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Land Acknowledgement
The land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Erie, Neutral, Huron Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas. This land is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which was an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. This land is also covered by the Between the Lakes Purchase, 1792, between the Crown and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Today, this land is home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island. We recognize that we must do more to learn about the rich history of this land so we can better understand our roles as neighbours and caretakers.
A message from Tottering Biped Artistic Director, Trevor Copp
Tottering Biped Theatre's Shakespeare by Nature series came about in response to a need.
Hamilton has Community Theatres galore on one hand, and Theatre Aquarius on the other. One has many opportunities but no pay. The other has very few opportunities that generally go out to non-local artists. So what does a local aspiring professional do? They move away.
This series is here to stop the Artistic Brain Drain and keep our Artists working. This is the only program that has paid opportunities for local emerging artists, featuring not only living wages but also the chance to work with established artists. And this show is just a start. There's no reason why this can't become a legacy event to attract audiences from all over. How about running for over a month? More than one show? What about dance theatre, children's theatre, and more?
We'd love to get more ambitious still. If you can be a part of helping us get ambitious, please reach out. We'd love to hear from you.
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE TEMPEST DIANA BELSHAW, HAMILTON 2023
We know The Tempest is seen as Shakespeare’s farewell to the stage and, as such, it is often a vehicle for our great actors to take their own last bows. But, for me, this is of less importance in the end than what the play can say to us and our audience today. Whatever our age, we understand loss, the desire for revenge and the power of transformation.
Our Tempest is a simple story with complex relationships. Prospero has been exiled by her (yes, she is a woman in our production) king and brother, and brings the same vision of the patriarchal world she has experienced to the island on which she lands. She passes down her autocratic understanding of privilege, and it is only through unleashing her vengeance that she begins to understand the power of redemption and forgiveness I am also very moved by the idea that beauty is often cherished by those NOT in power, that dreams of an idyllic world still linger in those who are most downtrodden, and that those who cause the world to be destroyed may have the capacity to redeem and heal A contemporary fable? I hope so
Many years ago, I was part of two productions of King Lear directed by Richard Rose in which he experimented with cross-gender casting In both, I played the Earl of Kent, both Lears were women and Cordelia was a man The connection of actor and character are deeper than gender or race I have tried in this production we are doing to select the person I believe will inhabit their character in the most interesting and truthful way But there is no doubt that, in so doing, I am also making statements about gender and power A female Prospero has a different lived experience than a male version It is my hope that the textures of those experiences will give the production resonances which may impact the audience to give them a new perspective without losing the integrity of the story
And, in the end, I hope our production speaks of hope and the possibility of change for the better Love is always more potent than power So perhaps our love for place, for each other will show us a path to redemption Our world needs kindness right now
Diana August 7, 2023
Approximate run time: 85 minutes with no intermission
Cast
Prospero, the right Duke of Milan.................................................Radha Menon
Miranda, Prospero's daughter..............................................................Mimi Han
Alonso, King of Naples..................................................................Michael Rode
Sebastian, his brother...................................................................Zach Parsons
Antonio, Prospero's brother, the usurping Duke of Milan..............Zubin Vincent
Gonzalo, an honest councillor..........................................................Alma Sarai
Ferdinand, son to the King of Naples.........................................Jake Rutigliano
Ariel, an airy spirit..............................................................Caitlin Collingwood
