MACBETH MEDIA ROOM

Production Design and Poster: Hannah Rose Brearley

CAST BIOS

Brett Willis - Ross

Brett is an actor, writer, director and designer originally from Ottawa. His play, Tsuyako, was produced as part of Studio 58's 4-Play production. Brett has made numerous appearances at the Ottawa Little Theatre and is a veteran member of Salamander Theatre's Shakespeare Young Company. Brett is also one of the creators and performers of Architect Theatre's How Should You Be?. Brett is a graduate of Studio 58.

Hannah Rose Brearley - Lady Macbeth

Hannah's obsession with creating imaginary inner worlds has led her from ballet and musicals at Avril Johns' School of Ballet and Garibaldi Secondary Community Theatre  to a deeper exploration with the Stanislavski System and the Meisner Approach at Seacoast Studios and Living Voice Workshops.  As a founding member of Crooked Teeth theatre, she is excited to finally play an imaginary character on stage with such a talented group in this weird and wonderful production of "Macbeth".  Previous notable roles include "Patches" in Watermelon Girls, "The Herald" in Roger and Hammerstein's Cinderella and "Jane" (a girl with her own invisible friend) in Freaky Jane Fine Takes On the Serious World.

Ian Harrison - Duncan

Mr. Harrison's meteoric rise began as the very first graduate of the Theatre Arts Program at Vancouver City College (now Studio 58). He has appeared in an episode of the cult classic The Beachcombers. He has a Master's Degree… somewhere.  A renowned psychotherapist for children, Mr. Harrison practiced for a number of years until his retirement. He is now pursuing his research into "prolonging childhood beyond all previous limits". His recent entry into Olympic fencing was greeted with awed silence. While passersby are quick to assure him that, "he's not so funny as he thinks, he is!" he nevertheless deals with life with humour. Recently Mr. Harrison has returned to his first love, acting.

James Dolby - Witch, Murderer

James Dolby is a film and theatre actor hailing from Waterloo, Ontario. He grew up performing in regional theatre productions, and arrived in Vancouver in 2012 to continue to study and work professionally.  He'd like to thank the beautiful people around him who are a constant inspiration to continue the exploration.

Jeremy O'Driscoll - Macduff

Jeremy has been acting one way or another since he was eight years old, ranging in roles from an enchanted teddy bear to an abusive alcoholic to a cross-dressing conman. His most recent endevours include playing William Hopkinson in 'The Komagatu Maru incident' and Mr. Jerry Huntsman in a burlesque themed reimagining of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves'. He has really enjoyed the challanges and companionships that he has found with this production and would like to thank the cast and crew for such a memorable experience.

Julia Fox - Witch, Murderer

This is Julia Fox's 3rd consecutive year performing in the Vancouver Fringe Festival. Although acting is her primary passion she can be found doing various other artistic endeavours such as piano, flute, singing, dance and even some athletic activities such as rock climbing, kickboxing and aikido. As an actor she is involved in theatre, commercials, film, opera and live events. When you don't see her dressing up in princess costumes or bursting into spontaneous song and dance, you can probably find her teaching your children to repetitiously play the same song until you go nuts (piano teacher), speak in demonic tongues (French tutor) or to literally bounce off the walls (rock climbing coach). She is very excited to be doing Macbeth as it has been several years since she last had the opportunity to do a Shakespeare play.

Kallie Jean Sorensen - Malcolm

Kallie Jean Sorensen is a film and theatre actor originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  After completing her BFA in acting at the University of Saskatchewan she jumped town for Seattle where she trained as a stunt performer before finally settling down in Vancouver.  She recently completed work on her second full-length feature film, Charlotte’s Song, in the role of Patricia.  Kallie is thrilled with the challenge of bringing a female edge to the traditionally male role of Malcolm and couldn’t be happier to be back in the theatre.  Her recent work includes Eileen in the upcoming short film Evermore, Stephanie and Sarah in the recently released short films Wake Me Up and Dancing in Ashes, The Narrator in the Theatre SKAM presentation of Phil the Passive Aggressive Elf, and the role of Lyndi in the feature film Singularity Principle.

Madlen Scot - Witch, Murderer

Madlen has already appeared on TV in Germany and Austria, but she will make her stage debut here in Vancouver with Macbeth. She got her training in Vienna, focusing on Meisner Technique and acting on camera hosted by Jerry Coyle. The young actress finished her studies in June 2013 and moved to Vancouver in September. Madlen enjoys working with the other cast members very much and is looking forward to this new challenge. She is very grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented actors and appear on stage. Her recreational passions include hiking and traveling.

Michal Bodzanowski - Fleance

Mike was born and raised in London, Ontario. And later moved from his hometown to Poland where he developed a love for film and theatre. After a few years of living in Poland, Mike finished school and decided to move back to Canada, but instead of going back to London he flew to Vancouver where he decided to get serious about acting. Mike has been studying acting now for almost 3 years and continues to do so. Not only will this be his first performance of Shakespeare on stage, this will also be his first performance on stage ever! Which makes him very excited/terrified. Either way it will be something he won't forget.

Nicolas Taggart - Macbeth

This is Nic's first foray back onto stage in a goodly while. Prior to Macbeth he was in the director's seat for two shows with Eric Hamber Theatre. Their production of Dennis Kelly's After The End remains as some of the most rewarding work he has done to date. (Frederick Knott's Wait Until Dark was pretty good, too).  On film he has lent his face to a handful of student works around Vancouver, most notable being The Brothers Rapture - a tragic film set in the apotheosized universe of the original Bioshock video games.  When not Acting, he occupies his time surrounded by cats and pretending to write (he's really watching Netflix). Nic is excited to be working with such a great cast and is thrilled to be part of Crooked Teeth Theatre. 

