The summer interns have started work at the Watermark Theatre and this year’s crop are an exciting mix of young theatre professionals from the Island and those from further afield. This is the 3^rd year of the Mentorship Program at Watermark, which welcomes current theatre students and recent graduates to train backstage at the theatre all summer.

This year’s interns are Gillian Gallivan (Stage Management), Rachel Farmer (Wardrobe), Sarah Jewell (Scenic Art & Props), Rachel Leibovitz (Carpentry & Technical), and Madeleine Socha (Arts Administration).

Gillian Gallivan was raised on PEI and has been an active member of the community theatre scene since she was very young. She attended Holland College’s School of Performing Arts, graduating with a Theatre Performance diploma in 2017. Gillian hopes to get some hands on experience before moving in the fall to Vancouver, BC where she will be studying Stagecraft and Event Technology at Douglas College in New Westminster.

Rachel Farmer was born and raised in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and has loved the theatre, especially the costumes, ever since she was little. Deciding to pursue that love, she is now going into her third year in the Costume Studies program at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Having been away for most of the year, Rachel is excited to be back on the Island and thrilled to be working at the Watermark as the Wardrobe intern. “This is my first time doing an internship like this, and it’s inspiring to be working in the field and getting the experience in an actual theatre as well as working with a wonderful cast and crew of people”, says Rachel.

Sarah Jewell is from Teviotdale, Ontario and graduated from the Theatre Arts Production program at Laurentian University, after completing two years at Cambrian College. She has worked on Thorneloe Productions over the past couple of years including Memories of Water, The Dead Mess Project, Drag Queens on Trial, Blood Relations, and Turmspitze. “I’m extremely excited to be here in PEI and able to have this opportunity to learn in this beautiful province”, says Sarah.

Rachel Leibovitz is from Ottawa and spent three years after high school working miscellaneous jobs before she decided on a theatre program at Acadia, NS. She is entering her final year, and has worked on various crews, having had the opportunity to play a lead, work as Dramaturg, as well as Set Crew Head. Seeking more challenging experiences, Rachel is excited to be at Watermark and to experience the charm of the island. “Watermark’s internship position will give me the experience necessary to transition comfortably from schooling to a more demanding environment,” says Rachel.

Currently working on a certificate for Arts Administration from Humber College, Madeleine Socha is working at Watermark as part of a co-op to complete the program. Madeleine, who is from Toronto, hopes to continue working in theatres as an Arts Administrator, and is very excited to be spending her summer with the Theatre.

Watermark Theatre is a perfect training ground – small enough to nurture and large enough to have processes and policies in place. All sets, costumes and props are realized on site and production standards are high. Though there are many theatre training institutions in Canada there are very few internships available. Hands-on experience and training under a good mentor is one of the best ways to learn and grow.

The program is generously sponsored by the Joan & Regis Duffy Foundation, the RBC Emerging Artist Project, and Skills PEI.

Watermark is a proud member of the PTN – Professional Theatre Network of PEI

For more information please contact Andrea Surich at 902-963-3963 or generalmanager@watermarktheatre.com