Caliban, Prospero's slave..............................................Rebecca Durance Hine
Trinculo, a jester...............................................................................Alma Sarai
Stephano, a drunken butler..........................................................Zach Parsons
Creative & Crew
Director.......................................................................................Diana Belshaw
Assistant Director........................................................................Thea van Loon
Stage Manager ...........................................................................Ava Robitaille
Stage Manager......................................................................Alyssa Campbell
Set Designer......................................................................................Walt Rickli
Sound Designer............................................................................Zach Parsons
Movement Coordinator..................................................................Trevor Copp
Project Coordinator.........................................................................Alma Sarai
Assistant Project Coordinator / Prop Coordinator.......Rebecca Durance Hine
Building Assistant.......................................................................Mike Hannigan
Technical Supervisor....................................................................Cedric Martin
Stateless in the UK until age seventeen, Menon emigrated to Regina, Saskatchewan in 1995 where her singing and acting performance career abruptly ended, and her writing career began. Her plays, which have been produced at theatre festivals in Canada, the US, UK and India, include Blackberry, Ganga’s Ganja, Rukmini’s Gold, Rise of the Prickly Pear, The Circus & The Washing Machine Red Beti Theatre (RBT), Hamilton’s first feminist IBPOC theatre company was founded by Menon in 2011 Supported by a Canada Council for the Arts Digital Now Grant, 5 of her plays were adapted and produced as podcasts in 2021 by RBT Menon is passionate about the representation of marginalised communities on stages and screens, believing that inclusion is imperative for all to feel valued within Canadian culture As such, Menon, a founding member of the Coalition of Black and Racialised Artists (COBRA), also served on the board of directors for three years Menon’s area of expertise is women ’ s rights, Dalit’s rights and the decolonisation of theatre, it practices and spaces Her current area of research focuses on the decolonisation of South Asian culture.
Winner of Toronto Fringe New Play Contest 2015, Hamilton Fringe Critics Choice Award 2015, 2020 Sanhita Manch National Playwriting Contest, Sultan Padamsee Playwriting contest 2020 & Herman Voaden Playwriting award 2021 Finalist, Rukmini’s Gold was published by Scirocco Press in 2022 In addition, Menon is a filmmaker and production designer for art house films, including Nayan; The Evil Eye, (Design Award, Here Be Dragons Int. Film Festival 2015)
Finalist of Cayle Chernin Media Award, magic realism short film, The Sail Tree Menon, currently developing a suite of goddess plays, Devi Triptych with Red Beti Theatre, holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph She is based in Hamilton and is editing her first novel, Death Cry of a Peacock
Mimi is so excited to be joining Tottering Biped for this summer ' s production of Tempest! The first ever piece of theatre Mimi saw was Romeo and Juliet in her local park; it's a full circle moment now that she is herself involved with outdoor Shakespeare. Mimi is so pleased to have you attend the show and hopes you enjoy the performance! Mimi's selected past credits include: Persephone/Echo in Medusa (Brianna Seferiades with Hamilton Fringe), Cordelia in King Lear (McMaster Thespian Company), Charlotte in Charlotte's Web (King's Players).
Radha S. Menon / Prospero
Mimi Han / Miranda
Michael is a Hamilton based actor and Montessori educator Shakespeare credits include: Twelfth Night (Direct Flight); Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rose Theatre); Romeo & Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre Prospero); All's Well That Ends Well (Alchemy Theatre); Othello, Julius Caesar (Single Thread); The Winter’s Tale (Theatre Kingston) Hamilton credits include Mary’s Wedding (Rook’s Theatre); Amadeus (Theatre Aquarius); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Land Mermaid). Michael conducted and co-founded the Hamilton Choir Project, sang (virtually with 7,000 other artists) for Queen Elizabeth II, performed in theatres across the country, and has proudly directed his adolescent students in a Shakespeare production for the past seven years Cheers to Tottering Biped for putting in the mountains of physical and mental energy to produce an outdoor theatre production.
