Richard III
Cast & Crew
Nate Bitton - FIGHT DIRECTOR
A graduate of the UTM/Sheridan, Theatre and Drama Studies program, Nate is a busy member of the Toronto theatre scene. Nate is an actor, stunt performer, certified fight director, and stage combat instructor. He has also been the resident fight director for Hart House Theatre for the past five seasons and is returning this year. Look for Nate teaming up with the incredible James Wallis for Hart House’s production of Titus Andronicus!
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Antonio/Fight Director in Twelfth Night, Fight Director for The Comedy of Errors, Fight Director for Hamlet, Fight Director for King John, Mortimer in Edward II (staged reading), Lennox in Macbeth.
Other Favourite Credits: Laertes in Hamlet, Romeo/Iago/Ghost in Goodnight Desdemona…, Jamie in Bone Cage (Hart House Theatre), Oliver in As You Like It (Rarely Pure Theatre)
Follow Nate on twitter and instagram @frostbitton and check out his website at www.natebitton.com.
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Antonio/Fight Director in Twelfth Night, Fight Director for The Comedy of Errors, Fight Director for Hamlet, Fight Director for King John, Mortimer in Edward II (staged reading), Lennox in Macbeth.
Other Favourite Credits: Laertes in Hamlet, Romeo/Iago/Ghost in Goodnight Desdemona…, Jamie in Bone Cage (Hart House Theatre), Oliver in As You Like It (Rarely Pure Theatre)
Follow Nate on twitter and instagram @frostbitton and check out his website at www.natebitton.com.
Brad Cook - MOVEMENT COACH
Brad Cook trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (MA, Movement Studies) and The University of Waterloo (BA, Acting). He now works across Canada as a movement director, coach and teacher, as well as an actor, puppeteer, and theatre creator.
As a Movement Director and coach, Cook has worked at the Stratford Festival, Lost & Found Theatre, Long Reach Opera, Blue Bird Theatre Collective, Cosmic Fishing Theatre and InterArts Matrix. Cook has taught movement at the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre, Randolph College for the Performing Arts and has been a guest instructor at the University of Guelph and University of Waterloo.
As an actor and puppeteer Cook’s selected credits include; War Horse (National Theatre of Great Britain), Maanomaa, My Brother (Blue Bird Theatre Collective), The Importance of Being Earnest (Guild Theatre Fesjtival), Body 13 (MT Space), Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol, Pearl Gidley, Radio Leacock, Twelfth Night (Lost & Found). Cook is a co-founder of Blue Bird Theatre Collective.
As a Movement Director and coach, Cook has worked at the Stratford Festival, Lost & Found Theatre, Long Reach Opera, Blue Bird Theatre Collective, Cosmic Fishing Theatre and InterArts Matrix. Cook has taught movement at the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre, Randolph College for the Performing Arts and has been a guest instructor at the University of Guelph and University of Waterloo.
As an actor and puppeteer Cook’s selected credits include; War Horse (National Theatre of Great Britain), Maanomaa, My Brother (Blue Bird Theatre Collective), The Importance of Being Earnest (Guild Theatre Fesjtival), Body 13 (MT Space), Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol, Pearl Gidley, Radio Leacock, Twelfth Night (Lost & Found). Cook is a co-founder of Blue Bird Theatre Collective.
Cosette Derome - BUCKINGHAM, NORFOLK
Cosette is pleased as punch to be a part of Shakespeare Bash’d! This is her first show with Shake’n’bash.
Theatre credits include Half Way There (Globus Theatre), Screwball Comedy (world premiere) Foster Festival), Salt (world premiere - Lark and Whimsey Theatre), And Then The Lights Went Out (Stage West Calgary), The Queens (Glasswater Theatre), and the title role in Romeo and Juliet (Canopy Theatre). Notable tv and film credits include appearances in Private Eyes, Taken (tv series), A Date with Misfortune, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Good Witch, Reign, The Listener, Satisfaction, The Ron James Show, and The Jon Dore Show.
