Company Interviews: Kate McArthur as Oberon
We asked Kate McArthur, who plays Oberon in our production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, a few questions about herself, her character, and working with BASH'd...
Kate McArthur as Oberon. Photo by Kyle Purcell.
Have you been in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream before?
This is the 5th time that I am working on this show! The first time I was 12 and I played Titania. The text was significantly trimmed down, obviously, but we did the text! I was lucky enough to have a grade 6 teacher that prioritized Dramatic Arts and we did it outside on the hill in front of the area that we had planted trees on Earth Day 6 years earlier. I forgot to wear sunscreen during our first performance and got a pretty impressive sunburn from my fairy nap.
What might people be interested to know about your take on your character?
Oberon is described as “King of Shadows” within this text and I am leaning into that. I come from a Scottish family, so I've always thought of fairies as protective but also treacherous. The show is in a world where gods are as flawed as humans and although he is not a god, it’s thrilling to explore the SCOPE of his desires and fears that come with a supernatural level of some godlike powers and responsibilities.
If you were transformed into an animal, what would it be?
I chose an animal and then wasn’t sure about it, but then I took an internet quiz AND I GOT THE SAME ANIMAL. I’d be a Koala Bear.
If your character were at the Monarch Tavern, what drink would they order?
A negroni. STRONG. Can be sweet, but is mostly bitter.
If you could have one magical power what would it be?
I have ALWAYS said that I would want the power of invisibility.
What is your post-show drink of choice?
Gingerbeer or Peppermint Tea.
What is your history with Shakespeare BASH'd? What's unique about working on this production?
The first Shakespeare BASH'd show that I saw was The Taming of the Shrew at Best of Fringe in 2012. I was still in university at the time and that production really contributed to my "aha" moment when it came to classical text, as I have embarrassingly gushed to James and Julia about numerous times. I then fan-humaned from afar pretty hard for a few years until I got the opportunity to work with James on a project in 2015, met Julia through that, and have worked with them both on two staged reading for BASH'd, two projects outside of BASH'd, spent a crazy summer playing Catherine's twin, and brought home the title of Shakesbeers Showdown Heavyweight Championship for BASH'd in 2018. I’m really excited to be on my feet, in the room, and creating some theatre magic at the Monarch.
This is the 5th time that I am working on this show! The first time I was 12 and I played Titania. The text was significantly trimmed down, obviously, but we did the text! I was lucky enough to have a grade 6 teacher that prioritized Dramatic Arts and we did it outside on the hill in front of the area that we had planted trees on Earth Day 6 years earlier. I forgot to wear sunscreen during our first performance and got a pretty impressive sunburn from my fairy nap.
What might people be interested to know about your take on your character?
Oberon is described as “King of Shadows” within this text and I am leaning into that. I come from a Scottish family, so I've always thought of fairies as protective but also treacherous. The show is in a world where gods are as flawed as humans and although he is not a god, it’s thrilling to explore the SCOPE of his desires and fears that come with a supernatural level of some godlike powers and responsibilities.
If you were transformed into an animal, what would it be?
I chose an animal and then wasn’t sure about it, but then I took an internet quiz AND I GOT THE SAME ANIMAL. I’d be a Koala Bear.
If your character were at the Monarch Tavern, what drink would they order?
A negroni. STRONG. Can be sweet, but is mostly bitter.
If you could have one magical power what would it be?
I have ALWAYS said that I would want the power of invisibility.
What is your post-show drink of choice?
Gingerbeer or Peppermint Tea.
What is your history with Shakespeare BASH'd? What's unique about working on this production?
The first Shakespeare BASH'd show that I saw was The Taming of the Shrew at Best of Fringe in 2012. I was still in university at the time and that production really contributed to my "aha" moment when it came to classical text, as I have embarrassingly gushed to James and Julia about numerous times. I then fan-humaned from afar pretty hard for a few years until I got the opportunity to work with James on a project in 2015, met Julia through that, and have worked with them both on two staged reading for BASH'd, two projects outside of BASH'd, spent a crazy summer playing Catherine's twin, and brought home the title of Shakesbeers Showdown Heavyweight Championship for BASH'd in 2018. I’m really excited to be on my feet, in the room, and creating some theatre magic at the Monarch.