Opening night began with a brief reception that gave the attendees a chance to mingle before we were ushered into the theatre. The John J. Conklin Theatre is a very intimate space, that served perfectly for the show as it relied heavily on audience participation, and the audience delivered.

Jocelyn, as well as all the other student actors executed their roles masterfully. The sound design and lights (led by Shivam Kheni and Savanna Mwaura) were perfectly curated to fit the theme of the night. It felt like we were actually sitting by the town of Sligo in Western Ireland. The set pieces (led by Xueqing Li), prop designs (led by Sam Fergus) and costumes (co-led by Destiny Klassen and Josie Long) all contributed to the full immersion that we experienced with the story.

At intermission, we were ushered to the lobby for a much-needed chance to stretch our legs. As the show clocks in at over 2 hours, this was a nice break which gave all of us a quick chance to make some predictions for how the remainder of the show would play out.

Without delving into too many details (you need to see it, after all), the show delivers its three-act main story along with several additional side plotlines, from tense drama packed with emotion to witty banter among the actors. There is something for everyone from this production. With the audience’s active participation, cheering, laughing, and booing when necessary, which is sometimes led by the actors breaking the fourth wall and instructing us to join in, it elevated the viewing experience and sent the attendees laughing out the door.

This production marks the final chapter for some of the department’s veteran students, who are graduating this year and ending their time at UM in the coming months. I had the chance to grab a few words from some of them after the show.

“If this is the chapter I end on, I’m grateful it’s with a character who changed me and a play that became home. Captain Molineux will stay with me long after the final curtain, and The Shaughraun will forever be the place where my heart learned just how deeply a story can hold you,” said Dola Akintan (Captain Molineux and head of publicity).

“Being able to play Claire Ffolliot in this production has been a privilege and I have loved the process of being able to develop this character. She has a bit of an edge to her and that is why I love her,” added Bronwyn Moll (Claire Ffolliot and costume crew member).

Don’t miss your opportunity to watch this riveting and emotional performance! Tickets for the show can be purchased online through Eventbrite for only $10.00 (plus Eventbrite fees). 

Come see it for yourself! The show runs Thursday (7pm) [SOLD OUT], Friday (7pm), Saturday (2pm and 7pm) and features a packed 2-hour and 15-minute runtime.

They talk The Roses, Superman, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and other remakes—what works, what doesn’t, and whether Hollywood is running out of ideas.

To listen to the entire conversation, please follow the link to CBC Manitoba.

What were the TOP THREE shows you were involved with as part of your studies?

1. Arcadia by Tom Stoppard, Directed by Margaret Groome.
   I was the stage manager for this mainstage show. This one was such a big learning experience for me in terms of self-growth. It helped me become more organized as an individual and learn where I valued my time.
2. Drowning Ophelia by Rachel Luann Strayer, Directed by me!
   This is one of my absolute favourites and a fabulous show I had the opportunity to direct as part of the Lunchbhagg (student production) season. I learned a lot about leadership and how others work to create a piece, as opposed to the internal creation of an actor.
3. Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare, Directed by Katrina Dunn.
   I played Dromio of Ephesus and was also the set designer. This was kind of my senior moment in the theatre program and last show. It was great to get back to acting in a larger role, I am at my best when I have the structure of a rehearsal schedule.

What were the TOP THREE best things about being a theatre and film student?

1. The ability to escape from everyday life as a student and immerse myself in a show.
2. Talking about film and theatre in classes. A lot of it is up for interpretation and there is no one correct answer.
3. The professors – they truly care about the students.

During his degree, Chance completed an internship with the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Stage Manager Apprenticeship program. Chance – what were the TOP THREE things you learned during the internship?

1. How to work in a team in a professional environment.
2. That a stage manager is like a conductor who helps the technical side and the acting side branch together.
3. How important communication is in the workplace. It is not just what you communicate, but how you communicate.

What are your TOP THREE tips for theatre and film students?

1. ENJOY your time in university. Don’t overstress about the future, it’s ok not having everything figured out or to change your mind once you think you do.
2. GO TO CLASS. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to take something away each and every time, even a life lesson or a fun fact.
3. Making art is such a fulfilling and fun experience.

