Category: Theatre

The Ottawa Little Theatre’s 84th Annual National One-Act Playwriting Competition received 68 entries from across the country. The winners join a long list of Canadian literary luminaries including Robertson Davies, John Murrell, Erika Ritter, Catherine Banks and Ken Mitchell.

From the Adjudicators:
“Two people in Purgatory, exploring Christianity’s edicts with thoughtfulness and humour. 
Why is suicide always a sin – shouldn’t the reason be considered?  How are decisions made about right versus wrong, heaven versus hell?  Should sins be ranked in order of seriousness?  Why can’t atheists be considered good people?”
“An interesting and inventive theme – a very well written and absolutely fascinating play.”

“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”

A scroll back through the history of the Internet as we know it, FanAddict examines our current influencer culture and what people will do to stay relevant.

Raised in front of a camera, Luke has been famous for as long as he can remember. The one thing he doesn’t remember, is being given a choice. Luke begins to question who he is outside of the frame when Kendra, a teenage superfan, wins a meet and greet with her favourite influencer.

July 16-27, 2025
Winnipeg Fringe Festival

Written and Directed by Daphne Finlayson
Original Music by Paul De Gurse
Stage Manager: Phenix Rock
Lighting Associate: Bee Dasuki

Cast
Lisa Chartrand
Shanice Raymond
Mady Richard
Ethan Stark
Logan Stefanson
Ryland Thiessen

This touching play was sincere and relatable. Very well acted and wonderfully written.

The Jenny Revue

[W]hile the show deals with heavy topics, it does so with a light, and at times, very humourous hand.

Common Eating

From the producers of (ART)IST (★★★★★, Winnipeg Free Press) comes a new play that explores death, loss, and shortbread cookies.

A group of friends gather around the fire for a night of catharsis and storytelling. Join us around the fire as we share stories about what it means to be mortal.

How to Live Forever combines fictional dialogue with verbatim re-tellings of death stories: from a near-death experience to the scientific study of a father’s corpse. Headed by Daphne Finlayson, this project is dedicated to her late grandparents, who passed away just seven months apart during the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 20 to 30, 2023
Winnipeg Fringe Festival

Created and Directed by Daphne Finlayson
Dramaturgy by Simon Miron
Original Music by Paul De Gurse

Cast:
Sarah Jane Flynn
Mady Richard
Chris Sousa
Ryland Thiessen
Charlotte Thompson

Press

• CBC Radio
• CTV Morning Live
• The Jenny Revue
• Common Eating

The Village Conservatory for Music Theatre & The Keep Theatre
January 24 – February 7, 2020

Adapted by Paul De Gurse & Simon Miron

Featuring:
Julia Anderson
Sharon Bajer
Josh Bellan
Alyssa Crockett
Kamal Chioua
Carlyn Graff-Czehryn
Megan Fry
Oliva Groot
Samantha Hutchings
Toby Hughes
Kimmy Martin
Carly Rackal
Isla Shea
Jean Van Der Merwe


Director: Jillian Willems
Musical Director: Paul De Gurse
Production Design & Stage Managed by Ali Fulmyk
Artistic/Production Associate: Daphne Finlayson

Winnipeg Fringe Festival
July 17-28, 2019

Written & Directed by Daphne Finlayson

Featuring:
Bailey Chin as Linda/The Love Interest
Ryland Thiessen as Seb/The Protagonist
Steve Yurkiw as Vic/The Playwright

Stage Manager: Phoenix Charamuga

Winnipeg Free Press | The Jenny Revue | UMFM 101.5

Black Hole Theatre Company
January 17-27, 2018

Written by Stewart Lemoine

Directed by Daphne Finlayson

Featuring:
Kate Berg as Nancy Kimble
Rowan Gannon as Virginia Tilford
Ryland Thiessen as Jack Vale

Stage Manager: Meaghan Fletcher
Assistant Stage Manager: Jordan Moreau

Costume Design: Becky Zacharias
Lighting Design: Ami Buhler
Set Design: Julie Anderson

UM Today

Black Hole Theatre Company
February 14-16, 2017

Written by John Patrick

Directed by Daphne Finlayson

Featuring:
Lauren Gowler as Betsy
Lu Fayokun as Speedy
Levi Swaine as Bugsie

Stage Manager: Reena Jolly
Lighting Design: Harlan Boughan

Winnipeg Fringe Festival
July 13-24, 2016

Written by Kai Chochinov

Directed by Daphne Finlayson

Featuring:
Ian Bastin as Cyril
Nicholas Groulx as Phineas
Logan Stefanson as Beckett
Ryland Thiessen as The Playwright
Chloe Smith as Larry/Laurie
Kerensa Peters as Voice of Mother

Stage Manager: Kat Petrash

Black Hole Theatre Company
October 20-22, 2015

Written by Kai Chochinov

Directed by Daphne Finlayson

Featuring:
Jeremy Zloty as Mayor Roger Stewart/Himself
Ryan Luke as Samwell Simpson/Himself
Kerensa Peters as Constance Stewart
Ryland Thiessen as Himself
Chloe Smith as Herself

Stage Manager: Robyn Hasselstrom
Lighting Design: Graham Atnip

The Uniter