Tag Archives: shaw festival

Robert Chafe, playwright

Robert Chafe Podcast

Robert Chafe is an award winning playwright whose work has been seen across Canada, the UK, and Australia.

He was just nominated in the drama category of the 2017 The Governor General’s Literary Awards, for his adaption of Wayne Johnston’s novel, “The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, into a stage play.

Two of Chafe’s plays (“Tempting Providence” and “Butler’s Marsh”), were shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for Drama. His play “Afterimage” won the award in 2010.

Robert is Artistic Director and playwright for Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, where he frequently collaborates with NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Jillian Keiley.

In the podcast we discuss his transition from playwriting to writing a collection of short stories.

Robert shares his experience seeing his plays on stage and watching the audiences’ reaction to them.

He mentions that observing audiences has lead him to understand that “how I feel about my work actually has nothing to do with how an audience is going to experience it.”

Show Notes
Robert’s collection of short stories “Two-Man Tent” on Amazon.
Robert Chafe on Twitter.
Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland’s website.

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

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