What is your role in the production? I play Lizzie, Janey’s mom. She is a loving and free spirit that has her struggles with mental illness, which impacts her relationship with her daughter and husband.
What is your background in theatre? I got back into theatre in 2015 after a long break. I was a child model with a focus on theatre and had a theatre coach within the agency. While I had been involved in various works at that time, my recent credits include The Little Mermaid with Stageworks Productions, Girls’ Night Out with St. Albert Theatre Troupe, and I have volunteered with the Walterdale on several occasions since 2016.
What brought you our for this show? I have always wanted to be a part of the Cradle to the Stage. There’s a different kind of energy that comes with performing a new show, one that has not been on stage before. You are building a whole new world and to be able to present it to others is quite exhilarating! As I read for Lizzie in the audition, I felt a connection with her and really wanted to be involved.
How have you found the experience of creating this character? To help make Lizzie who she is and shape the play with this group has been an amazing experience and such a privilege. But her character work has also been my biggest challenge; diving into her mental wellness issues, finding out what could trigger her or move her and being able to express that for an audience without taking the emotions home with me.
Why do you think audiences should come and see this show? I hope audiences will be able to see that mental illness is not all of what a person is. Someone can be this amazing human being and while they face these types of challenges, it does not define who they are. I hope we can help break that stigma a bit. I think it this is something people will want to see as it portrays a very real look into a family that is learning to deal with mental illness together.