Let's Get This Shaw on the Road

Shaw Festival
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated Weekly

The Shaw Festival, North America's premiere repertory theatre company, brings you an inside look at the craft of theatre through candid conversations with Canada’s top theatre artists. From acting and directing to design and music, we take you behind the scenes of world-class productions, giving theatre lovers an intimate and deeper understanding of the creativity that brings stories to life.

  1. Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense: Damien Atkins & Jeff Irving in Conversation

    4d ago

    Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense: Damien Atkins & Jeff Irving in Conversation

    What happens when you trap three actors backstage with 70 lightning-fast quick changes, a literary masterpiece, and a script that requires absolute comic precision? Actors Damien and Jeff Irving join us to talk about bringing P.G. Wodehouse’s iconic characters to life with the breathless energy of a high-wire circus act. They share how they navigate the meticulous, ego-free chemistry required for a three-person comedy, the terrifying reality of managing an intricate backstage world of shifting costumes, and how the unique, long structure of the Shaw Festival season allows a funny show to truly mature and deepen over time. Damien Atkins returns to the Shaw Festival for his 8th season. Over his extensive career, he has performed in numerous Shaw productions, including Sherlock Holmes & the Mystery of the Human Heart (which he also wrote), Blithe Spirit and The Ladykillers. A highly decorated artist, Damien is a five-time Dora Award winner whose extensive work across Canada includes prominent roles at Soulpepper, Crow’s Theatre, and the Stratford Festival. Jeff Irving is celebrating his 16th season at the Shaw Festival. His memorable Shaw credits have included Anything Goes, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Sweeney Todd. Beyond the Niagara stage, Jeff has performed in As You Like It with the Citadel/RMTC and Tom at the Farm at Buddies in Bad Times, alongside appearances on screen in Fargo and Murdoch Mysteries. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

    1h 3m
  2. Sleuth: Patrick Galligan & Sepehr Reybod in Conversation

    May 28

    Sleuth: Patrick Galligan & Sepehr Reybod in Conversation

    What happens when a high-stakes psychological game of cat-and-mouse blurs the line between harmless fantasy and devastating reality? Actors Patrick Galligan and Sepehr Reybod join us to dissect Anthony Shaffer’s fiendishly clever mystery-thriller, Sleuth, and what it takes to power a two-man masterclass in tension. They share how they navigate the play’s intense, shifting power dynamics, the unique stamina required to sustain such a breathless pace, and the incredible, full-circle mentorship that binds their own history at the Shaw Festival together behind the scenes. Patrick Galligan is celebrating his 23rd season at the Shaw Festival, where his extensive credits include Major Barbara, Witness for the Prosecution, Cyrano de Bergerac, and The Hound of the Baskervilles. His work across Canada includes productions of Oslo and King Charles III with Studio 180/Mirvish, and War Horse with Mirvish/National Theatre of Great Britain.  Sepehr Reybod returns to the Shaw Festival for his second season, having previously appeared in Major Barbara and Tons of Money. His other notable theater credits include English at Soulpepper Theatre, A Witch in Algiers with Shakespeare in the Ruff, and productions of Richard III and R+J at the Stratford Festival. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

    56 min
  3. Funny Girl: Sara Farb & Eda Holmes in Conversation

    May 21

    Funny Girl: Sara Farb & Eda Holmes in Conversation

    How do you approach an iconic mega-musical when its original star casts such a massive shadow? Director Eda Holmes and actor Sara Farb join us to talk about pulling Funny Girl out of the history books and staging it with the freshness and urgency of a brand-new piece of theatre. They share what it’s like to navigate the complex, bittersweet arc of Fanny Brice’s meteoric rise and turbulent personal life, the incredible collaborative energy pulsing through the rehearsal room, and what it takes to guide an enormous cast through such a devastatingly beautiful love story. Sara Farb makes her Shaw Festival debut this season as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl and in The Wind in the Willows. Her extensive career includes playing Delphi Diggory in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway and in Toronto, as well as seven seasons at the Stratford Festival with roles such as Rosalind, Juliet, and Cordelia. An accomplished writer, Sara co-created the Dora-nominated original musical Kelly v. Kelly, and her original plays Way Out There and Love Us Most will both premiere later this year. Eda Holmes returns to the Shaw Festival to direct Funny Girl, adding to an extensive list of past Shaw credits that includes The Apple Cart, Grand Hotel, Arcadia, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Floyd Collins. She is the Artistic Director of Montreal's Centaur Theatre and has directed award-winning productions for companies across Canada, including Buddies in Bad Times and Neptune Theatre. A graduate of the National Theatre School's Directing Program, Eda also enjoyed a distinguished international career as a professional ballet dancer with companies such as the San Francisco Ballet and Frankfurt Ballet. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

    57 min

  4. Trailer

    Season 2 starts next week!

