Category Archives: Profiles

Profiles

Behind the Scenes

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Meet the Artist – Director Samantha Wilson – Steel Magnolias at the Watermark Theatre

Samantha is a Nova Scotia based director and actor who has worked nationally and internationally. Her work has appeared across Canada at Neptune Theatre, Kick at the Dark Theatre, 2b Theatre, Eastern Front Theatre, Theatre Baddeck, Magnetic North Festival, Summerworks, Push Festival, Festival Antigonish, Spark Festival, Chester Playhouse, Sudbury Arts Centre, Theatre Yes, Live Bait Theatre, Mulgrave Road Theatre and abroad at La Mama in New York City, Fire Exit Theatre in the UK, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Spoletto Festival in South Carolina and LitLive Festival in India. Samantha holds an MFA from York University and has taught and directed at Sheridan College, Mount Allison, York and Dalhousie Universities.

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Profiles

Meet the Administrator

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Continuing to share more of our fantastic team, today we are sharing a little about Cindy Riley, our Theatre Administrator.

As a Theatre Administrator and working closely with the General Manager of Theatre, she’s responsible for managing the administrative aspects of the theatre, allowing the creative team to focus on bringing their artistic vision to life.

– As a born and raised Islander, how are ways you have found yourself involved in the community?

Despite being a full-time working parent of two daughters, I managed to find time to volunteer by involving my kids in the process. While they were participating in dance, theatre and ringette, my husband and I volunteered with various events. Moreover, when my girls were younger, we took the opportunity to volunteer at the Soup Kitchen, which I believed was a valuable experience for them to appreciate their privilege and understand the importance of giving back to the community.

– What’s your favourite musical? And why?

There are so many – but a couple of my favourites have been Hairspray and Mamma Mia. Lots of music, dancing and laughter – that to me makes for a great night of theatre.

– What’s your favourite restaurant in PEI?

My favourite (only 1?)😊 would be Fins at Tracadie Harbour. This is a relatively new restaurant, with the best fish tacos. Not only is the food great but the location/view is spectacular.

When not working Cindy enjoys knitting, crocheting, camping, fishing and beaches.

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Profiles

Ordering Up Alan Doyle

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A big congratulations to Alan Doyle. He will be named to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador this fall. The order is the province’s highest honour and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence and achievement in their field.

You can still catch Alan on stage at the Confederation Centre in Tell Tale Harbour through September 24 – visit the link for tickets information ➡️https://bit.ly/3RjmriK

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Profiles

Close Ties to the Island

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Actor Paul Rainville’s Close Ties to PEI
 
Actor Paul Rainville has a close connection to the Island and is finally able to perform for family and friends in The Drawer Boy by Michael Healey at Watermark Theatre from August 9th to September 3rd. Paul shared his thoughts with us about PEI and his time on the Island rehearsing the play.
 
“I married a Wells from up Alberton way. Her early years were in Pointe Claire, Quebec – but chunks of her summers were spent here on the island and once we were together that pull to come “home” meant that for chunks of our summers we were island bound. When we had kids large swaths of their summertime seasons were spent in these hills and on these shores.
 
Uncle Chris’ cottage in Lower Bedeque was a destination for many years and the kids loved it and have grown up thinking this place is a second home where lobsters, and oysters, and Aunt Peg’s Green Goddess Sauce, abound.
 
The clan of cousins always offer a warm embrace and great food and lively debates through to the early hours. And, oh boy oh boy oh boy, Aunt Marilyn’s Mediterranean Fish Soup.
 
We have two paintings at home: one shows my daughter in rolled up sweat pants, out there at low tide looking to gather up some oysters. She had a taste for some oysters – so after many long highway hours she’d unfolded herself from the back of the car, grabbed a bucket, and marched straight out on the muddy bay off Holman Island to get us a week’s worth of delicious briny treats.
 