This summer, catch Chance’s one-man-show, The Apricot Tree, at the 2025 Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival—a new play he is writing, producing and starring in. The production is directed by fellow UM student Sam Fergus. “The show is about how we might come to terms with death and understand our role as friends while dealing with loss”, says Chance. “You will laugh, you will cry, and hopefully you will walk out looking at life a little differently.”

Congratulations to Chance on the culmination of his creative journey at UM—here’s to exciting projects and performances ahead!

Learn more about the Department of English, Theatre, Film & Media in the Faculty of Arts.

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UM Bisons are at the centre of it all, making a difference here in Manitoba and around the world. 3058 degrees are being awarded at Spring Convocation 2025 (over 620 are from the Faculty of Arts), bringing the total number of UM graduates to 4200 so far this year. Many of these new alumni will stay in Manitoba, supplying high-demand skills to the labour market and contributing to UM’s $7.3 billion economic impact on our community.

“It’s impulsive, it’s not really all that informed, but it has the potential to do a lot of damage,” said Smith.

“This part came from Canada, this part came from the U.S., this part came from Spain, this part came from France, and we are going to tariff what? Only those parts? Or is there going to be a bar percentage of 30 per cent was shot outside of the U.S., or 30 per cent was in postproduction, it’s impossible to predict.”

To read the entire article, please follow the link to City News Winnipeg. 

“We left our country, for our country’s good”

Based on historical events, the play centers around the landing of the First Fleet in Australia, its transported prisoners and the first English theatrical production in the land. One of the central themes of Our Country’s Good is the transformative power of theatre. For the convicts, acting in The Recruiting Officer, offers a temporary escape from their harsh realities. Mary Brenham (played by Meaghan Rohleder) portrays Silvia with passion, showing how theatre provides the convicts an opportunity to be more than their circumstances allow. It offers them a form of freedom, even within their captivity. 

Killara (played by Jade Wood). Credit: K. Schellenberg

Killara (played by Jade Wood) is a standout. Killara’s presence symbolizes the enduring impact of colonization. Quietly observing interactions between officers and convicts, Killara’s costume evolves from a plain grey blanket to one covered with red handprints, black crosses, chains and red ribbon. This transformation reflects the gradual yet far-reaching effects of colonization both in the past and present.

The play also explores the purpose of imprisonment: punishment versus rehabilitation. While Major Ross (played by Samuel Njiru) represents the harsh, punitive mindset, others like Second Lieutenant Clark (played by Taha Ali) advocate for the redemptive power of performance. It’s important to note that many of the convicts are petty criminals—victims of harsh laws for minor offences. This reality showcases the flaws in the justice system and its failure to offer rehabilitation.

After the show, I had the opportunity to sit down with two of the cast members—Taha Ali (playing Second Lieutenant Clark) and Samuel Njiru (playing Major Ross/Midshipman Harry Brewer)—to discuss their experiences.

Reflecting on a sold out opening night, including an unexpected power outage, both actors expressed pride in how the cast and crew navigated the situation. “Opening night was very memorable,” Taha shared. “We had some technical difficulties, but we powered through.”

Samuel echoed Taha’s sentiment, adding, “Despite the challenges, it went really well. I’m proud of the team. We held our ground, and the show must go on no matter what.”

When asked about the challenges they faced in their roles, Taha mentioned the physical demands of maintaining the rigid posture of Second Lieutenant Clark, while Samuel highlighted the difficulty of playing multiple characters with distinct voices and mannerisms.

Regarding the messages they hope the audience takes away, Taha shared, “I want the audience to know that they are so much more than the boxes society puts them in. Art—especially theatre—and the community it builds transcends social barriers.”

Congratulations to the show director Dr. William Kerr and the students of the theatre program for another riveting production. Best of luck with the remaining performances.

Don’t miss your opportunity to watch this play! Tickets for the show can be purchased online through Eventbrite for only $10.00 (plus Eventbrite fees). For behind the scenes looks and to watch an official trailer, check out @umanitobatheatre on Instagram.

