Cast & Production Team

Cast & Production Team 2021

Cast of 2021 Season

Marthe Bernard
Rosalind in As You Like It / Ophelia in Hamlet

Marthe Bernard is a sixth-generation townie, born and raised on Gower Street (“in the shadow of the Basilica” as her great-great-Auntie Bride would say). After studying theatre at Grenfell (for a couple of years) she played the role of Tinny on CBC's Republic of Doyle which ran for six seasons. In 2020 she starred in the award-winning feature film Little Orphans (dir. Ruth Lawrence). She also starred in the 2012 feature Beat Down, opposite Robb Wells (dir. Deanne Foley). Theatre credits include: the role of Molly in Lois Brown’s production of Sex, The Rules Of (2009 and 2013), the role of Scout in Meghan Greeley’s Kingdom in 2012 and Helen in Greeley’s Hunger in 2015. She is currently writing her first feature film. She lives Los Angeles with her husband and four-year-old daughter but her home is Newfoundland. This is Marthe’s first summer with Perchance, and being given the opportunity to do Shakespeare, outdoors in Newfoundland, with this incredible company, is more than a dream come true.

Owen Carter
Jaques de Boys, Courtier, Forester in As You Like It

Owen Carter is an actor who has performed in various theatre productions in the Metro area, including Billy Elliot (Atlantic Light Theatre), Oliver!, Scrooge (Peter McDonald Productions), and Dracula (AOR Productions). As a member of the Ascension Collegiate Improv and Drama troupe, he has become a frequent participant in the Avalon Regional Drama Festival, and the St. John’s Short Play Festival. Most recently, he partook in the Power of Connection program with Danielle Irvine. This is Owen’s first season with Perchance and he is very grateful to be a part of the company.

Patrick Foran*
First Player, Player King, Osric, First Gravedigger in Hamlet

Previously for Perchance: Julius Caesar, The Servant of Two Masters (Perchance), Richard III (2013).

Other Theatre: Her Closely, Proud, Nailbiter, Village Wooing (Double Sure), God of Carnage, Island in the Sky (Stephenville), Nobleman's Wedding, Pirates of Penzance (Rising Tide), Twelfth Night (Driftwood), Corpse Bride (Theatre PaNik), Brazil Square (Girl Power).
TV: Being Erica, Republic of Doyle, Sons of Terra Nova (CBC), Hudson & Rex.
Film: The Care Package, Stolen, Incredible Violence, Infanticide, When Love is Not Enough (CBS/Hallmark).

Patrick is Managing Producer for Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, Chair of the Association of Professional Theatre of NL and a founding member of the St. John's Short Play Festival.

Elizabeth Hicks
Celia in As You Like It / Marcellus, Player Queen in Hamlet

Elizabeth Hicks is an actor, writer, sketch comedian, and filmmaker from Carbonear, NL. She holds a Master’s degree in English and a Diploma in Performance and Communications Media from Memorial. As an actor, Elizabeth has worked with many theatre companies in Newfoundland including Perchance Theatre, Resource Centre for the Arts, Rising Tide Theatre, Power Productions, and Mindless Theatrics/30for60. She writes and performs regularly with sketch comedy troupes Mom’s Girls and Halfhandsome, including appearances at sketch festivals in New York City, Chicago, and Toronto. Elizabeth is thrilled to be a part of her first season in Cupids with Perchance!

Allison Moira Kelly
Hamlet in Hamlet / Eliza in Our Eliza

Allison Moira Kelly is an actor from Gander who holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts from Memorial University, Grenfell Campus, and Masters of Fine Arts from York University. This is Allison's fifth season with Perchance Theatre. Select previous credits include Portia (Julius Caesar), Smeraldina (Servant of Two Masters), Eliza (Our Eliza), Hermia (Midsummer Night's Dream), Masha (The Seagull). Allison has performed with RCAT, White Rooster, Mindless Theatrics, and Halfhandsome sketch comedy troupe. This summer you can check out Allison's voice in a project by Artistic Fraud in conjunction with the Bonavista Biennale in Elliston, Newfoundland. Allison is one fourth of the sketch comedy troupe Mom's Girls who had a sold out show "Mom's Girls Gone Wild" this Spring, and filmed their upcoming children's tv show Tales From the Floordrobe. Allison is absolutely delighted to be back with Perchance again this season.

