin’ Moms (CBC/Netflix), The Swap (Disney), No One Would Tell (Lifetime), Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), The Other Kingdom (Nickelodeon), Bruno & Boots (YTV), ZombieTown (NOW Ent.), Be Mine (Meta) Theatre: The Fox (Here For Now Theatre), Mother Courage and Her Children (Stratfest), The Three Musketeers (Stratfest), Training: National Theatre School of Canada.

THE ROSE 1 THEATRE LANE, BRAMPTON, ON L6V 1A3 905.874.2800

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HAMLET I STARRING AHAD RAZA MIR ANNIE RAMOS (MARCELLA/ROSENCRANTZ/ PLAYER QUEEN) Annie Ramos is thrilled to be returning to her hometown of Brampton to make this exciting debut with The Shakespeare Company.

Annies love for Shakespeare began in The Stratford Festivals production of Pericles.

She continues to enjoy an international career in both opera, musical theatre and oratorio. Annie would like to thank her very first voice teacher, Brampton’s own Judy Harmsworth and her family for all their love and support. This one’s for them!

CARLY STREET (BARNARDA/FIRST PLAYER/ PLAYER LUCIANUS)/GRAVE DIGGER) Carly is an award-winning actress, and has appeared on stages across North America.

SELECTED: Clybourne Park, Skin Tight (Broadway); Grounded, Venus in Fur, Pal Joey Heisenberg, Midsummer, Company, The Merchant of Venice, Intimate Apparel, The Lord of the Rings, Shrew (Toronto); Educating Rita, The Angel and the Sparrow (Montreal); Twelfth Night (Pittsburgh); The Nest (Denver); Dead Accounts (Cincinnati); Tovarich (New Jersey); Into the Woods, Three Sisters (Nova Scotia); three seasons with the Stratford Festival.

NADINE VILLASIN (POLONIA) Nadine is excited to return to theatre after over a decade-long absence. Credits include: Lesson in Forgetting/Pleiades Theatre, The Forbidden Phoenix (Citadel Theatre), Singkil (Fu-Gen Theatre) Gladstone Variations (Convergence Theatre). Nadine also co-wrote and performed in PEOPLE POWER (CBT/ Teesri Duniya) and Miss Orient(ed) (CBT/Teesri Duniya). Nadine is also a published playwright and has received a Dora Award Nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Musical (Phoenix in The Forbidden Phoenix). Nadine lives in Toronto with her husband Troy, who is a great maker of soups.

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DANIELA VLASKALIC (GERTRUDE) Daniela is an award-winning Canadian actor and playwright. She has appeared on stages across the country including: Stratford Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Theatre Calgary, Citadel Theatre, Globe Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, Canadian Stage, Tarragon Theatre, Belfry Theatre, ATP, and many more. Television credits include: Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), Private Eyes (Global) and The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair (Muse). As a playwright, Daniela’s plays include Sleight of Mind, The Castaways and The Fox. She has also co-written several plays with Beth Graham including: Mules, Comrades, Dora Maar: the wicked one and the multiple award-winning play; The Drowning Girls. Daniela lives in Toronto.

HAYSAM KADRI - DIRECTOR Directing Credits: Heist, Clue, Better Off Dead: Nero Wolfe (Vertigo Theatre) In Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz (Alberta Theatre Projects) Homes: A Refugee Story, A Thousand Splendid Suns (The Grand Theatre, The Arts Club) A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hammered Hamlet, Three Musketeers, Hamlet, Titus Andronicus (The Shakespeare Co) Romeo and Juliet, The Shoplifters, Villains Victors, and Vixens, Hamlet After Dark (Theatre Calgary) The Hobbit (Storybook Theatre)Metamorphoses (University of Calgary) Dracula, Prairie Boy’s Winter (Mount Royal University) Double Falsehood (Shakespeare in the Park). Haysam is the Artistic Director of Alberta Theatre Projects

THE ROSE 1 THEATRE LANE, BRAMPTON, ON L6V 1A3 905.874.2800

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HAMLET I STARRING AHAD RAZA MIR

MARC BONDY – ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Marc holds a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Windsor and subsequently trained at the Stratford Festival Conservatory, Shakespeare’s Globe, and The Banff Centre for the Performing Arts. For nearly 25 years he has worked as an actor, director, and teacher and his work has taken him to many of Canada’s finest theatres – among them The Globe, The Citadel, RMTC, Arts Club, Soulpepper, and the Stratford Festival. Marc has taught acting and has directed plays at the high school, university and professional levels and he loves working with both student and professional actors alike.

NAZERAH CARLISLE - STAGE MANAGER Nazerah Carlisle (she/her) is a Tkarontobased stage manager and graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Production Program. She has had the privilege of working for companies such as Tarragon Theatre, Toronto Dance Theatre, Opera Atelier, Shakespeare in the Ruff, Toes for Dance, Dusk Dances and is the resident stage manager for St. Andrews College.

MONIQUE DANIELLE Monique Danielle (she/her) is a many-“mad”hatted, queer artist working as a stage manager, director, performer and producer.

Originally from southern Alberta, she is now based in Toronto and has a BA in Performance Creation and Research from York University.

Select stage management credits include, SM: June (Uriah’s Granddaughter Productions), #BollywoodMonster Mashup (monstrARTity); ASM: Who’s Afraid of Titus? (Titus-on-the-Run Productions), The Importance of Being Earnest (Alumnae Theatre).