The other was a gift my son painted for his old man’s birthday. It shows a stick game, at Uncle Chris’ cottage, with me whirling round holding the stick high while our border collie sails through the air trying to gain the prize. Made the old birthday fella shed a tear to unwrap that one, I tell ya.
 
And so many wonderful suppers at cousin Emily’s fabulous place – The Mill in New Glasgow – and watching the River Clyde pageant that cousin Ker and his colleagues all put together.
 
My introduction to the Watermark Theatre was watching cousin Gracie Finlay in shows going back over the years. And we had great times visiting cousin Carolyn as she worked lunch shifts at the Island Stone Pub in Kensington. Visiting too with cousin Jake and Kate out near Rice Point. And walking the Hazelgrove hills with aunt Lynne and cousin Ben. And saying a brief “Howdy! How are ya!“ to cousin Lucas as he expertly jockeys carts back in to the Superstore.
 
Well you know it just goes on. The welcome is wide open and embracing.
 
It’s great too to be here doing the show with Wally MacKinnon (Angus in The Drawer Boy) who just knows a whole lot folks. Rahul Gandhi (who plays Miles in the show) is from Montreal and both he and I are being shown a whole bunch of Island good times. Wally is a magnate for good friends and music – he has a treasure trove holding tons of great tunes.
 
Why just last night we sang up a storm well into the evening. And our wee valley out here in Clinton lit up with a double rainbow just to launch the gathering. Cars pulled up and guitars came out and a good toe tapping time was had by all.
 
Wally does Stan justice on those great ballads. Jacob Hemphill (Open Casket Open Mic at the Victoria Playhouse) strummed up some of the Johnny Cash songs in his repertoire and we got a taste of the show he’s writing for a fall tour. Buddy Bryan picked some great guitar solos.
 
Wonderful.
 
There’s more. I haven’t even told the story about meeting the old…”
 
Ticket prices for The Drawer Boy range from $15 to $32 and can be purchased at www.ticketwizard.ca or by calling the box office at 902-963-3963.
 
Watermark Theatre’s Mandate
Located in North Rustico, PEI, on land that is the traditional unceded territory of the Mi’Kmaq, the Watermark Theatre is a professional theatre company that produces time-honoured plays, as well as contemporary plays that resonate with our times.
As a company we are led by the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility and commit to incorporating these core values in everything we do.
We prioritize environmental stewardship and sustainability.
The Watermark Theatre is dedicated to the development of the next generation of theatre artists and arts administrators through mentorship and professional training.
In all of our programming we strive for artistic excellence while endeavouring to inform, affect, and engage our audience and our community.
 
For more information please contact Lara Dias at 902-963-3963 or admin@watermarktheatre.com
 
Watermark Theatre
57 Church Hill Ave                
North Rustico, PE                
C0A 1X0           
(902) 963-3963
http://www.watermarktheatre.com

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Profiles

Out of the Drawer

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Actor Rahul Gandhi to play Miles in The Drawer Boy
 
Montreal based actor Rahul Gandhi travels to PEI for the 2nd time this year, this time to play the role of Miles in The Drawer Boy at Watermark Theatre in North Rustico. He previously appeared at the same venue in Kitbag Theatre’s production of Lungs in April. The Drawer Boy by Michael Healey will be performed at Watermark from August 9th to September 3rd. We spoke to Rahul about the upcoming part.
 
Q: How did you get cast in the play?
A self tape from my kitchen! Theatre is such a wonderful community effort– I was asked to read while rehearsing for Kitbag Theatre’s production of Lungs earlier this year, by Robert Tsonos, AD of the Watermark, and he said something like “Oh we’ll have maybe 15 or 20 people read” and so I thought nothing of it: “no way I’d be cast”. That let me free up my choices with no pressure, and I am very happy that they appreciated my tape!
 
Q: Tell us about the play and what it means to you?
The Drawer Boy is a story of friendship, honesty, and the pursuit of storytelling. I always say that Theatre is self-referential, and this is no exception! This play makes me proud to be a Canadian artist and to lend myself to Canadian storytelling!
 
