Articles by author: Erin Knight

  • A powerful performance

    Monday, November 09, 2026 | By

    Two student actors face each on stage during the opening performance of People, Places & Things.

    Brock University Dramatic Arts’ (DART) mainstage production of People, Places and Things opened to a full house on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre. Written by British playwright Duncan Macmillan and directed by DART Associate Professor Danielle Wilson, the play explores the complex world of addiction and mental health. Second-year student Deb Howey (left) and fourth-year DART student Jenna Fortier (right) are among the student cast bringing the story to the stage. The production runs this weekend with performances on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available through Brock University Tickets.

    Categories: Events, News, Performance Season, Plays

  • Mainstage production to take audiences on complex journey through addiction

    Friday, October 23, 2026 | By

    A student draws letters on coloured folders in the MWS Scene Shop in preparation for a mainstage production

    Image caption: Fourth-year Dramatic Arts student Em Schilling, Assistant Designer on the fall mainstage production People Places and Things by Duncan Macmillan and directed by DART Associate Professor Danielle Wilson, is bringing the story to life through set design in DART’s scene shop. The mainstage production opens Friday, Nov. 6 at the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre in downtown St. Catharines.

    Friday, October 23, 2026 | by

    Brock University’s Department of Dramatic Arts (DART) is exploring the world of addiction and mental health to bring a compelling story of struggle and hope to the stage.

    People, Places and Things, written by British playwright Duncan Macmillan and directed by DART Associate Professor Danielle Wilson, opens Friday, Nov. 6 at the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre in downtown St. Catharines.

    Students work in the wardrobe shop in preparation for a mainstage production.

    Second-year Dramatic Arts students Blake Robertson (left) and Ruthie Armstrong have honed their technical and creative skills working in Wardrobe, building costumes and soft props for the fall mainstage production opening Nov. 6 at the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre.

    When Wilson first read the play a decade ago, she was struck by its brilliance and immediately knew she wanted to bring the story to life. First performed in 2015 at the National Theatre in London, United Kingdom, the play is acclaimed for its portrayal of substance abuse and mental health.

    “People, Places and Things is just as relevant now as it was 10 years ago. All we have to do is look around our own communities, and across Canada, to see the reach of addiction. This play provides an opportunity to open discussion on a difficult topic,” she says.

    Both dark and humorous, Brock’s production takes audiences on a physical and theatrical journey through the main character Emma’s detox, denial and relapse as well as the struggle to recover her mental and physical health.

    Embodied storytelling is central to the production, with movement choreographed by theatre artist Trevor Copp used to highlight Emma’s mental, emotional and physical state.

    For Wilson, that approach makes the piece true theatre — a story that can only ever be fully told on stage.

    “The playwright understands movement and how it adds complexity to a scene. Rather than telling us how the characters are feeling, we experience their inner state through their movements and physicality,” she says.

    The creative process of mounting the production — from script analysis, staging, lighting, wardrobe and building the set — has created a safe space for students to explore the impact of addiction on individuals and communities.

    4 students rehearse a scene from People, Places & Things.

    Dramatic Arts students performing in People, Places and Things rehearse in the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre with theatre artist Trevor Copp, Choreographer for the fall mainstage production. Movement is essential to the story itself, used to highlight character’s mental, emotional and physical states through embodied storytelling.

    “There can be a lot of judgment, but now we might have a second thought about what may be going on in a person’s life that has led them to that place when we encounter someone experiencing addiction,” says Wilson, who invited community members with lived experience of addiction to share their stories with students.

    For fourth-year DART student Jenna Fortier who plays the lead role of Emma, understanding the lives of the characters is a reminder that everyone has their own story.

    “Addiction isn’t rare and isn’t indicative of some moral failure. These are people who are trying to survive a complicated world; I wonder when society decided to replace support with shame,” Fortier says.

    “I am so grateful for the courageous people who’ve shared their most painful, vulnerable and triumphant moments with our cast. This has supported us in telling their stories with the care and respect that it deserves,” says second-year DART student and mainstage actor Deborah Howey.

    Implementing wellness practices and ensuring students are supported while engaging with difficult subject matter have been a top priority for Wilson.

    “This process has helped us all build kindness and empathy,” she says. “What makes this play so brilliant is that it also has humour and lightness in it — we cannot always sit in the dark.”

    People, Places and Things opens Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre in the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts in downtown St. Catharines. Performances will also take place Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

    General admission tickets are $25 and tickets for students and seniors are $20. Visit Brock University Tickets to reserve seats.