Cosette is super into Hastings. What a hottie.
She has graduated from Ryerson Theatre School, run two marathons, cycled to Montreal, and hung drywall professionally. She loves that Kelly Wong and their little dog too.
Theatre credits include Half Way There (Globus Theatre), Screwball Comedy (world premiere) Foster Festival), Salt (world premiere - Lark and Whimsey Theatre), And Then The Lights Went Out (Stage West Calgary), The Queens (Glasswater Theatre), and the title role in Romeo and Juliet (Canopy Theatre). Notable tv and film credits include appearances in Private Eyes, Taken (tv series), A Date with Misfortune, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Good Witch, Reign, The Listener, Satisfaction, The Ron James Show, and The Jon Dore Show.
Cosette is super into Hastings. What a hottie.
She has graduated from Ryerson Theatre School, run two marathons, cycled to Montreal, and hung drywall professionally. She loves that Kelly Wong and their little dog too.
Jade Douris - YOUNG YORK, RIVERS, BRAKENBURY
Jade Douris is an actor and choreographer who is based in Toronto. She loves dogs, cooking, and tap dancing.
For Shakespeare BASH'd: most recently, Viola in Twelfth Night, also Hamlet, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Love's Labours Lost.
Other theatre: Helena in All's Well That Ends Well, Tinkerbell in Peter Pan, Audrey in As You Like It, Soothsayer in Julius Caesar (Shakespeare by the Sea - Halifax, NS), originating the role of Amy Jamison in A Different Kind of Job (Theatre Aquarius), The Comedy of Errors, Drunk Romeo and Juliet (Dauntless City Theatre).
Film/TV: According to Kids (CBC), A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet (Shakespeare at Play).
Upcoming: reprising her role in A Different Kind of Job, marrying the love of her life (the cute guy who plays Richmond). Instagram/Twitter: @jadedouris / Website: www.jadedouris.com
For Shakespeare BASH'd: most recently, Viola in Twelfth Night, also Hamlet, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Love's Labours Lost.
Other theatre: Helena in All's Well That Ends Well, Tinkerbell in Peter Pan, Audrey in As You Like It, Soothsayer in Julius Caesar (Shakespeare by the Sea - Halifax, NS), originating the role of Amy Jamison in A Different Kind of Job (Theatre Aquarius), The Comedy of Errors, Drunk Romeo and Juliet (Dauntless City Theatre).
Film/TV: According to Kids (CBC), A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet (Shakespeare at Play).
Upcoming: reprising her role in A Different Kind of Job, marrying the love of her life (the cute guy who plays Richmond). Instagram/Twitter: @jadedouris / Website: www.jadedouris.com
Jennifer Dzialoszynski - LADY ANNE, LORD MAYOR
Jenn has worked with Shakespeare Bash’d since its inception, and is thrilled to be back with the gang after her last appearance in Hamlet as Laertes, for which she received a My Entertainment World Award. Selected acting credits include; The Three Musketeers, Antony & Cleopatra (St. Lawrence Shakespeare); Mrs. Warren’s Profession, A Woman of No Importance, You Never Can Tell, Pygmalion, When We Are Married, The Sea, Half an Hour, Harvey (Shaw Festival); Jane Eyre, Gone With The Wind (RMTC); August: Osage County (The Citadel); Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew (Canadian Stage); Kindertransport (Harold Green – Dora Nomination); Hana’s Suitcase (The Grand). Jenn is an actor, stunt performer, fight director, and stage combat instructor, and would like to have a drink with you after the show, see you at the bar!
