RUNNING TIME
2 Hours with a 15 minute intermission.
CONTENT WARNING
Spooky or frightening moments, possible jump scares, and implied child death.
SETTING
The action all takes place in a small Victorian Theatre.
TIME
Early 1900’s
A Word from the Artistic Director: Kerri Norris
Welcome to the first show in our 2024/2025 “Book Club” season! We’re so excited to bring you the creative, collaborative work of so many artists in all three of our shows. Each one is connected to books: Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black, The Brother’s Grimm Rapunzel (Knotted in our version) and our world premiere of Patricia Brooke’s We Don’t Talk About Book Club. Hopefully you took a look at the cast, designers and crew’s favourite books in our lobby display. I know I’ve added some things to my reading list.
The Woman in Black has been a play I’ve thought about a lot over the years and I’ve read the story by Susan Hill multiple times. I’m pretty much a chicken when it comes to jump scares and I’m not into gory horror flicks. But I do love a good thrill and chill especially around the fall season. There is nothing that sends that shiver down my spine like a tale that asks me to use my imagination. A good story will do that and so will a good play. Everyone will have their own, unique way of filling in the blanks in their own mind and this collective imagining is what is so special to that good story, be it on the page or on the stage.
I knew exactly who to ask to direct this intimate piece. I’ve always admired the diverse theatrical experience of Nicole DesLauriers and appreciated the positive, collaborative process she brings to the table. We have a great team of artists creating the world of The Woman in Black; some new and some returning. You are in for a real treat. So take a deep breath; imagine yourself in Victorian England, the gas lights are turned down low, the mist of the moors curling around the window, the house makes faint sounds that startle you as you are curled by the fire, ready to imagine a spine chilling story. Enjoy!
Arthur Kipps (Oliver de la Harpe) and the Actor (Conor Kavanagh) reading some surprising news.
A Word from the President: Nigel Brooke
Welcome to another exciting season for RCTC. It takes a village to put on a play (a creepy, isolated village in today’s case), and I’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of the RCTC staff, volunteers, and artists for their fantastic work bringing together the Woman in Black as well as the rest of the season. However, most of all I’d like to extend a thank you to you, the audience, live theatre can’t exist without one, and we are honoured that you choose to spend your time with us.
The Royal Canadian Theatre Company is a registered not for profit society dedicated to providing affordable, high quality and inclusive entertainment. There are many ways that you can contribute if you want to; join as a member, become a sponsor or donor, volunteer, or even just recommend us to someone else.
Arthur Kipps (Oliver de la Harpe) and the Actor (Conor Kavanagh) enjoying a carriage ride.
Meet the Cast
- "Arthur Kipps" played by Oliver de la Harpe
- "Actor" played by Conor Kavanagh
- "Voice Actor" played by Sarah Maguire
- "Voice Actor/Understudy" played by Stephen Elcheshen
Oliver de la Harpe - Arthur Kipps
Originally from England, Oliver has always had a passion for theater and acting. He has studied Drama at the University of Alberta and Acting for Film and Television at Vancouver Film School. Theatre credits include, Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls (Hastleons), Michael in Hanging Out (Late Night Productions), Sheriff in The Trip to Bountiful (United Players Club) and most recently Army Press Officer in Freedom of the City (Vital Sparks). Film credits include Mitch in 5G: The Reckoning (Industry Works) and Jason in Intensive Purposes (MonexAldo Entertainment) He is grateful to being given the opportunity to help bring this iconic ghost play to life.
Conor Kavanagh - Actor
Conor Kavanagh, playing the role of ‘Actor’, is a performer with a broad stage experience. They trained in stage and screen acting at the Drama School ‘The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts’ in Greater Manchester, UK. Through the years they have appeared in a variety of productions on-stage and on-screen across the UK and theatre credits include prominent roles in stage adaptations of Dickens Classics: Great Expectations and Dickensian Christmas (A Christmas Carol). Roles in Tennessee Williams One Act Plays: These Are The Stairs You Got to Watch and Portrait of a Madonna as well as roles in more contemporary works like Earthquakes in London, Love and Information, The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas and Punk Rock.
By joining RCTC and performing in The Woman in Black, they make their stage debut in B.C. and describe their work on the production as a dream role and a true privilege.
Sarah Maguire - Voice Actor
Sarah Maguire is a celebrated actress renowned for her dynamic and captivating performances, which have earned her widespread recognition and critical acclaim. Growing up in the coastal city of Townsville, Sarah first excelled as a competitive runner and artistic gymnast before discovering her passion for acting. She refined her craft at Sydney Theatre School through their intensive three-year Acting for Stage and Screen program.
Sarah toured internationally with a sketch comedy show, performing to sold-out audiences at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Her exceptional work in the graduating show caught the attention of Romanian puppet master Maddy Slabacu, who recruited Sarah to Horizon Theatre. At Horizon Theatre, Sarah expanded her skills by performing and touring with hand puppets, body puppets, and marionettes.
Sarah has delivered unforgettable performances in a wide range of roles, including the leading role of Susie Salmon in the Australian premiere of The Lovely Bones, in which her work earned critical acclaim. During the pandemic, she created magic for audiences as a special effects performer at Universal Studios Japan. With her impressive range of work across both screen and stage, Sarah stands out as a powerhouse in the entertainment industry. The Woman in Black marks Sarah’s debut with The Royal Canadian Theatre Company.