Zach Parsons is a Toronto-based actor, sound designer, and musician. Along with various film and commercial projects, recent theatre credits include: the Canadian and US tours of Selah's Song, #ChurchToo. and Forgiven/Forgotten (Theatre of the Beat), The Second Life and Journey to the East (Tottering Biped Theatre), Hamburger (Informal Upright Theatre), and five prior seasons of Tottering Biped Theatre's outdoor Summer Shakespeare, for which he's both acted and created full musical scores. Sound-wise, aside from personal music projects, he continues to work on pieces in the PLAY THIS audio walk series for Tottering Biped Theatre, melding soundscapes and storytelling to tell personal stories for communities around Hamilton, ON and beyond. He's also done sound design and composed full scores for stage plays, audio plays, short films, TV commercials, podcasts, and continues to experiment with more! Recent sound design credits include: Good Old Days and Bone Cage (One Four One Collective), A Midsummer Night's Dream and Bullfinch's Mythology (Tottering Biped Theatre), Barn Talk (Backyard Theatre).
Michael Rode / Alonso
Zach Parsons / Sebastian & Stephano
Born and raised in Chennai, India, Zubin Vincent is a versatile actor who, since early 2023, has been based in Toronto Trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Shakespeare's Globe, he has acted in a range of genres, from musicals and pantomimes to Shakespearean and Greek classics. Beyond acting, he has been exploring his talents as a writer and director, focusing on plays that address contemporary culture and issues in India Passionate about encouraging theatre education for all ages, he has conducted acting workshops in India and works as a performing arts instructor with the City of Toronto.
Alma received her training from the Theatre and Drama Studies program at the University of Toronto Mississauga joint program with Sheridan College. She is now an artist and arts advocate working in Hamilton, Burlington and Toronto. In her undergrad she appeared as Thaisa in Pericles Prince of Tyre under director Patrick Young as well as Grusha in The Caucasian Chalk Circle under director Ted Witzel
With Tottering Biped Theatre, Alma is an Associate Producer and has played in every "Summer Shakespeare Project" since its conception in 2016 Credits with TBT include Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, and Malvolia in Twelfth Night For the Summer Shakespeare Project she has been the Producing Director since 2020 Alma's recent film credits include a CBC Gem exclusive, Patty vs Patty which premiered in February 2022 with Chris Strikes as director Callowgrove Entertainment producing Notable voice acting credits include playing the voice of Sandy the Starfish, on Finny the Shark Alma has sung with the Hamilton Children's Choir, performed and taught at Theatre Aquarius and Stagecoach Schools' various programmes, and danced since the tender age of 3. She is currently singing with Burlington-based women ' s choir MYRIAD, is an Actor with the Hamilton acting company 'It's a Mystery to Me,' and has recently gone international with TLV's ESCAPESHOW wherein virtual, live, escaperoom-type shows are broadcasted around the world When she isn't acting or teaching, Alma also works with various other local adult and youth programmes, helping to promote youth education and development through the arts
Zubin Vincent / Antonio
Alma Sarai / Gonzalo & Trinculo
Jake Rutigliano (Ferdinand) is a Toronto based actor and a graduate of the Theatre and Drama Studies program at UTM and Sheridan College. Some recent credits include In The Next Room, Twelfth Night, and Metamorphoses (Theatre Erindale)
Jake is thrilled to be joining the cast of The Tempest in his first production with Tottering Biped Theatre. Some random interests of his include anything to do with space, taking random things apart and attempting (sometimes successfully) to put them back together, and making way too many puns You can usually find him in a random cafe downtown or watching standup comedy.
Caitlin Collingwood (she/her) is an actor, singer , dancer and writer based in Hamilton who believes in the power of the Arts to change the world She discovered her love for the arts at a young age, and passionately pursued her craft in high school and at the Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts where she studied dance. Dedicated to her growth as an artist, she continued her studies at Randolph College, graduating in 2018, and in Sheridan College’s Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance Programme, where she graduated in 2022. Selected credits include “Happy End” (Theatre Sheridan), “The Chorines” (Theatre Sheridan), “My Fair Lady” (Brott Music Festival, “A Little Night Music” (Randolph College)
Caitlin’s dedication for the Arts has been a guiding light throughout her life; she aims to bring magic and hope to others through the craft she loves She recognizes that theatre and storytelling is bigger than herself, and finds joy in the remarkable responsibility and opportunity to challenge and nourish souls through the work that is shared An avid lover of Shakespeare’s work since childhood, she is beyond thrilled to be performing this show with such a talented and beautiful company The experience has truly been “such stuff as dreams are made on ”
Caitlin would like to dedicate her performance to Mary-Lu Zahalan, a bright light in her life who is now an angel in her heart, forever missed and forever beloved.