    We're back! With more interviews with cast and creatives, plus we get to meet some of the folks who keep the gears turning behind the scenes. New episodes begin next Thursday. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

    1 min
  5. Memories of the Royal George

    11/20/2025

    Memories of the Royal George

    Every theatre has its story. Few have lived as many lives as the Royal George. In this special documentary episode, we celebrate the life of a building that became the beating heart of the Shaw Festival. From its beginnings as a vaudeville house in 1915 to its transformation into one of Canada’s most beloved theatres, the George has witnessed a lifetime of stories.  As it prepares for its next chapter, we celebrate not just the building, but the people who made it come alive. Written by Cosette Derome Additional contributions from Melissa Novecosky, Neil Barclay, Tim Carroll and Kelly Wong Narrated by Neil Barclay Produced, edited and sound designed by Kelly Wong Archival recordings courtesy of the Shaw Festival Oral History, Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library Music from Epidemic Sound Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

    1h 14m
  6. Irving Berlin's White Christmas: Kate Hennig & Allison Plamondon in Conversation

    11/13/2025

    Irving Berlin's White Christmas: Kate Hennig & Allison Plamondon in Conversation

    How do you keep a holiday classic feeling brand new? Director Kate Hennig and choreographer Allison Plamondon join us to talk about reimagining Irving Berlin's White Christmas for today’s audiences, while honouring the timeless music, movement, and nostalgia that define it. They share what collaboration looks like behind the scenes, how storytelling through dance brings emotional truth to familiar songs, and what it means to return to a production with a deeper sense of joy and purpose. Kate Hennig is a celebrated Canadian actor, playwright, and director whose career spans Broadway, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and major theatres across the country. Some highlights at the Shaw Festival include playing Rose in Gypsy, directing Irving Berlin's White Christmas and writing Cyrano de Bergerac. Allison Plamondon is a choreographer, director, performer, and teacher whose work has appeared across Canada and the U.S. Choreography credits include: Irving Berlin's White Christmas at the Shaw Festival, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at YPT, and the acclaimed off-Broadway production Goblin Market.  Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

    54 min
  7. A Christmas Carol: Michael Therriault & Graeme Somerville in Conversation

    11/06/2025

    A Christmas Carol: Michael Therriault & Graeme Somerville in Conversation

    How do you bring yourself to an iconic role? In this episode, actors Michael Therriault and Graeme Somerville reflect on A Christmas Carol, one of the Shaw Festival’s most beloved traditions. They talk about what it means to step into Scrooge’s shoes, the rhythms of a show that blends puppetry, song, and transformation, and the balance between ritual and reinvention. Along the way, they share backstage stories, onstage discoveries, and why this classic tale still stirs something new every year. Michael Therriault is in his fourth season at the Shaw Festival, where he has appeared in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Rope, Brigadoon, and Grand Hotel. His theatre work includes Lord of the Rings (West End), The Producers (Mirvish), and Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway), and his film and television credits include Fellow Travellers, Locke & Key, and Murdoch Mysteries. Graeme Somerville brings over two decades of Shaw Festival experience, with standout performances in Saint Joan, The Devil’s Disciple, and Henry V. His work has been recognized with a Dora Award, and he has appeared on stages across the country including Canadian Stage and the National Arts Centre. He is also a mentor and educator at the National Theatre School. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

    43 min
  8. Murder-on-the-Lake: Rebecca Northan & Kristopher Bowman in Conversation

    08/14/2025

    Murder-on-the-Lake: Rebecca Northan & Kristopher Bowman in Conversation

    What happens when the star of the show is someone who’s never rehearsed a line? In this episode, director-performer Rebecca Northan and actor Kristopher Bowman take us inside Murder-on-the-Lake, a one-of-a-kind theatrical experiment at the Shaw Festival. Each performance of this improvised murder mystery features a different audience member in a central role, supported by a cast of quick-thinking actors who shape the story in real time. Rebecca shares how her background in improv helped shape the show’s spontaneous, responsive structure, while Bowman reflects on the vulnerability and excitement of performing in a world where anything might happen. It’s a conversation about trust, craft, and the joy of letting go of the script. Rebecca Northan is an award-winning director and improviser whose hit show Blind Date has toured Canada, the UK, and the US, including an off-Broadway run. At Shaw, she’s been seen in The Game of Love and Chance and The Apple Cart, and created the hit shows Goblin: Macbeth and Undercover. Kristopher Bowman is an actor and improviser known for roles in Witness for the Prosecution, Desire Under the Elms, and The Devil’s Disciple. A member of Shaw’s ensemble since 2017, this season appears in both Wait Until Dark and Murder-on-the-Lake. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

    47 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

The Shaw Festival, North America's premiere repertory theatre company, brings you an inside look at the craft of theatre through candid conversations with Canada’s top theatre artists. From acting and directing to design and music, we take you behind the scenes of world-class productions, giving theatre lovers an intimate and deeper understanding of the creativity that brings stories to life.

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