Kill Shakespeare

In 2012, VPT was given the exciting opportunity to collaborate with HalCon ⎯ Atlantic Canada’s Science Fiction Convention – and Lions Den Theatre on the official world premiere of Kill Shakespeare. Based on the popular graphic novel, Kill Shakespeare tells the story of the Bard’s most memorable characters waging war against their creator. This staged reading was ranked “the Best Show of 2012″ by The Coast Newsweekly and has since gone on to appear in other theatres across Canada.

“Best Show of 2012” – The Coast

COMPANY
Written by Antony Del Col and Connor O’Creery
Director: Dan Bray and Christine Daniels
Staged Manager: Tessa Pekeles
Designer: Matthew Downey
Sound Designer: Shawn Maggio.
Production Manager: Colleen MacIsaac
Original score by Jonathan Goud

CAST
Holly Arsenault: Juliet, Ensemble
Heather Beresford: Chorus, Ensemble
Christine Daniels: Lady Macbeth, Ensemble
Pasha Ebrahimi: Richard III, Ensemble
Eric Fitzpatrick: Iago, Ensemble
Daniel Gervais: Hamlet, Ensemble
Robert Murphy: Romeo, Ensemble
Jesse Robb: Falstaff, Ensemble

For more information about Lions Den Theatre, please click here.

For more information on Kill Shakespeare, please visit here.

Photo by Dan Bray

Photo by Connor O’Creery

Photo by Dan Bray

HOLLY ARSENAULT – JULIET/ENSEMBLE

TRAINING
Memorial University

WITH VPT
The Roaring Girl, 2013 (Choreographer) The Jew of Malta, 2012 (Ferneze); Edward II, 2012 (Assistant Stage Manager).

SELECT CREDITS
LIONS DEN THEATRE/VPT: Kill Shakespeare, 2012 (Actor). ATLANTIC FRINGE FESTIVAL: The Maids, 2012 (Actor). BROOKES DIAMOND PRODUCTIONS: DRUM!, 2010 (Dancer); Vinegar Tom, 2010 (Actor). BEYOND THE OVERPASS: Murder in Green Meadows 2010, (Director); The Long Weekend, 2010 (Actor). MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY: Rockaby, 2010 (Director); Coram Boy, 2010 (Choreographer); Man of the Mode, 2010 (Choreographer, Actor); As You Like It, 2009 (Choreographer, Actor); Spring Awakening, 2009 (Actor); Much Ado About Nothing, 2008 (Choreographer, Actor).

HEATHER BERESFORD – CHORUS/ENSEMBLE

A native of Newfoundland, Heather was classically trained at Memorial University Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. She has worked with A.N.D. Theatre Company and Theatre By the Bay in Newfoundland, and has previously collaborated with various members of VPT through the Atlantic Fringe Festival (Vanishing Twins) and Taboo Theatre (An Evening of Grand Guignol). She was also involved with Vindice’s Folly (VPT’s Nocturne project) in which she played Signora.

DAN BRAY – DIRECTOR

TRAINING
University of Toronto’s Graduate Centre for Study of Drama (2009); Dalhousie University, English and Early Modern Studies (2008).

WITH VPT
The Maid’s Tragedy, 2013 (Director); The Roaring Girl, 2013 (Director); The Jew of Malta, 2012 (Director, Producer); Bartholomew Fair, 2011 (Director); The Revenger’s Tragedy, 2011 (Director); ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore, 2010 (Director).

SELECT CREDITS
TABOO THEATRE: Grand Guignol III, 2012 (Writer); The Reindeer Monologues, 2011 (Actor); Another Evening of Grand Guignol, 2011 (Actor, Director); An Evening of Grand Guignol, 2010 (Actor, Assistant Director). LIONS DEN THEATRE: It’s A Wonderful Life (Actor), Kill Shakespeare (Director), 12 Angry Men (Actor), Arsenic and Old Lace, 2012 (Actor).The Underpants, 2011 (Actor). DOPPLER EFFECT: Blood & Quick Silver, 2012 (Actor).

CHRISTINE DANIELS – LADY MACBETH/ENSEMBLE, DIRECTOR

WITH VPT: The Jew of Malta, 2012 (Costume Designer); Bartholomew Fair, 2011 (Mistress Overdo); The Revenger’s Tragedy, 2011 (Stage Manager). SELECT CREDITS: TABOO THEATRE: Another Evening of Grand Guignol (Actor, Production Manager); A Bag, a Box, and a Bottle, 2011 (Stage Manager); An Evening of Grand Guignol, 2010 (Director). LIONS’ DEN THEATRE: The Underpants (Director). UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE: The Most Massive Woman Wins, (Actor). DARTMOUTH PLAYERS: Sea Marks, (Stage Manager). TAG: Pantomime, 2010 (Actor). TRAINING: University of Lethbridge, Dramatic Arts.

MATTHEW DOWNEY – DESIGNER

WITH VPT
The Roaring Girl, 2013 (Lighting Design); A Yorkshire Tragedy, 2012 (Lighting Design); The Jew of Malta / Edward II, 2012 (Lighting Design); The Revenger’s Tragedy / A Chaste Maid in Cheapside (Lighting Design).