Greg Malone*
Loomis in Our Eliza

Greg Malone has been a comedian and political satirist since the early 70s and is best known for the ground-breaking WGB and CODCO TV series for which he has received many awards including ACTRA’s Award of Excellence. Greg’s memoir, You Better Watch Out, and his political shocker Don’t Tell the Newfoundlanders are both Canadian best sellers. Since 2012 Greg has returned to live theatre. Making Shakespeare understood has become his passion and he has played lead roles in highly acclaimed and wildly popular productions of the Bard with New World Theatre and Perchance Theatre in Cupids. His most recent theatre shows include NAC’s touring production of Tartuffe, The Laramie Project which he directed at Grenfell Campus in Corner Brook, Sorin in Chekhov’s The Seagull and Loomis in four separate productions of Meg Coles’ ever popular NL classic Our Eliza. He continues to perform in film and TV, his most recent character is the ghostly Surgeon on the new TV series Surrealtor.

Evan Mercer
Orlando in As You Like It / Hank in Our Eliza

Evan is an actor, writer, and comedian from Shearstown, Newfoundland. He is thrilled to be back for another season with Perchance. Evan has been fortunate enough to work with many of the province’s best theatre companies and is currently attending the National Theatre School of Canada. He has also worked in film and television, garnering a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2017 Canadian Screen Awards. Evan is most recently known for whispering about Pepsi on the internet.

Michael Nolan
Polonius, Second Grave Digger in Hamlet / Duke Senior, Adam, Corin in As You Like It

Michael Nolan is pleased to be in his fourth season with Perchance Theatre, particularly to be working with such fine actors and directors. He has been in theatre for many years, beginning with the original MUN Drama. His more recent favourite roles, other than those with Perchance, include the title character in Fleming (Basilica Heritage), Selsdon in Noises Off (Nothing On), Mr. Death in “One for the Angels” (School Zone), Lord Hastings in Richard III (Shakespeare by the Sea). During the pandemic he maintained some sense of connection with theatre by helping build the new wings of the Endeavor Theatre and with both text consultation for Perchance’s Power of One series and the direction of its Comedy of Errors segment.

Jodee Richardson*
Claudius, The Ghost in Hamlet / Charles, Amiens in As You Like It

Jodee Richardson is one of Newfoundland and Labrador's most diverse and dynamic performers. A renowned singer/songwriter, actor and playwright, Jodee enjoys traveling the province writing about the people he meets and the places he visits. He is dang thrilled to be with Perchance this summer, creating with this smart, talented and hard working crew & cast. A joy. And also...just to be out of the HOUSE. Here's to the future, folks - NL and Big Land for the win.

Michael Rhodri Smith
Jaques, Silvius in As You Like It / Guildenstern, Priest, Player Lucianus, Sailor in Hamlet

Michael Rhodri Smith is thrilled to return to a second season of Perchance Theatre in Cupids. Mike lives in St. John’s and has been performing in (once, in the Geo Centre), on and around the island since 2010. Select credits include: The Kraken + The Brassbutton Man. Under The Bridge Productions & Salt Teeth Theatre Company / The Servant of Two Masters. Perchance Theatre / Caesar. Perchance Theatre / The Fights. Rabbitown Theatre Company / The Pillowman. Graveyard Shift Productions / Cookstown. Salt Teeth Theatre Company / Jack Meets the Cat and Other Tales. School Zone Productions.

Erika Squires
Horatio in Hamlet / LeBeau, Hymen, Forester in As You Like It

Erika Squires (she/they) is a theatre artist who was born and raised in Newfoundland. In 2021 Erika was honoured to receive the Dick Buehler Award for Theatre, the Geoff Seymour Sr. Memorial Bursary and the Michael Cook Scholarship for her graduating year at MUN. Erika’s play Baby is currently in development, with dramaturgy by Robert Chafe, and the first public reading will be premiering this fall! Erika has had the pleasure to work with many different companies in Newfoundland, including PerSIStence Theatre, Best Kind Productions, Courtney Fowler Productions and Etcetera Productions. Erika is so happy to be back in Cupids for another season with Perchance Theatre!