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Our Country’s Good

By Timberlake Wertenbaker
Directed by Dr. William Kerr
April 2-5, 2025
John J. Conklin Theatre, Gail Asper Performing Arts Hall 
150 Dafoe Road, West Tache Arts Complex, UM Fort Garry campus 
Wednesday to Saturday – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday – 2:00 p.m.
Runtime is 150 minutes (There is one 15-minute intermission.)

That changed when I became an international student. The first time I sat in a theatre, watching actors pour their hearts out under the lights, I felt something shift inside me. It wasn’t just a performance—it was real, raw, alive. Theatre wasn’t just about pretending to be someone else; it wasn’t just about playing around, it was about understanding people, about seeing the world differently. In that moment I realized I could rewrite stories and the world would believe me if I played my part right. I knew, in that moment, that I had found something that would change me forever.

Students rehearse for Our Country’s Good.

Since then, my journey in theatre has been one of discovery—of art, of history, of myself. And now, I find myself stepping into the role of Governor Arthur Phillip in Our Country’s Good, a play that speaks to everything I’ve been learning about power, justice, and the ability of theatre to change lives. A play that speaks to everything that I’ve hoped for.

For me, Our Country’s Good is not just a story about British convicts in Australia—it’s about something much bigger. It reminds me of my own country, Nigeria, and its history with British colonialism. The same questions the play asks—about justice, about who gets to decide what is “civilized,” about how we heal from the past—are the same questions my homeland has been asking for generations.

Governor Phillip, the man I play, is complicated. He’s a leader of a brutal empire, yet he believes that theatre can change the lives of the convicts under his rule. Stepping into his shoes makes me think deeply about history, about how power works, about the ways art can be both a tool of control and a tool of freedom. It makes me think of how people always have a choice.

This journey—from a girl in Nigeria who didn’t know theatre could change lives to an actor standing on stage, telling a story that connects the past to the present—has been overwhelming, beautiful, and life-changing.

I hope when people watch Our Country’s Good, they don’t just see a play. I hope they feel the weight of history, the power of storytelling, and the reminder that theatre—like life—is about more than just survival. It’s about understanding, about redemption, about finding our shared humanity.

This isn’t just a performance for me. It’s a conversation. And I can’t wait for the world to listen.

OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD
By Timberlake Wertenbaker
Directed by Dr. Bill Kerr

April 2 – April 5, 2025

John J. Conklin Theatre, Gail Asper Performing Arts Hall
150 Dafoe Road, West Taché Arts Complex, UM Fort Garry campus

Wednesday to Friday – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday – 2:00 p.m. 

Purchase tickets

Our Country’s Good stages the landing of the First Fleet and its transported prisoners who enact the first theatrical production in Australia.  Both highly comic and greatly troubling, the play suggests that theatre can enable positive futures while also acknowledging the pressing need for a just post-colonial future.

Tickets for Our Country’s Good are $10.00 plus Eventbrite fees and can be purchased online. You can also follow along with the theatre students on Instagram as they prepare for the production @umanitobatheatre.

Presented by the Department of English, Theatre, Film & Media‘s Theatre Program. Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois. Set design by Bill Kerr with students Martina Caceres and Deklan Jocelyn. Additional design elements by technical staff Shane Stewart and Karen Schellenberg along with students from the production lab of THTR 3000. Promotional design by Joseph Ogbonnaya. 

The play pairs the story of a neuroscientist who is experiencing mental health challenges, Dr. Helen Harlow (played by Martina Caceres) with the true story of Phineas Gage (played by Sam Fergus), a construction foreman in 1848 Vermont who inexplicably survived an explosion that shot an iron rod through his head. After the explosion, Gage’s personality undergoes a complete transformation, marked by angry outbursts and inappropriate behaviors and comments. Dr. John Harlow (played by Kezia Obaseki), the doctor tending to Gage and a distant relative of Dr. Helen Harlow, intertwines the two stories, connecting their experiences. 

I appreciated the use of the Thrust stage – a design that extends into the audience on three sides, immersing the spectators and blurring the line between the performers and audience. The performers did a remarkable job of transitioning between the past and present, drawing the audience into the experience by seamlessly entering through various entrances, making them feel like active participants in the show.  