Suzette McCanny - QUEEN MARGARET, PRINCE EDWARD, OXFORD
For Shakespeare BASH’d: Adriana in The Comedy of Errors, Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Rosaline in Love’s Labour’s Lost
Other Selected Theatre: Blaire in We Three (Cue 6 Theatre), Josie in The Skriker (Red One Theatre Collective), Cassandra in The Trojan Women (Alumnae Theatre), Isabella in Norman Yeung's Theory, Miss Cornelia Scott in Something Unspoken (The Playwright Project)
Other: As a filmmaker she has directed a trio of short films entitled triptych triptych triptych and a short film called 9 9 . 7 %. She is currently in post-production for Idle Spies. You can find her on Twitter @suzettemccanny.
Other Selected Theatre: Blaire in We Three (Cue 6 Theatre), Josie in The Skriker (Red One Theatre Collective), Cassandra in The Trojan Women (Alumnae Theatre), Isabella in Norman Yeung's Theory, Miss Cornelia Scott in Something Unspoken (The Playwright Project)
Other: As a filmmaker she has directed a trio of short films entitled triptych triptych triptych and a short film called 9 9 . 7 %. She is currently in post-production for Idle Spies. You can find her on Twitter @suzettemccanny.
Shalyn McFaul - DUCHESS OF YORK, GREY, BLUNT
Shalyn is so happy to be making her Shakespeare BASH'D debut. Shalyn is a graduate of the Trinity Western University acting program with a BA in Theatre, and has also trained with Vancouver's Arts Club Actors Intensive. Having spent her earlier years in Southern California and NYC before moving to Canada to live in Vancouver and now Toronto, she has carved a giant Zorro-style "Z" across North America. When not performing, she can be found with making friends with the nearest cat, sewing, knitting, or obsessively baking and force-feeding treats to others.
Recent credits include Suzie in Omnium Gatherum (Theatre By Committee), Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Gretchen in Boeing Boeing (Hart House Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing, The Winters Tale (Leroy Street Theatre). She will also be returning to Hart House Theatre as Tamora in Titus Andronicus this March. Find out more at shalynmcfaul.com.
Recent credits include Suzie in Omnium Gatherum (Theatre By Committee), Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Gretchen in Boeing Boeing (Hart House Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing, The Winters Tale (Leroy Street Theatre). She will also be returning to Hart House Theatre as Tamora in Titus Andronicus this March. Find out more at shalynmcfaul.com.
Megan Miles - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Megan is an actor, director, and puppeteer. She is co-founder of Shakey-Shake and Friends, a muppet Shakespeare company dedicated to bringing a love of classical text to kids! She is a graduate of George Brown Theatre School. Endless gratitude to James and Julia for asking me to be a part of this incredible show and company. And as always, thanks to Tom for putting up with me. Favourite credits: Marta (Waiting For The Parade; GBC), Hannibal (Happy End; GBC), Rosencrantz (Hamlet; Shakespeare BASH'd), ZIP (Shakey-Shake), Ursula (Much Ado; Hart House), Brutus (Casear; Wolf Manor Theatre), Ella (This Will Be Our Last Transmission, Alumnae Theatre)
Julia Nish-Lapidus - DIRECTOR
Julia is an actor, director, and producer, as well as a Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Shakespeare BASH'd, where she has produced all of the company's productions. She has worked as the Managing Director of Common Boots Theatre and is now part of the team at The Theatre Centre. For Shakespeare BASH'd, Julia has directed The Comedy of Errors, and assistant directed The Changeling. She has also performed in many BASH'd productions, including The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and Volpone (staged reading).
Selected Additional Credits: Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen and This Property is Condemned (Director, The Playwright Project), Modern Love (Co-Creator, Next Stage), As You Like It (Text Coach, Theatre By the Bay), and as an actor OVER, See Bob Run (Theatre Caravel), reasons to the pretty (The Labute Cycle), The Forest (Red One Theatre Collective), Dublin Carol (Fly on the Wall). Julia is a member of the Advisory Board for the Canadian Stage GYM program and a graduate of the joint acting program at UofT and Sheridan College.