@erikasquires (Twitter and Instagram) @erika.squires.1 (Facebook)

Owen Van Houten
Touchstone, Oliver in As You Like It / Laertes, Rosencrantz, Player in Hamlet

Known as a physical actor and versatile musician, Owen has performed with companies across the province including: Perchance Theatre, Rising Tide Theatre, Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival, Best Kind Productions, and Atlantic Repertory Company in Saint John, New Brunswick. Owen has also written and been featured in numerous short film and video projects, most recently appearing in GrindMind Horror's Mummering Legends. Owen is also an amateur boxer, with an official record breaking even at two wins and two losses. To check out Owen's drumming, visit his Instagram page - @hopefulvandoubter - Enjoy the show!

Bridget Wareham*
Duke Frederick, Phebe in As You Like It / Gertrude in Hamlet

Bridget is from St. John’s Newfoundland and a graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada. She has been working in theatre, film, television and voice over for over a decade. This is her second year with the Perchance Theatre company and she is very happy to be back. Previous credits include: Cassius in Julius Caesar directed by Danielle Irvine and Beatrice in The Servant of Two Masters directed by Perry Schneiderman. Film/TV work includes: Business Ethics, Hunting Pignut, Away From Everywhere and Rookie Blue. Voice work includes Teletoon’s 2015 George of the Jungle.

*The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance-Opera-Theatre Policy (DOT).

Production Team 2021

Kirsti Mikoda
Technical Director, Production Manager, Fight Choreographer

Kirsti has been with Perchance for the last seven exciting seasons, and is pleased to be back for her eighth. Previous to coming to Newfoundland she worked in theatres across Canada. She is grateful to all the lovely people who make up Perchance Theatre.

Laura Bruijns
General Manager

Laura Bruijns is a professional event logistics coordinator who has spent the last seven years working in a number of capacities at the province's largest sports and entertainment complex. Her true passion lies with the arts and she has been involved with a number of boards and committees for theatre and visual arts across the province. Laura's first job upon arriving in the province was with the local organizing committee for the JUNOs. This amazing opportunity gave her the good fortune to connect with some of the unbelievable talent in Newfoundland and Labrador. She worked as an administrator for Rising Tide Theatre where she was initiated into the daily trials of theatre and was hooked.

Now that she has experienced the rugged beauty of this province out on the trails, on the waves, and in the concert halls, there is no going back. Welcome back to live theatre - Enjoy this place of remarkable beauty.

Krista Blackwood*
Production Stage Manager, Stage Manager: Hamlet

Here at home in Newfoundland, Krista stage managed Into the Woods (Opera on the Avalon); and The Haunting of Margaret Duley (PerSIStence). Elsewhere, favourite credits include The Candidate (Citadel Theatre), The Hockey Sweater: A Musical (Segal Centre/NAC), Shakespeare in Love (Neptune Theatre), Glenn (Soulpepper); The Mill (Theatrefront); Anne of Green Gables – The Musical (The Charlottetown Festival); Peter and the Starcatcher (Western Canada Theatre); The Rocky Horror Show (Theatre New Brunswick); Generous (Tarragon Theatre); and seven seasons as an assistant at The Stratford Festival. Thanks to the whole Perchance team, and Kimmy and Mark for keeping the porch light on!

Brendan Agnew
Stage Manager: As You Like It / Assistant Stage Manager: Our Eliza, Hamlet

Brendan Agnew (he/him) is a Vancouver-born stage manager excited about his first summer at Perchance Theatre. Brendan has worked with companies across Canada including Pacific Opera Victoria, Repercussion Theatre, Carousel Theatre for Young People, Theatre SKAM, and the Belfry Theatre. Brendan holds a certificate in Production Design and Technical Arts from the National Theatre School of Canada and a BFA in Theatre from the University of Victoria.

Ryan Wilcox
Stage Manager: Our Eliza / Assistant Stage Manager: As You Like It, Hamlet

Ryan Wilcox (they/them) is a white, nonbinary theatre creator based out of Kjipuktuk, colonially known as Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ryan graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada from the Production Design and Technical Arts program, where they focused on stage management, lighting, and sound. Ryan’s focus is creating theatre with equity seeking artists from all walks of life. After their time with Perchance, Ryan is producing devised theatre about the actualisation of queer identities, and the harm that they tolerate when accepting love.