Jake Rutigliano / Ferdinand
Caitlin Collingwood / Ariel
Rebecca is honoured to be back with Tottering Biped Theatre for a third time as part of this incredibly talented cast and crew! She is a graduate from the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts at Brock University and from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto Rebecca’s credits include Lydia in Big Love (Brock University Theatre), Brigid Blake in The Humans (Dundas Little Theatre), and Helena in Midsummer Night: A Dream (Tottering Biped Theatre). Besides acting, her loves include reading, writing, travelling, and camping Her favourite movie is Empire Records, her favourite season is autumn, and her favourite people are animals She would like to thank her partner and family for their unwavering support of her acting career.
Diana Belshaw has been an actor for over fifty years, having worked at most of the major theatre companies in Canada Her career was focussed primarily on the development of new Canadian work as both an actor and a director, but also included classical work as well as film and television She was the Professional Theatre Co-ordinator at Theatre Ontario, where she administered and developed their Professional Training Programs, before moving on as Director of the Theatre Performance Program at Humber College
After leaving Humber, Diana became Director of Animikiig, the Creators’ Program at Native Earth Performing Arts Under Diana’s direction, Animikiig developed into a multi-disciplinary development program for Indigenous creative artists in all areas of the performing arts
Diana continues to work as both an actor and a director/dramaturg. She directed Mieko Ouchi’s play Burning Mum for fu-gen theatre, as well as a rewrite of Winston Kam’s classic play Bachelor Man with Brenda Kamino for Renaissance Canadian Theatre (which will be produced next fall). Diana was in the cast of Nina Lee Aquino’s production of The Unplugging by Yvette Nolan at Factory Theatre and recently directed a new play by David Yee love in the time of werewolves written for the graduating class of York University’s Conservatory
She has received the Maggie Bassett Award for her contributions to theatre in Ontario and a much-treasured Harold Award from the independent theatre community in Toronto The participation of Diana Belshaw is arranged by permission of Canadian Actor's Equity Association
Rebecca Durance Hine / Caliban
Diana Belshaw / Director
Ava [she/her] is thrilled to be back with Tottering Biped for her second summer Shakespeare production Recently graduated from Brock University’s dramatic arts program, she is excited to be able to devote all her time to creating theatre. Ava’s previous TBT credits include ASM for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2022).
Alyssa (Lyss) Campbell is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist interested in all things production, from lighting and sound work to stage managing and directing She is a recent graduate of Dramatic Arts at Brock University As an avid thunderstorm watcher and enjoyer, she is pleased to return to Tottering Biped Theatre for The Tempest, having previously stage-managed A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2022. Other recent credits include: The Addams Family (Stage Manager, Theatre Orangeville), Welcome Home (Director & Lighting Designer, Laser Shark Productions), A Vampire Story (Stage Manager, Brock University), and AnthropoScene (Sound Designer, Brock University).
Ava Robitaille / Stage Manager
Alyssa Campbell / Stage Manager
Thea van Loon is a passionate and ambitious assistant director
Thea is excited about theatre's transformative power after graduating from Brock with an undergraduate in Theatre Studies
They bring fresh creativity to every project Throughout working on "The Tempest," they collaborated closely with the director and cast to infuse modern nuances while staying true to Shakespeare's brilliance and story. Prior to working on the Tempest, Thea honed their directorial skills by participating in various productions such as co-directing Welcome Home an original devised piece by laser shark productions (Brock University, 2023), and the Miser by Moliere (Brock University, 2022) They possess a keen eye for detail and dedication to the craft, making them an invaluable asset to any production A lifelong passion for theatre drives Thea to explore the interplay of emotions and storytelling, aiming to create unforgettable experiences for both cast and audience Thea envisions a dynamic career in theatre, being part of productions that challenge conventions and ignite the imagination of audiences worldwide.