Spenser Dunlop - Banquo

Spenser has only been acting in Vancouver for 3 years. In that time he has done everything from stand-up to murder mystery. Now he can add Shakespeare! He could not be enjoying his first fringe show more. He has learned so much and it is all thanks to the outstanding cast and crew he has the pleasure of working with. He could not have asked for a more supportive, fun and unbelievably talented group of people.  Spenser hopes you enjoy his eccentric, neurotic take on Banquo as much as he enjoys playing it.

Tatyana Forrest - Donalbain, Lady Macduff, Gentlewoman

Tatyana Forrest is originally from Perm, Russia. She left her country at the age of 19 to seek success with her band Plastica in which she played drums. The band first lived in London, UK, then Prague, Czech Republic performing at live concerts and festivals and recording singles. In 2008 Tatyana transitioned from music to acting and she decided to move to Canada. In 2011 she moved to Vancouver where she signed with Muse Artist Management (now Lucas Talent). Since then she’s done quite a few independent films and some television work.

CREATIVE TEAM

Aimee Plant - Makeup Designer

As a graduate of the Arts Institute at Bournemouth, UK, and the prestigious Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver, Aimée's passion and skill for makeup artistry takes her through all genres of the industry from beauty and bridal makeup to airbrushing and special effects. Her creative concepts and ideas, impeccable high standards, and ability to see and work with the individual face keeps her in regular dispense with clients, photographers, producers, editors and art directors. Specializing in concept, design and execution, she has a gentle yet confident approach to application and a critical eye for colour and lines. Aimée’s journey so far has enabled her to gain a variety of valuable experiences within editorial sets, runway shows, TV and film sets, weddings and in theatre. Based in Vancouver, she continues to grow and develop her reputation between Vancouver and London...

Cade McMeekin - Costume Designer

Cade McMeekin has been a theatre junkie since the age of five, when she was brought to see a production of Merlin and had to be shushed the whole way through because she simply wouldn't accept "I don't know" as an answer to the question: "but how do they make him fly?"  Since then, Cade has become a far more respectful audience member, has graduated from Capilano University’s Costuming for Stage and Screen program, and has worked in the costume department of a variety of shows, including TUTS’s Titanic, Exit VVII’s Pride and Prejudice and The Drowsy Chaperone, and Carousel Theatre’s Wizard of Oz and Aesop’s Fables.  Cade is thrilled to be a part of this eerie production of Macbeth, and the 2014 Vancouver Fringe Festival.

Danielle Benzon - Director

Danielle is thrilled to be working with such a talented, passionate and dedicated cast and crew. Macbeth is the third production to be produced under the banner of Crooked Teeth Theatre. The first, Underground: A Forgotten World, was produced at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the second, Boston Marriage, was co-produced in Vancouver in 2010 with First Impressions Theatre, the company that first took Danielle in when she moved from South Africa to Canada in 2001. Danielle has been involved in theatre since she was six years old and works as an actor, writer, acting and voice coach. Macbeth was an ambitious project to start, but this amazing group of people has made it into something that far surpasses the original concept. Special thanks to Hannah Rose, Nic Taggart, Diana Bartosh, Nadine Pelaez and Heidi Quicke for their relentless support.

Diana Bartosh - Assistant to the Director, Stage Manager and Fundraising Captain

Diana fell in love with theatre while in high school, and has been enchanted ever since. She is thrilled to be a part of her very first Fringe show. Most recently, she performed in Simon Fraser University’s production of The Vagina Monologues as The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy. Thanks go out to the spectacularly talented cast and crew, to her amazing boyfriend Alex Dee, and most importantly to her director Danielle Benzon for all her support and guidance.

Michael Methot - Lighting Designer

This Festival always provides many things to challenge your senses. Doing a Bard's work is particularly tough and then cramming it into 90 minutes furthers the intensity. Having toured all over the continent, in design, presentation and management functions, with a wide variety of productions and people, I understand when a troupe has a high standard and talented minds. Working in theatre, concerts, television, film and indoor & outdoor festivals gives me a cross discipline of experience to apply and support your suspension of disbelief. Crooked Teeth Theatre will exceed your expectations.   vlogistics.ca

Nadine Pelaez - Stage Manager

Nadine Pelaez still can't really believe how lucky she was to land an incredible position in such a phenomenal production. Over the past three years at Eric Hamber Theatre, Nadine has stage managed, assistant stage managed and worked on every different crew at least once, most notable being an assistant stage manager of the musical Once Upon A Mattress. In addition to Eric Hamber Theatre, Nadine has worked as a backstage crew member for the Theatre Under the Stars 2013 production of Legally Blonde: The Musical. Nadine would like to thank Danielle Benzon, Diana Bartosh and Hannah Rose Brearley for all being amazing in their own ways. She hopes you enjoy watching Macbeth just as much as she did stage managing it.

Oriana Cope - Sound Designer

Oriana loves working on collaborative projects as a sound designer. She is very passionate about enhancing visual media with sound, in some cases feeling as though it truly comes alive when the sound is finally in place. She graduated from the Vancouver Film School’s Sound Design program and has worked on numerous short films and animations, eventually finding herself in the video game industry. Her most notable work has been for Captain America: Super Soldier for the PS3/XBox360 andLuigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon for Nintendo’s 3DS. Working on this theatre production is an exciting challenge and change from the usual projects she is used to.