The parallels between Dr. Helen Harlow’s and Phineas Gage’s circumstances, both transformed by changes to their brains, powerfully highlighted the complexities of the human experience. The play does an excellent job of exploring how those around Gage are affected by the changes in his personality. This is vividly portrayed through his workmate and friend, Jack Kirwin (played by Fallon Waddell), who suffers from PTSD after witnessing the accident and his lover, Sophie Kirwin (played by Bronwyn Moll), who has a more tragic outcome that I won’t spoil here.  

This play offers something for everyone, seamlessly binding elements of psychology and neuroscience, comedy, the complexities of the human mind, mental health, a touch of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and even musical moments.  

Congratulations to the show director Dr. Katrina Dunn and the students of the Theatre program for another brilliant production. Best of luck with the remaining performances! 

Don’t miss your opportunity to watch this riveting performance! Tickets for the show can be purchased online through Eventbrite for only $10.00 (plus Eventbrite fees). 

THAT ELUSIVE SPARK 
By Janet Munsil 
Directed by Dr. Katrina Dunn 

November 27 – December 2, 2024 

John J. Conklin Theatre, Gail Asper Performing Arts Hall 
150 Dafoe Road, West Tache Arts Complex, UM Fort Garry campus 

Wednesday to Friday – 7:00 p.m. 
Saturday – 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. 
Sunday – dark 
Monday – 2:00 p.m. 
Runtime is 95 minutes (no intermission) 

The Business of Theatre course is given by the Department of Theatre and Film, at the University of Winnipeg, and consists of seminars that offer a basic vocabulary for career and project management appropriate for students pursuing careers in all disciplines of the theatre industry.

The law students’ presentation focused on various legal topics including negotiations, contracts, employment, intellectual property, and incorporation of not-for-profits. This presentation quickly turned into an engaged and interactive conversation amongst peers, as both the law students and theatre students had plenty of share on these various topics.

“Presenting to the Business of Theatre students was such a rewarding experience,” said Emily Palmer (3L) [BA)/2019]. “We had the opportunity to have a collaborative conversations about how the law can intersect with art and artistic productions. It was an opportunity to hear questions from the theatre students and to help provide a basic understanding of a variety of legal concepts, such as elements of copyright law, contracts, negotiation tactics, and business organization.” 

This was a great opportunity for both the students of the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts and the business of theatre students to learn about how their futures might be shaped by one another.

“The students were highly engaged and asked thoughtful questions that led to great discussions,” said Skylar Ferbers (3L) [BComm(Hons)/2022]. “It was a mutually beneficial experience. Both us, as presenters, and the students left with valuable insights that will help us in our future careers.”

Palmer, Ferbers, and Carter Ross (3L) [BComm(Hons)/2022], presented to the class.

Emily Palmer (3L) [BA)/2019], Skylar Ferbers (3L) [BComm(Hons)/2022], and Carter Ross (3L) [BComm(Hons)/2022], presenting to the UofW Business of Theatre class.

This opportunity would not have been possible without Hope McIntyre, the University of Winnipeg Professor of “The Business of Theatre” class. As the founding Artistic Director of Sarasvàti Productions, and with a life-time involvement in theatre she is no stranger to the intersection of law and theatre, and understands the importance of equipping artists with the language to navigate legal topics, which is also aligns with one of the goals of the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts.

“The students found it incredibly valuable. They were also so grateful that such an important support service exists for artists. They will certainly be spreading the word to their peers and colleagues,” said McIntyre.

The discussion around intellectual property was particularly interesting because the field is always changing. Artists are constantly creating new pieces and thinking of novel ideas, so having the knowledge to protect their work is crucial to success in the field.

“The presentation and discussion provided invaluable insight on how intellectual property truly is. The students of the class had plenty of questions that I would have never figured were important without this opportunity. This was so beneficial for both sides and I am very happy I was able to partake in it,” said Ross.

Law students working at the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts look forward to doing similar events in the future. The chance for the Clinic’s students to provide public legal education to artists while gaining hands-on experience is one of the reasons the Clinic was created.