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CORWIN FERGUSON - VIDEO/PROJECTION AND SOUND DESIGN

Corwin has primarily worked across Canada and abroad as a video and projection designer. In 2019-2020 he worked as Head of Projection Technology at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. For his designs, he has earned a Robert Merritt Award, the CITT/ICTS Technical Merit Award, and multiple other award nominations. Corwin’s professional theatrical experience also includes performance, direction, graphic design, set, props and sound design. Corwin is a Studio 58 acting graduate, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts from Capilano University, and is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada Local 659. Select company credits include: Arts Club Theatre Company, Alberta Theatre Projects, Atlantic Ballet, Bard On The Beach, Calgary Opera, Charlottetown Festival, Pacific Opera Victoria, Persephone Theatre, Saint John Theatre Company, Shaw Festival, Stratford Festival, Vancouver Opera. For all things Corwin please visit: www.corwinferguson.com

KIM SUE BARTNIK - SET DESIGNER

Kim Sue is a set designer currently based out of Toronto.

She has worked on a number of theatrical, dance, opera and film productions across Canada, both as a designer and assistant designer. Recent production credits include: Rent (Stratford Festival), King Lear (Stratford Festival), The Importance of Being Earnest (The Citadel), Wake (Borealis Soul; Whitehorse), La Boheme (Against the Grain), No One’s Safe (The Banff Centre). Film credits include The Handmaid’s Tale, Jack Reacher and Mayor of Kingstown. She holds a Bachelor of Design from OCAD University in Architectural/Interior Design and processes experience working as a 3d modeler/renderer, scenic painter, carpenter, and interior designer. @kimsuebar

SIOBHÁN SLEATH - LIGHTING DESIGNER

Siobhán is very excited to be working with The Shakespeare Company on this production of Hamlet.

Her work as a lighting designer has been seen across Canada as well as Internationally. She has been a lighting designer for: Shaw Festival, Arkansas Rep, Canadian Opera Company, The Grand Theatre, Theatre Aquarius, Adirondack Theater Festival, Neptune Theatre, Drayton Entertainment, Globe Theatre, Sudbury Theatre Centre, Musical Stage Company, Larchaud Dance Project, Harold Green Jewish Theatre, Winnipeg Studio Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times and Theatre Passe Muraille. She has been the Resident Lighting Designer of Anandam Dancetheatre since 2006. More information can be found on her website: www.siobhansleathdesign.com

THE ROSE 1 THEATRE LANE, BRAMPTON, ON L6V 1A3 905.874.2800

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HAMLET I STARRING AHAD RAZA MIR CAROLINE BROADLEY - COSTUME DESIGNER For The Shakespeare Company: Costume Design (Debut) Hamlet. Caroline achieved her 25th season this year at The Stratford Festival as Master Sewer II, Wardrobe Show Head, and Wardrobe Attendant. She recently started a new and exciting position as Head of Wardrobe at Alberta Theatre Projects.

She has worked for many different theatre companies including Theatre Calgary, The National Ballet of Canada, RMTC, Theatre Aquarius, and Summer at the Roxy.

Caroline is beyond thrilled to be part of this wonderful creative team.

In her final year of high school, her English teacher, Ian Masters, gave an independent project to do for the Shakespeare play being studied. It was Hamlet. He loved her idea of Designing Costumes for the main characters.

This feels like a full circle moment.

She’d like to thank Haysam Kadri for this incredible opportunity, her friends for their support and encouragement, her family for their nurturing of creativity, and her nieces, Violet and June, for being her two biggest cheerleaders.

Much love.

BENJAMIN FIESCHI-ROS - HEAD OF PROPS Benjamin Fieschi-Rose is thrilled to be working on his first production with The Shakespeare Company. Ben is a director, puppet designer and visual artist working in film, theatre and stop-motion animation. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan (formerly Ryerson) University’s Film Program, Ben’s work has screened on platforms like CBC Television and CBC Gem, and at festivals including the Ottawa International Animation Festival, Stop-Motion Montréal and Cinéfest Sudbury. Recent credits include props assistant for Rock of Ages (More Entertainment), puppet and set fabrication for In Perpetuum (2023), puppet design for Bird Hostage (2023), and writing, directing and puppet design on The Lost Seahorse (2021).

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ADDITIONAL CREDITS Scenic painters: Jess Serricchio, Victoria Charko, Kim Sue Bartnik, Matt Owen.

Head of props: Benjamin Fieschi-Rose Scenic construction: Peter Velocci, Production Canada.

Production support: Liz Truchanowicz, Matt Owen.

Stitcher: Emma Paluk Cutter: Lela Stairs

SPECIAL THANKS Jeremy Smith, Patrick Chong, Leslie Hernandez, Paul Fujimoto-Pihl, Remington North, Kevin Steeper, Ricky Gil and the team at Production Canada, Alberta Theatre Projects, Katie Klingval at Theatre Calgary, Owen Sound Little Theatre, Jennie Wonnacott and the Stratford Costume Warehouse, Ralamy Kneeshaw and the Costume Collective, Sandy Davis and the Stratford Festival, Jesse Lyle at Apex Sound, Michael Daneluzzi.

Hit & Myth Productions, Ian Young, Amber Walliser Our wonderful board of directors: Robb Ferguson, Matt Filipski, Christopher Miller, Julia Pasieka, Catherine Feenstra, Georgia Hasapes, Joanne Chornoboy and William French

THE ROSE 1 THEATRE LANE, BRAMPTON, ON L6V 1A3 905.874.2800

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NEW SEASON.

NEW LOOK. JUNE - DECEMBER 2023

ON SALE NOW ROSE ORCHESTRA: AUTUMN BRILLIANCE OCTOBER 21, 2023

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OCTOBER 24 & DECEMBER 19, 2023

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OCTOBER 28, 2023

CHRISTMAS AT THE ROSE WITH THE BRAMPTON CONCERT BAND DECEMBER 2, 2023

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