Q: What about the character you’re playing? What’s he all about?
Miles is a twenty-something year old, doe-eyed, eager actor from the big city (Toronto in this case). He’s staying with Angus and Morgan to learn about farming so he can make up a play with his collective about it! It’s fun that he is so out of his element– I’m a young actor from Montreal and so we have a few things in common: getting out of the big city to put on a play!
 
Q: This will be your second time performing at Watermark Theatre. It’s such an intimate venue. What’s it like for you?
The Watermark is such a great space to perform in! The intimacy of it lends itself to a feeling of connection with the audience, with the thrust stage and seating just feet away. Having an opportunity to perform in the space again is a pleasure, and I cannot wait to continue to explore and create.
 
Q: Looking forward to spending 7 weeks in PEI?
YES! My short time in PEI earlier this year left such a lasting impression on me, and I am so excited to see it in the summer. While I’ll miss Montreal, I feel PEI will be a great retreat.
 
Ticket prices for The Drawer Boy range from $15 to $32 and can be purchased at www.ticketwizard.ca or by calling the box office at 902-963-3963.
 
Watermark Theatre’s Mandate
Located in North Rustico, PEI, on land that is the traditional unceded territory of the Mi’Kmaq, the Watermark Theatre is a professional theatre company that produces time-honoured plays, as well as contemporary plays that resonate with our times.
As a company we are led by the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility and commit to incorporating these core values in everything we do.
We prioritize environmental stewardship and sustainability.
The Watermark Theatre is dedicated to the development of the next generation of theatre artists and arts administrators through mentorship and professional training.
In all of our programming we strive for artistic excellence while endeavouring to inform, affect, and engage our audience and our community.
 
For more information please contact Lara Dias at 902-963-3963 or admin@watermarktheatre.com

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Profiles

Setting the Stage

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Artist Profile – Wes Babcock

Set Designer for Educating Rita & The Drawer Boy

Wes is a set and lighting designer, production manager, and technical director based in Halifax, NS. If it lights up, bears weight, or needs a schedule, he’s your guy. The list of companies who’ve discovered this includes the likes of Crow’s Theatre, Talk is Free Theatre, Neptune Theatre, and Tapestry Opera. Favourite credits include The Woodcutter (Matchstick, Halifax – Set, Merritt Nominee), as well as the world premieres of Pleasureville (Neptune Theatre, Halifax – Set), Scavenger’s Daughter and Four Sisters (Paradigm, Toronto – TD), and The Little Prince Reimagined (Puzzle Piece, Toronto – Lights). Wes is thrilled to be making his PEI debut with Watermark Theatre this summer.

Wes is a founding member of whatbywhen (WxW) where, with Crystal Lee, he is building models for sustainable production management and technical direction through praxis.

He is the founding co-curator of Dark Day Monday, a Toronto-based monthly performance series featuring artists who break boundaries and defy expectation (@darkdaymonday www.darkdaymonday.com). wesbabcock.com

Ticket prices for Educating Rita range from $15 to $32 and can be purchased here: https://www.ticketwizard.ca/show/3217

or by calling the box office at 902-963-3963.

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Profiles

Naomi Reinvents Rita

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Artist Profile – Naomi Ngebulana

Playing the role of Rita in Educating Rita

Naomi has lived in multiple cities, in multiple countries, and is currently based out of Toronto.

She got her start in community shows in Calgary, then moved to Toronto “for the culture”, eventually ending up in England, where she graduated with an MFA from the Guildford School of Acting. In 2020. She has been waiting ever so patiently for theatres to re-open and is excited to make her professional debut playing the role of Rita. Outside of living the dream, she’s a certified yoga instructor and either on her mat or eating ice cream. Haagen Dazs. The vanilla one with the chocolate covered almonds.

Ticket prices for Educating Rita range from $15 to $32 and can be purchased here: https://www.ticketwizard.ca/show/3217

or by calling the box office at 902-963-3963.