Selected Additional Credits: Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen and This Property is Condemned (Director, The Playwright Project), Modern Love (Co-Creator, Next Stage), As You Like It (Text Coach, Theatre By the Bay), and as an actor OVER, See Bob Run (Theatre Caravel), reasons to the pretty (The Labute Cycle), The Forest (Red One Theatre Collective), Dublin Carol (Fly on the Wall). Julia is a member of the Advisory Board for the Canadian Stage GYM program and a graduate of the joint acting program at UofT and Sheridan College.
Drew O'Hara - RICHMOND
Drew is a Halifax-born, Toronto based actor and maker of fine Theatre. Drew often finds himself in plays by Shakespeare, recently Julius Caesar, All's Well that Ends Well, Much Ado about Nothing (Shakespeare by the Sea) Taming of the Shrew (Driftwood) Romeo and Juliet (Humber River Shakespeare) and of course Hamlet, The Merry Wives and Windor, Twelfth Night (Shakespeare BASH'd). Select other credits include Peter Pan in Peter Pan (Shakespeare by the Sea) Rabbit Hole (Neptune Theatre) A Different Kind of Job (Theatre Aquarius, Studio) and Boys, Girls, and Other Mythological Creatures (Carousel Players). Drew has collaborated on musical adaptations of Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Peter Pan, Cinderelly, and Treasure Island, and is the co-writer of the musical And Now, the End (SumerWorks 2014). Hugs and kisses to my wife-to-be Jade, without whom none of this would matter.
Trevor Pease - CLARENCE, KING EDWARD IV, RATCLIFFE
Trevor's family moved to Brantford for his last year of high school, and that's where he discovered his love for acting. Coming home from school one day, he was surprised to learn his parents had signed him up for an audition at the local theatre. Maybe his parents thought he had talent. Maybe they were sick of all the Lord of the Rings impressions. Maybe they just needed some 'parent time.' Nevertheless the point was made and the passion was discovered. Favourite theatre credits include Julius Ceasar, Much Ado (St. Lawrence Shakespeare), Armstrong's War (STC), Gotcha (TIFT), Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet (Classical Theatre Project) and Star-Spangled Banner (Classic Theatre Festival). Recent television gigs include Suits, Schitt's Creek, Man Seeking Woman, Heroes Reborn, The Beaverton, Nikita, Covert Affairs and award-winning shorts Breathing Through a Straw and Bullyfighters. He would like to thank his beautiful wife and silly dog for their constant love and support.
Catherine Rainville - QUEEN ELIZABETH, CATESBY
Catherine Rainville is an actor, director, and a designer. She is thrilled to be stomping the concrete floor of the Monarch. It's been while.
With BASH’d, as an actor: Cardinal Pandaulph in King John, The Widow in Taming of the Shrew, and Katherine in Love’s Labour’s Lost. Other acting credits include: Rosalind in As You Like It, Cordelia in King Lear, and Jenny in the company written musical production of Pinocchio with Shakespeare by the Sea. Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and Viola and Sebastian in Twelfth Night with the Classical Theatre Project.
Recently she was apart of a workshop reading of the new play For the Love of Gracie by Crystal Verge which she hopes to be apart of in future full productions. Catherine was inspired by this process to continue to help facilitate new Canadian works through the workshop process in any way she can.
Love to Pat, always.
With BASH’d, as an actor: Cardinal Pandaulph in King John, The Widow in Taming of the Shrew, and Katherine in Love’s Labour’s Lost. Other acting credits include: Rosalind in As You Like It, Cordelia in King Lear, and Jenny in the company written musical production of Pinocchio with Shakespeare by the Sea. Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and Viola and Sebastian in Twelfth Night with the Classical Theatre Project.
Recently she was apart of a workshop reading of the new play For the Love of Gracie by Crystal Verge which she hopes to be apart of in future full productions. Catherine was inspired by this process to continue to help facilitate new Canadian works through the workshop process in any way she can.
Love to Pat, always.