Stephen Elcheshen - Understudy & Voice Actor
Stephen is a Hydrostatic Recertification Technician by day and theatre geek by night. As one of the founding producers of Shadows And Dreams Theatre Co, he can be found in the bandshell at Queen’s Park every summer showing off his Shakespeare. Recent roles include Jaques in As You Like It (S&D) Arthur, Sir Bors, and half the other characters in Spamalot (White Rock), and Wooster in Jeeves Intervenes (G7). When not on stage, he is often called upon as a Fight Choreographer, recently having worked on The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery (RCTC), Tale of Two Cities (Gallery7), and We Are The Body (Pacific Theatre). As always, he’d like to thank his family for their love and support.
Arthur Kipps (Oliver de la Harpe) and the Actor (Conor Kavanagh) traveling by train.
Meet the Crew
- Director: Nicole DesLauriers
- Assistant Director & Stage Manager: Patricia Brooke
- Assistant Stage Manager: Katie Brooke
- Lighting Design: Sam Brooke
- Sound Design: Joel DeStefano
- Prop Design: Jordan Ravensbergen
- Technical Director: Stephanie Bruce
- Costume Design: Kerri Norris
- Producer & Marketing Coordinator: Crystal Weltzin
Nicole DesLauriers - Director
Nicole has taught and directed people of all ages but focuses on working with children. She is a drama teacher and runs LARPing camps at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and has recently directed for Shadows and Dreams Theatre Company and consulted on a few independent circus acts. As a theatre artist she has worn many hats but prefers teaching, directing, and choreography. Her training includes clowning, puppetry, mask, circus arts, and dance. She believes that theatre is an amazing tool for teaching creativity, flexibility, and acceptance and focuses on collaborative creation and collective storytelling.
Patricia Brooke - Assistant Director & Stage Manager
When not working as a high school drama teacher, I am the co-founder of Shadows and Dreams Theatre Company, where I’ve directed Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Love’s Labour’s Lost. As a writer I adapted The Snow Queen for the stage and wrote an original play The House for Trinity Western University. I am the recipient of the Betty Lambert Playwright Award and made the longlist for the Voyage YA First Chapters contest.
Katie Brooke - Assistant Stage Manager
Katie is thrilled to be a part of her first show with RCTC. She has appeared in Twelfth Night, As You Like It and Comedy of Errors with Shadows and Dreams Theatre and in Newsies, Into the Woods and Seussical at Urban Academy.
Sam Brooke - Lighting Design
Despite having always had an interest in technical theater, Samuel has not pursued it seriously until recently. After thoroughly enjoying his work last year on Ghost of a Chance and The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, he looks forward to working more and more and creating better and better designs with RCTC.
Joel DeStefano - Sound Design
Joel DeStefano is an interdisciplinary artist whose work is informed by the process of listening. He is a graduate of SFU’s MFA program, where he researched acoustic ecology and performance practice. He has since created collaborative work in theatre, dance, radio and film along with independent work inspired by a theoretical and playful inquiry into language, imagery, bodies and sound. He was the co-founder and co-artistic director of Proximity Arts, an interdisciplinary artist collective, and is currently the President of the Vancouver Improvised Arts Society. He works at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts where he creates and develops public programs in theatre, film and creative writing.
Jordan Ravensbergen - Prop Design
Jordan signed up for theatre school because she wanted to have a job that would be ever changing, with each show presenting its own unique challenges so she would never get bored. Now, she is drawn to theatre for its special brand of magic in the creation and immersion of the world of a show. While she isn’t shy of performing, she prefers to support shows backstage through Stage Management or Design. You may have seen her Jellyfish in Wild Light (Little Dipper Theatre Co.), or impressionist dipped props in Our Town (Little Dipper). Jordan gives “props” to the fabulous team behind the scenes of The Woman in Black and hopes you enjoy the show!
Stephanie Bruce - Technical Director
This season, Stephanie has properly moved into the position of Technical Director, and Sound Designer, as well as continuing as Company Stage Manager. So is therefore far too busy building the sets, sourcing props, gathering various comedy noises, and wrangling the rest of the Stage Management team, various casts, and assorted production staff, to write a highly detailed bio, for whichever program is before you. Not even quite sure which month, or even day, it currently is. But, whenever you’re reading this, the show you’re about to see is incredibly hilarious. So sit back, relax (not that much!), and enjoy!
*And remember to breathe!*
Kerri Norris - Costume Design
Kerri has been a long time costumer for RCTC and is excited to be working on a much smaller show than Panto. Recent design credits include: Twelfth Night (Shadows & Dreams), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (SAMC Theatre), and Cinderella (RCTC).
Crystal Weltzin - Producer & Marketing Coordinator
Crystal has been working for the Royal Canadian Theatre Company since 2010, first as a performer and then behind the scenes. Any Facebook, Twitter (X) or Instagram posts come from her as well as the monthly newsletter. However, we have had a wonderful summer intern thanks to the Canada Summer Federal Jobs Grant and we would like to extend a huge thank you to Hana Maihara for all her great work over the summer.
Actor (Conor Kavanagh) testing the new technology in the Victorian theatre.
Arthur Kipps (Oliver de la Harpe) taking his manuscript and role seriously before telling his thrilling story.
A Special Thank you to:
- Hana Maihara - Summer Marketing Assistant
- Cayleigh Elcheshen - Additional Voice Work
- Melanie Valencia - ASL Interpretation
- Caitlin Barker Gore - - ASL Interpretation
*Please note, ASL interpretation will be on audience right during our relaxed performance.
Our Board of Directors
- President: Nigel Brooke
- Vice President: Amanda Haggett
- Treasurer: Elizabeth Fletcher
- Secretary: Charles Johnson
- Director at Large: Greg Peterson
- Director at Large: Kulwinder Saini
- Director at Large: Sharon Haasdyk
- Director at Large: Vera LeFranc
“The Woman in Black” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
Check Out Some More Local Theatre!