SELECT CREDITS
ATLANTIC FRINGE: Venue Head Tech, 2012. XARA: WAIL, 2012 (Lighting Design). AJAR THEATRE: Tecumseh as a Doorstop, 2011 (Sound and Video Design).

PASHA EBRAHIMI – RICHARD III/ENSEMBLE

TRAINING
Dalhousie University Acting Program (2008).

WITH VPT
The Roaring Girl, 2013 (Sir Davy Dapper); The Jew of Malta, 2012 (Knight); Edward II, 2012 (Mortimer); Bartholomew Fair, 2011 (Tom Quarlous).

SELECT CREDITS
TABOO THEATRE: Another Evening of Grand Guignol, 2011 (Actor). LIONS’ DEN THEATRE/VPT: Kill Shakespeare, 2012 (Actor). LIONS’ DEN THEATRE: 12 Angry Men, 2012 (Actor); Arsenic and Old Lace, 2012 (Actor); The Underpants, 2011 (Actor). NB: The Chronicles of Narnia, (Actor). DARTMOUTH PLAYERS: Lysistrata, (Actor). CHESTER PLAYHOUSE: Away From Home, (Actor). ONELIGHT THEATRE: The Veil, 2007 (Actor); Death of Yazgerd, (Actor). ATLANTIC THEATRE FESTIVAL: Whiteout, 2011 (Actor). The Drawer Boy, 2010 (Actor). DALTHEATRE: Marathon ’33, (Actor); Pride and Prejudice, (Actor); Danton’s Death, (Actor); The Enchanted, (Actor); Metamorphoses, (Actor). ATLANTIC FRINGE: Foibles, (Actor). IRONDALE THEATRE ENSEMBLE / DELL’ARTE: Washed Away, (Actor); The Truimph of Joe T, (Actor). ACTOR’S NEST THEATRE: Daniel on a Thursday, (Actor); Arabian Nights, (Actor).

ERIC FITZPATRICK – IAGO/ENSEMBLE

TRAINING
Neptune Theatre’s Pre-Professional Training Programme (2010).

WITH VPT
The Roaring Girl, 2013 (Neatfoot, Assistant Stage Manager); The Jew of Malta, 2012 (Ithamore); Edward II, 2012 (Gaveston, John of Hainault); Bartholomew Fair, 2011 (Bartholomew Cokes); A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, 2011 (Tim); The Revenger’s Tragedy, 2011 (Spurio); Vindice’s Folly, 2010 (Pulcinella); ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, 2010 (Banditti).

SELECT CREDITS
TABOO THEATRE: Another Evening of Grand Guignol (Actor); A Box, a Bag, and a Bottle, 2011 (Actor); An Evening of Grand Guignol, 2010 (Actor). LIONS DEN THEATRE/VPT: Kill Shakespeare, 2012 (Actor). LIONS DEN THEATRE: 12 Angry Men, 2012 (Actor); Arsenic and Old Lace, 2012 (Actor); The Underpants, 2011 (Stage Manager). DOPPLER EFFECT: Blood & Quick Silver, 2012 (Actor). ONCE UPON A THEATRE COLLECTIVE: On the Verge, 2011 (Stage Manager). ATLANTIC FRINGE: Breaking Point, (Actor, Co-Creator). PPTP: Mother Courage and her Children (Actor).

DANIEL GERVAIS – HAMLET/ENSEMBLE

TRAINING
Sir Wildred Grenfell College (Memorial University), BFA Theatre.

WITH VPT
The Roaring Girl, 2013 (Laxton); A Yorkshire Tragedy, 2012 (Master, Servant); The Revenger’s Tragedy, 2011 (Junior Brother).

SELECT CREDITS
LIONS DEN THEATRE/VPT: Kill Shakespeare, 2012 (Actor). LIONS DEN THEATRE: 12 Angry Men, 2012 (Actor); The Underpants, 2011 (Actor). DAPOPO THEATRE: Live-In Readings, 2009 (Actor). THEATRE NEWFOUNDLAND: The Music Man, 2005 (Actor).

COLLEEN MACISAAC – PRODUCTION MANAGER

WITH VPT
The Roaring Girl, 2013 (Mistress Tiltyard, Production Manager); A Yorkshire Tragedy, 2012 (Producer, Production Manager); The Jew of Malta, 2012 (Assistant Director, Production Manager); Edward II (Prince Edward, Producer); Bartholomew Fair, 2011 (Joan Trash, Production Manager); The Revenger’s Tragedy, 2011 (Piero); A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, 2011 (Assistant Director); Vindice’s Folly, 2010 (Co-Director);’Tis Pity She’s A Whore, 2010 (Putana).