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Profiles

The Man Who Educated Rita

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Playwright Profile – Willy Russell – Educating Rita

Willy Russell’s career spans more than four decades; born in Liverpool in 1947, he left school at 15, became a women’s hairdresser, part-time singer/songwriter before returning to education and becoming a teacher. Two of Willy’s best-known plays have female protagonists, Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. Both became successful films – Julie Walters and Pauline Collins who played the roles on stage received Oscar nominations as did Willy for the screenplay of Educating Rita.

His musical Blood Brothers played for 24 years becoming the 3rd longest running West End musical. Major foreign productions include a 2 year run on Broadway.

Willy continues to be one of the most celebrated and widely produced writers of his generation with works regularly being produced throughout the world.

Buy Your Tickets to Educating Rita Here: https://www.ticketwizard.ca/show/3217

or call 902-963-3963

Profiles

The New Scrooge

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Cameron MacDuffee is very happy to be making his Watermark Theatre debut. An islander by choice, Cameron moved here in 2015 from Ontario and couldn’t be happier about it. For over 25 years Cameron has worked as a professional actor, musician, playwright, producer and instructor across Canada and the United States. He has performed in most of the major regional theatres in Canada in over 70 professional productions, including four seasons at the Shaw Festival and seven seasons at the Charlottetown Festival (Kronborg, Mamma Mia, Jesus Christ Superstar, On The Road with Dutch Mason, Anne of Green Gables, Dear Johnny Deere, Evangeline, Ring of Fire). 


Cameron recently started a new company on PEI called Farmgate Theatre with his partner, musician Karen Graves. The company created and produced two shows in 2021: The Good Time Radio Variety Show at the Victoria Playhouse, and The Road to Belong presented at their 100 acre farm in Bonshaw.


Thank you for supporting live theatre. Wishing you a peaceful season.
A Christmas Carol runs from Dec 9th to 19th.
https://www.ticketwizard.ca/show/3055 

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Profiles

The Gin Man

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Actor Profile: Richard Clarkin 
Will play the role of Weller Martin in “The Gin Game”.
July 13th to 31st, 2021. 
For tickets www.ticketwizard.ca or call 902-963-3963.

An Award-Winning performer and graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Richard Clarkin has created a versatile catalogue of characters on both stage and screen. Clarkin’s acting career began in 1984 when he originated the role of “Jacob Mercer” in David French’s iconic play Salt Water Moon for Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. Most recently, also for Tarragon, Clarkin played “Menelaus” in Rick Robert’s adaptation of Orestes, a digital performance for the pandemic era, and a first of its kind for the theatre.


Clarkin has performed in large scale musicals such as Jukebox Hero and in the long running Disney/Mirvish hit production The Lion King, where he played the iconic role of “Scar”. Clarkin has fostered long associations with iconic theatre groups such as VideoCab and the Company Theatre in Toronto, as well as performing in leading roles for decorated companies across the country, including The Stratford Festival, Soulpepper Theatre, Necessary Angel, Grand Theatre, Atlantic Theatre Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, The Globe Theatre, Citadel, National Arts Centre and The Belfry. 


In 2018 Clarkin won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film for his work in The Drawer Boy. Other notable screen roles include “Captain Gord Ogilvey” in the hit hockey comedy movies Goon and Goon II: Last of the Enforcers by director Michael Dowse, and recently the David Bowie biopic Stardust, and the soon to be released film Carmen opposite Natasha McElhone.


Clarkin’s extensive television credits include the recurring role of “Chief Inspector Davis” on Murdoch Mysteries for CBC, Burden of Truth (CBC), Rogue (Audience), Killjoys (Syfy), Republic of Doyle (CBC), Flashpoint (CBS/CTV) and a series regular role on the popular teen sitcom Naturally, Sadie for Disney Channel and Family Channel.


Clarkin divides his time between Toronto and PEI. His island roots run deep, owning an old Farmhouse in Savage Harbour, and his parents coming from farming communities in Kelly’s Cross and Watervale.

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