James Wallis - RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
James has been a Shakespeare fan all his life, having performed with Resurgence Theatre Company as a teenager and again as a professional later in his career.
After graduating from Ryerson Theatre School, James jumped right into the big bad world of commercial work and film & television acting. He has been seen in a number of national commercials, including spots for Boston Pizza, Honda, and Expedia. Also, he has appeared on The Jon Dore Show, XIII: The Series and in a number of feature films including: And Now A Word From Our Sponsors and The Movie Out Here.
In 2010, James co-founded Shakespeare BASH’d with his wife, Julia. For the company, James has directed staged readings of Romeo and Juliet (2010), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2011), and Edward II (2015), as well as the full productions of Romeo & Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Twelfth Night. He played Petruchio in the company's Best of Fringe winning production of The Taming of the Shrew in 2012 and the remount in 2015, and played Benedick in their sold-out production of Much Ado About Nothing in the 2013 Toronto Fringe. In addition, here are some of James’ selected theatre credits: A Midsummer Nights’ Dream, Shakespeare’s Magic and The Taming of the Shrew (Theatre by the Bay), Danny, King of the Basement (Roseneath Theatre, US Tour), Sleeping Beauty (Sudbury Theatre Centre), Paradise by the River (Shadowpath Theatre).
James just completed his second season at the Stratford Festival as part of the Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Directing. There he has assistant directed Macbeth, Bunny, and Romeo and Juliet.
After graduating from Ryerson Theatre School, James jumped right into the big bad world of commercial work and film & television acting. He has been seen in a number of national commercials, including spots for Boston Pizza, Honda, and Expedia. Also, he has appeared on The Jon Dore Show, XIII: The Series and in a number of feature films including: And Now A Word From Our Sponsors and The Movie Out Here.
In 2010, James co-founded Shakespeare BASH’d with his wife, Julia. For the company, James has directed staged readings of Romeo and Juliet (2010), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2011), and Edward II (2015), as well as the full productions of Romeo & Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Twelfth Night. He played Petruchio in the company's Best of Fringe winning production of The Taming of the Shrew in 2012 and the remount in 2015, and played Benedick in their sold-out production of Much Ado About Nothing in the 2013 Toronto Fringe. In addition, here are some of James’ selected theatre credits: A Midsummer Nights’ Dream, Shakespeare’s Magic and The Taming of the Shrew (Theatre by the Bay), Danny, King of the Basement (Roseneath Theatre, US Tour), Sleeping Beauty (Sudbury Theatre Centre), Paradise by the River (Shadowpath Theatre).
James just completed his second season at the Stratford Festival as part of the Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Directing. There he has assistant directed Macbeth, Bunny, and Romeo and Juliet.
Kelly Wong - HASTINGS, TYRELL
Kelly Wong is pumped to be joining Shakespeare BASH'd for the first time! For nearly decade, he has been a member of the Shaw Festival ensemble. Highlights include: Wilde Tales, 1979, The Light in the Piazza, Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, Peter and the Starcatcher, Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady. Other selected credits: Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare in the Park Calgary), Little Shop of Horrors (Stage West); Miss Saigon (Drayton). Up next: Of Marriage and Men, The Orchard (Shaw Festival). Kelly has a crush on that Buckingham.
Joseph Zita - STANLEY, MURDERER
Joseph is thrilled to be joining Shakespeare BASH’d for Richard III! He was most recently seen in We Are Here Productions’ staging of In The Heights: In Concert as Sonny, and in the world premiere production of Picture This at Soulpepper. Past Credits also include: Maddie’s Karaoke Birthday Party, Jay and Shilo’s Sibling Revelry (Toronto Fringe Festival), SExT (Moo With Me Productions), The Fantasticks, Assassins (Confidential Musical Theatre Project). He is a proud graduate of the University of Windsor’s BFA Acting program and the Stella Adler Studio’s Musical Theatre Intensive in New York City.