SELECT CREDITS
US VS THEM THEATRE: A Tournament of Lies, 2013 (Actor). LIONS DEN THEATRE: Reefer Madness, 2013 (Actor); Kill Shakespeare (with VPT), 2012 (Production Manager); Arsenic and Old Lace, 2012 (Actor); The Underpants, 2011 (Assistant Director). TABOO THEATRE: Grand Guignol III, 2012 (Actor); Another Evening of Grand Guignol, 2011 (Stage Manager); An Evening of Grand Guignol, 2010 (Actor). ATLANTIC FRINGE FESTIVAL: The Maids, 2012 (Actor); Room Six, 2012 (Director/Co-Writer); Black Jack Justice, 2010 (Actor); Vanishing Twins, 2010 (Assistant Director). AJAR THEATRE: Tecumseh as a Doorstep, 2011 (Production Assistant). DALHOUSIE THEATRE SOCIETY: After the Fall, 2010 (Actor); Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), 2008 (Actor). OTHER: Every Exit, 2008 (Actor).

OTHER
Colleen has a Bachelor of Media Arts from Emily Carr University, and is VPT’s in-house web and print designer. Visit her portfolio site, little foible.

SHAWN MAGGIO – SOUND DESIGN

TRAINING
Acadia University Theatre Program, 2005.

WITH VPT
The Jew of Malta, 2012 (Calymath); Edward II, 2012 (Warwick, Spenser Sr); Bartholomew Fair, 2011 (Winwife).

SELECT CREDITS
PERCHANCE THEATRE: Hamlet, 2010 (Actor). MYSTERIOUS STRANGER: Doctor Horrible’s Sing Along Blog, 2010 (Actor). DARTMOUTH PLAYERS: The Importance of Being Earnest, 2010 (Actor). DAL THEATRE SOCIETY: After the Fall, 2010 (Actor). ACADIA UNIVERSITY: Three Penny Opera, 2010 (Actor).

ROBERT MURPHY – ROMEO/ENSEMBLE

Robert comes from Antigonish, Nova Scotia where he got his start in theatre performing in shows put on by Festival Antigonish. He recently graduated fropm the acting program at Dalhousie University where he had roles in The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Fairy of the Lake, Dante’s Divinus and The Comedy of Errors. He was fortunate enough to get a job at the Stephenville Theatre Festival in Newfoundland where he had fun performing in Proof, Little Shop of Horrors and A Sculpin Named Sam. Robert has also appeared in the Atlantic Fringe Festival, performing as Captain Hammer in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog, and is currently employed at the Halifax Feast Dinner Theatre where he plays Frederick Von Touchmenot in A Christmas Carol: Get Scrooged.

TESSA PEKELES – STAGE MANAGER

TRAINING
Banff Centre Theatre Production Work Study Program (2011); Dalhousie University Theatre Program (2011).

WITH VPT
The Roaring Girl, 2013 (Stage Manager); A Yorkshire Tragedy, 2012 (Dramaturge/Props Mistress); The Jew of Malta, 2012 (Dramaturge); Edward II, 2012 (Stage Manager); A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, 2011 (Stage Manager).

SELECT CREDITS
HALIFAX THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: In the Fall/In This World, 2011 (Assistant Stage Manager). BANFF CENTRE: Cosi Fan Tutte, 2011 (Assistant Stage Manager). OPERA NS: Luisa Miller, 2013 (Stage Manager); Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, 2012 (Stage Manager); Three-Penny Opera/Beggar’s Opera, 2011 (Producer); Zaide, 2010 (Producer). ATLANTIC FRINGE FESTIVAL: The Maids, 2012 (Stage Manager). DALTHEATRE: The Country Wife, 2011 (Dramaturg), New Works Festival, 2010 (Production Stage Manager). HALIFAX SUMMER OPERA WORKSHOP: Kabarett: Mahagonny Songspiel and Beyond, 2013 (Stage Manager). DALHOUSIE OPERA WORKSHOP: Ope OTHER: Kill Shakespeare, 2012 (Stage Manager – VPT/Lions Den/Hal-Con).

JESSE ROBB – FALSTAFF/ENSEMBLE

TRAINING
Neptune Theatre’s Pre-Professional Training Program.

WITH VPT
The Roaring Girl, 2013 (Greenwit); The Jew of Malta, 2012 (Barabas); Edward II, 2012 (Pembroke, Lightborn); Bartholomew Fair, 2011 (Humphrey Wasp); The Revenger’s Tragedy, 2011 (Antonio); A Chaste Maid in Cheapside 2011, (Mr. Yellowhammer); Vindice’s Folly, 2010 (Pierrot); ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore, 2010 (Friar Bonaventura).

SELECT CREDITS
LIONS DEN THEATRE/VPT: Kill Shakespeare, 2012 (Actor). LIONS DEN THEATRE: 12 Angry Men, 2012 (Actor); Arsenic and Old Lace, 2012 (Actor). TABOO THEATRE: Another Evening of Grand Guignol, 2011 (Actor). PPTP: Romeo and Juliet (Actor). SAINT MARY’S DRAMA SOCIETY: The Crucible (Actor). ATLANTIC FRINGE: A Question of Sex, 2011 (Actor); Vanishing Twins, 2010 (Actor).