Selected Credits: Sound Design: Little Thing Big Thing (Neptune Theatre), PEACE Project (Transitus Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (NTS), Coram Boy (FSPA), Stage Management: For the Taking, Don’t Misunderstand Me (FAST), Colors of Courage (Anthony Sherwood Productions), Nell Gwynn, Indra’s Web, Romeo and Juliet (NTS)

Tiff Roberts
Assistant Stage Manager, Technical Assistant

Tiff Roberts is a multidisciplinary artist from Twillingate, Newfoundland. Having studied both
Acting and Technical theatre at Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus, Tiff enjoys being both onstage and behind it. Working with sound, light, box office and acting with Beyond the Overpass in the summer of 2016 is what set Tiff on the path to working with theatre in many shapes and forms. While enjoying many aspects of theatre, Tiff’s favourite part has always been working with and creating props and sets and is so excited to be working in many aspects of tech with Perchance this summer.

Kelly Lewis
Assistant Stage Manager, Technical Assistant (Student)

Kelly is a dance and theatre artist who hails from North Bay, Ontario. She holds a diploma in Dance Performance from the Holland College School of Performing Arts where she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, music theory and theatre. She now studies at Memorial University, where she is concurrently pursuing a B.A. in Communication Studies and the diploma in Stage and Screen Technique. She has danced in Together We Rise (Mocean Dance Company), Robyn Hood (Confederation Centre of the Arts) and sang in the chorus of Shanawdithit (Opera on the Avalon). She is also stage managing Boise, Idaho for MUN Drama Society, which will premier as part of the St. John’s Shorts festival this September. Kelly is very grateful to be working with Perchance this summer and is learning so much from the cast and crew!

Lynn Panting
Choreographer

Lynn Panting is a Newfoundland-based performer, movement coach, choreographer, and director known for creating innovative and accessible dance works. Lynn is deeply committed to the growth of creativity and self-confidence through movement and holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Memorial University as well as a Master of Humanities concentrating in performance, dance and the body. Recent collaborations include choreography for, A Midsummer Nights Dream (Perchance), Rise and... with Any Jones (LPD for the Festival of New Dance), and choreography for the Discovery Channel's Frontier. Lynn is the Artistic Director of Isle Aux Mort Theatre Festival, The Artistic Director of Untellable Movement Theatre, and a founding member of Ladies Who Lunch Productions.
lynnpantingdance.com

Theo Norvell
Fight Choreographer

Michelle King
Front of House Manager

Michelle is delighted to be back at Perchance Theatre for a second season. She recently completed a Master of Arts in English Literature, with a focus on researching Shakespearean performance in Newfoundland. She holds a Diploma in Performance and Communications Media from Memorial University. Michelle has been working in arts administration over the last three years and is grateful to be working alongside the wonderful and talented people at Perchance!

Emily Bolger
Front of House, Customer Service

Emily Bolger was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. She is currently entering her final year of the Business Management Accounting Program at the College of the North Atlantic. Emily has a deep love for theatre, music, and musical theatre. She loves sharing this passion, both on and off the stage, including past performances in theatre, voice, and guitar. She also enjoys baking and sharing her creations with the cast and crew. Emily has been volunteering with Perchance Theatre in various roles, including front of house, box office, and assisting with Summer Workshops for Young People since 2017. She is excited to be working as part of the Perchance Team this season.

Patrick Dawson
Front of House, Marketing

Patrick is a soon to be 2nd Year Master’s Student of York and Ryerson University’s jointly ran Communication and Culture program. He was first exposed to the wonders of theatre production through MUN’s Performance and Communications Media diploma, which culminated in an Assistant Directorship at Perchance Theatre in 2019. Since then, he has worked on several productions, including directing Harold Pinter’s One for the Road and performing as Luka in Anton Chekhov’s The Boor for the 2019 St. John’s Short Play Festival. He is currently preparing to begin work on his thesis project in September, which will combine his scholarly interests and creative practice into one unified video essay. He also designed the webpage you are reading right now!

*The participation of this Artist is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance-Opera-Theatre Policy (DOT).