While working with his family’s landscaping business Walt Rickli became intrigued with the potential of natural stone. Curious of the possibilities he began by experimenting with the creation of small stone Basins. At the Guild Institute for Stone Masonry in Whitby, Ontario, Walt started his training, and quickly recognized that he had a natural ability Walt then discovered the Celestial Studio in Barre Vermont where he was mentored by three of North America’s greatest stone sculptors. Fuelled by enthusiasm and knowledge he left the family business after 25 years to peruse a vocation in stone sculpting
Combining his training and talent he developed a large carving studio within a quarry using old world wisdom with modern technology. Over the years his studio has become the facilitator to thousands of wonderful stone sculptures and its design to crest sculptures from 200 pounds to 100,000 pounds has provided him with the ability to work in a limitless environment.
Walt Rickli / Set Designer
Thea van Loon / Assistant Director
The Tempest : A synopsis Act
I
Off the coast of an island, a great storm overcomes the ship that carries King Alonso of Naples, his son Ferdinand, and his brother Sebastian. They were on their way home home from Tunis to Italy when the storm hit and demolished their ship. Shipwrecked with them are the courtier, Gonzalo, and the Duke of Milan, Antonio.
From the island, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, watches the storm and shipwreck with her daughter, Miranda. Miranda fears for the ship's crew, but Prospero assures her that everything is fine. Prospero decides to open up about her past, telling Miranda how 12 years previously, Prospero's brother Antonio had deposed Prospero in a coup.
With the aid of Gonzalo, Prospero had escaped in a boat with the infant Miranda and Prospero's books of magic. They travelled to the island, made it their home, and enslaved the only native islander, Caliban. The only other inhabitant of the island is the spirit Ariel, whom Prospero had rescued from imprisonment in a tree. Since Antonio was on the boat that is now shipwrecked, Prospero hopes finally to rectify her past. As Miranda sleeps, Prospero discusses her role in the shipwreck with Ariel. They plot about what to do with the shipwrecked men now that the courtiers are on the shore.
The courtiers from the ship are cast ashore unharmed. But King Alonso is near despair, believing that Ferdinand, his son, drowned. Ferdinand has actually arrived safely on a different part of the island where he meets Miranda and they instantly fall in love. Prospero, fearing for her daughter, captures Ferdinand and forces him to carry wood.
Act II
Ariel leads the courtiers astray, while Sebastian and Antonio plot to kill the King while he is asleep. Their attempt is foiled by Ariel. All the people from the ship become ever more confused as they wander around. In another part of the island, the court fool, Trinculo, has come ashore and discovered Caliban. Trinculo hides from an approaching storm, and the ship's butler, Stephano finds them.
Act III-IV
Stephano, Caliban, and Trinculo, at Caliban's suggestion, intend to kill Prospero and make Stephano lord of the island. They get very drunk before setting off to the cell to kill Prospero. Ariel reports this wicked plot to Prospero. Meanwhile, Prospero has relented and gives his blessing for Ferdinand and Miranda's marriage. Prospero and Ariel set a trap for the three plotters. Stephano and Trinculo fall for the plot and become distracted by gaudy clothes hung out for them. After they touch the clothing, they are chased away by spirits disguised as dogs.
Act V
Ariel brings all the courtiers to the cell where Prospero, renouncing her magic, reveals herself. Instead of enacting her revenge, Prospero forgives them and accepts the return of his dukedom. Ferdinand and Miranda are betrothed. Prospero fulfils her promise and frees Ariel while Caliban and the drunken servants are rebuked. The play ends as all go to celebrate their reunions, and Prospero asks the audience to release her from the play.
Pieczonka
