Tag Archives: National Theatre School

Neil Barclay: Actor



Neil Barclay has been acting at The Shaw Festival for over 20 years.

We recorded this conversation in 2014 when Neil was appearing in “Elf” at the Grand Theatre.

Neil and I first met in at John Abbott College, not far from Montreal. We were both studying theatre.

Neil went on to study at The National Theatre School and has had a long and successful career.

We discuss his early years while training as an actor. We also discuss the impact his father’s death had on his life as an only child.

Finally in discussing lengthy careers, Neil pays tribute to the legendary Shaw Festival actor Al Kozlik.

Links from the Podcast
Shaw Festival 2020 Season Cast with show dates and details.
Shaw Festival
John Abbott College Professional Theatre Program
Al Kozlik obituary
Avery’s Inn Next Door Startford
>National Theatre School of Canada

Steve Ross, Actor


An accomplished actor, Steve Ross has performed at The Stratford Festival for 11 years. In 2014 he played Sancho Panza in “Man of La Mancha” and Moose in “Crazy for You.”

Currently Steve can be seen as Shrek at The Grand Theatre in London, On. where he plays the lead role. Towards the end of the podcast Steve discusses how he prepared for the role.

Steve’s performed at a variety of theatres including Chicago Shakespeare theatre, The Canadian Stage and the Neptune Theatre.

But Steve began acting later in life, after dropping out of Western University, and Sheridan College’s sports medicine programs. He would study at Brock University and the National Theatre School of Canada before finally choosing a life on the stage.

We discuss Steve’s love of comedy, his most bizarre audition for a TV commercial and the time he failed in the role of Edgar in “King Lear.”

Steve was an actor on the verbatim theatre piece “London Road” at the Canadian Stage. We discuss how it felt rehearsing with an ear piece….listening to the real voice of the character he played, in his ear.

We also talk about his mother, who suffered from depression, and the impact that had on his acting.

Links from the Podcast
Leah Cherniak
The National Theatre School of Canada
The Stratford Festival

Jim Mezon: Actor, Director

Jim mezon, interview, podcast, shaw festival

Jim Mezon has performed in over 30th seasons at the Shaw Festival, one of North America’s most celebrated theatre festivals.

We discuss his journey that began with him working as a theatre janitor in Winnipeg to becoming a respected actor, director and educator.

Artists, generally speaking, don’t follow the timelines of societal norms around big life decisions like getting married, buying a home & starting a family. In this episode I talk with Jim about how I waited until my 40’s to get married and start a family. Jim mentions he started a family later in life too and speaks candidly about the impact of having a child in his 50’s.

We also talk about the next generation of actors & how they are different than previous generations.

Show Notes
The Shaw Festival
My website Shaw Festival Reviews
Don Ziraldo