August 7, 2024… A new adaptation of Margaret Laurence’s classic Canadian novel The Diviners comes to the Tom Patterson Theatre for its world première. Directed by Krista Jackson with Geneviève Pelletier and with text by Vern Thiessen and Yvette Nolan, this production offers a bold adaptation, epic in scope, spanning centuries of this land’s past.
Irene Poole takes on the central role of novelist Morag Gunn, with Jessie Gervais as Jules, Jonathan Goad as Christie, Josue Laboucane as Lazarus and Julie Lumsden as Pique.
Overwhelmed by regret, isolated from her only daughter and living in a remote cabin, Morag finds her mind drifting from past to future, weaving through dream and memory, all the while excavating the histories of the peoples of Manitoba: Indigenous, Métis and European. In her navigations of these varied states of mind, Morag struggles to find her true voice and vocation, as a woman and an artist.
“Time is not linear in one’s memory and it is not linear in the play. The company of actors carry Morag on the river of her past and present,” says Jackson. “They are the currents that move her where she needs to go as she divines the story of her life.”
The production also features Christopher Allen as Lachlan, Gabriel Antonacci as Gord, Michelle Bardach, Carla Bennett, Dan Chameroy as Brooke, Jarret Cody, Caleigh Crow as Piquette, Darla Daniels as The Métis Fiddler, Allison Edwards-Crewe as Crispin, Henry Firmston, Bonnie Jordan, Bethany Kovarik, Jeff Lillico, Gracie Mack, Jordan Mah, Chris Mejaki, Evan Mercer, Jennifer Rider-Shaw, Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah, Anthony Santiago as Royland, Tyrone Savage as Gus, Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane, and Sara Topham as Eva, Duchess.
The creative team includes Choreographer Cameron Carver, Set and Lighting Designer Bretta Gerecke, Costume Designer Jeff Chief, Composer Andrina Turenne, Music director and arranger, additional composition and sound designer MJ Dandeneau, and Fight and Intimacy Director Anita Nittoly.
The Diviners officially opens on August 24 and runs until October 2 at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Tickets are available at stratfordfestival.ca or by calling 1.800.567.1600.
The 2024 season also features Twelfth Night, Something Rotten!, Romeo and Juliet, London Assurance, La Cage aux Folles, Wendy and Peter Pan, Salesman in China, Hedda Gabler, Cymbeline, The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? and Get That Hope. For more information, visit stratfordfestival.ca.
The 2024 season is generously supported by Ophelia Lazaridis.
Proud 2024 Season Partners: BMO Financial Group and RBC.
Support for the 2024 season of the Tom Patterson Theatre is generously provided by BMO Financial Group.
Production support is generously provided by Karon C. Bales & Charles E. Beall, Cathy & Paul Cotton, The Harkins & Manning families in memory of Jim & Susan Harkins, The Fabio Mascarin Foundation and The Tremain Family.
CAST (in alphabetical order)
Christopher Allen Lachlan
Gabriel Antonacci Gord
Michelle Bardach Ensemble
Carla Bennett Ensemble
Dan Chameroy Brooke
Jarret Cody Ensemble
Caleigh Crow Piquette
Darla Daniels The Métis Fiddler
Allison Edwards-Crewe Crispin
Henry Firmston Understudy
Jesse Gervais Jules
Jonathan Goad Christie
Bonnie Jordan Swing
Bethany Kovarik Ensemble
Josue Laboucane Lazarus
Jeff Lillico Understudy
Julie Lumsden Pique
Gracie Mack Dance Captain, Ensemble
Jordan Mah Ensemble
Chris Mejaki Ensemble
Evan Mercer Ensemble
Irene Poole Morag
Jennifer Rider-Shaw Understudy
Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah Understudy
Anthony Santiago Royland
Tyrone Savage Gus
Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane Ensemble
Sara Topham Eva, Duchess
ARTISTIC CREDITS
Director Krista Jackson with Geneviève Pelletier
Choreographer Cameron Carver
Set and Lighting Designer Bretta Gerecke
Costume Designer Jeff Chief
Composer Andrina Turenne
Music Director and Arranger, additional composition
and Sound Designer MJ Dandeneau
Dramaturgs Krista Jackson, Yvette Nolan
Fight and Intimacy Director Anita Nittoly
Métis Cultural Consultant Geneviève Pelletier
Cultural and Praxis Consultant Dolorès Gosselin
Cultural Consultant (French and Michif) Yvette Nolan
Language Consultant Lina Le Gal
Jigging Consultant Darla Daniels
Assistant Choreographer Gracie Mack
Assistant Set and Costume Designer Ariel Slack
Assistant Lighting Designer Simran Kapoor
Stage Manager Kelly Luft
Assistant Stage Manager Jordan Guetter
Assistant Stage Manager Suzanne McArthur
Assistant Stage Manager Melissa Rood
Production Stage Manager Elizabeth McDermott
Production Assistant Abby Stevenson
Technical Director Greg Dougherty