A mashup of historical drama and romantic comedy, That Elusive Spark time shifts between a contemporary university where neuropsychologist Helen Harlow struggles with teaching Psych 101 and taming her own mind, and 1848 Vermont where her physician ancestor John Harlow tends to Phineas Gage, a construction foreman who miraculously survives an explosion that shoots an iron rod though his head.

If you’ve taken Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 1200) then you likely remember the story of Phineas Gage and his amazing post-accident personality transformation. That Elusive Spark uses this famous and true case in psychology and neuroscience to explore the human mind, brain and heart with humour and theatricality, along with a dash of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. What emerges is a play that takes a touching and insightful look at mental health in the academy and beyond.

In these productions, undergraduate students studying theatre work together demonstrating their course-learned skills onstage, backstage and through promotion. The experience not only produces a full theatrical production for audiences to enjoy, but also provides hands-on experience to the students that helps them learn the ins-and-outs of working in the world of theatre. “The course these students take is fully experiential,” shared Dr. Katrina Dunn UM faculty member and play director. “Students learn presence, listening and respectful collaboration as each must play their role in the sophisticated teamwork required to bring a play to performance.”

That Elusive Spark is ultimately a story that helps each of us grapple with our understanding of mental health. Being set in a post-secondary environment where we both navigate and study mental health, audiences will find some of the scenes quite familiar.

Tickets for That Elusive Spark are $10.00 plus Eventbrite fees and can be purchased online. You can also follow along with the theatre students on Instagram as they prepare for the production @umanitobatheatre.

THAT ELUSIVE SPARK
By Janet Munsil
Directed by Dr. Katrina Dunn

November 27 – December 2, 2024

John J. Conklin Theatre, Gail Asper Performing Arts Hall
150 Dafoe Road, West Tache Arts Complex, UM Fort Garry campus

Wednesday to Friday – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday – 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday – dark
Monday – 2:00 p.m.
Runtime is 95 minutes (no intermission).

Purchase tickets

Set and costumes are designed by technical staff Shane Stewart and Karen Schellenberg, assisted by students from the production lab of THTR 3000. Additional production students take design leads on lighting, sound, props and projection. Promotional design by Joseph Ogbonnaya.

“As corny as it sounds, I truly feel like this program chose me more than I chose it,” said Chin. “Intro to Theatre quickly became the highlight of my week, and I realized it was all I wanted to spend my time doing. So, I did!”

“Something that has always stood out to me in the theatre program is how close everyone gets,” Chin continued. “The work we do is inherently emotionally vulnerable, so it makes sense we’d be friendly. What I didn’t expect was how many deep friendships I would cultivate that went beyond the classroom. The students and professors genuinely root for each other. I have professors who have come to every single show I have done outside of university productions! You don’t get that everywhere. It’s special.”

When asked about what had the most impact on her during her time at UM, Chin revealed it was, “being given a safe space to learn how to fail.” It seems this provided lessons on the stage, in the classroom and in life. “I know that sounds bizarre when talking about school, but stick with me here. Something you learn early on in theatre is the idea of “instant forgiveness”. It basically means that when you’re up on that stage, if you make a mistake, the only real way to deal with it is to instantly forgive yourself and move on. Dwelling on the errors does nothing for you, but learning to accept that it happened and keep going is where you truly learn. I’ve always been a bit of a perfectionist (every one of my professors that reads this will be nodding along right now, I’m sure) and learning to let go of that was hard for me. But having safe spaces to screw up in and safe people to help me learn from it made all the difference, and I’ll always be grateful for that. I’m a better artist and a better person as a result.”

During her degree, Chin had the opportunity to both act and work behind the scenes in productions at UM such as Macbeth and Peer Gynt. Outside UM, she has already performed at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, MTC Warehouse (her first lead role), Prairie Theatre Exchange and The Citadel (Edmonton).

“Getting the opportunity to do huge productions while you’re still learning is incredibly valuable,” said Chin. “You can learn about acting all you want, but once you’re actually up there, it’s a totally different game. Both are essential and I’m thankful I got as much experience as I did at UM prior to making my way onto other stages.”

Learn more about the theatre program in the Department of English, Theatre, Film & Media.