    3 students on the catwalk in the MIW Theatre

    Third-year Dramatic Arts (DART) student Katie Engel (foreground), second-year DART student Ayoola Odusaya (right) and fourth-year DART student Dylan Smith set up the lighting grid in the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre for the upcoming production of People, Places and Things.

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    Categories: Events, News, Performance Season, Plays

  • Drama grad honoured for decades of impact

    Monday, October 05, 2026 | By

    Photo of David Mackenzie accepting the David Betzner Award during the 2026 Alumni Awards Celebration

    Image caption: Brock University Alumni Association President Christopher Yendt (BA’15, BEd’ 15, BEd ’20, MEd ’21), right, presented David MacKenzie (BA ’74), left, with the 2026 David Betzner Award during the 2026 Alumni Awards Celebration on Sept. 20.

    Monday, October 05, 2026 | by

    Nearly 60 years ago, David MacKenzie (BA ’74) made his Brock debut as the sole member of the University’s computer department.

    MacKenzie originally attended the University of Waterloo to study computer sciences but moved back to Niagara before completing his program. He began working full time as Brock’s Data Processing Manager in 1968, just four years after the University launched.

    Photo of David MacKenzie applying theatre makeup for a production of Hamlet in 1970

    David MacKenzie (BA ’74) played Polonius in a 1970 production of Hamlet while studying Drama at Brock.

    Eventually, he returned to full-time studies at Brock with the goal of earning a degree and advancing his career. Short a humanities credit, MacKenzie enrolled in Dramatic Media 195: Practical Drama, taught by Mary Jane Miller.

    “Taking that course, it just changed my life,” he said.

    After graduating from Brock with a degree in Drama, MacKenzie built a career as an actor, playwright and arts professional. He wrote more 20 plays for Carousel Players and spent decades portraying William Hamilton Merritt, the driving force behind the Welland Canal, bringing local history to life for audiences across Niagara.

    Decades later, MacKenzie has been honoured with the 2026 Brock University Alumni Association David Betzner Award for his significant volunteer contributions to Brock and its alumni community.

    Reflecting on his unconventional career path, MacKenzie advises students to “look for the work, not for the job.”

    His own work led him deep into historical research. As well as writing plays about the Welland Canal, transportation, railways and figures from the War of 1812, MacKenzie became a lead writer for the Canadian board game Trivial Pursuit.

    Throughout his career, MacKenzie stayed connected to Brock. He supported bursaries, fine arts initiatives and fundraising efforts at the University and helped to build Brock’s Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. An active member of the graduate community, he designed the Brock University Alumni Association’s (BUAA) official 50th Anniversary tartan.

    In 2009, MacKenzie received the BUAA’s Faculty of Humanities Distinguished Graduate Award.

    A lifelong Niagara resident, MacKenzie has been a stalwart supporter of the local arts scene and volunteered with the Community Support Services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he stepped up to drive fellow residents to medical appointments.

    Whether through theatre, history or volunteer service, MacKenzie says much his life, and happiness, can be traced back to that unexpected course he took at Brock more than 50 years ago. Receiving the David Betzner Award is another chapter in a relationship with the University that has continued long after graduation.

    “If it weren’t for Brock, it wouldn’t have been this life,” Mackenzie said, “and I love this life.”

     

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    Categories: Alumni, News

  • Stage set for Canada’s first international double degree program in Musical Theatre and Education

    Thursday, September 24, 2026 | By

    A group of students perform on stage sitting around a table singing.

    Image caption: Brock University’s Department of Dramatic Arts (DART) is launching Canada’s first International Double Degree in Musical Theatre and Education in partnership with University of Portsmouth, U.K. Students will study at Brock’s state-of-the-art Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, including the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre, pictured during a March performance of DART’s Mainstage production, Escape to Ilkanor: A Fantasy Play in 9 Chapters.

    Thursday, September 24, 2026 | by

    The curtain is rising on a compelling new act for musical theatre education in Canada.

    Brock University’s Department of Dramatic Arts (DART) is launching the country’s first International Double Degree in Musical Theatre and Education.

    “We are thrilled to be building the future of musical theatre education alongside our partners at the University of Portsmouth, offering the opportunity for students to engage in cutting-edge musical theatre training,” says DART Chair and Professor Jennifer Roberts-Smith.

    The innovative degree pathway allows Brock students to study in the U.K. at Portsmouth and Portsmouth students to study at Brock during the third year of the program, graduating with two Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees: in Dramatic Arts from Brock and Musical Theatre from Portsmouth.

    Blending courses in music and dramatic arts, the program will prepare students for their future careers with professional training in singing, movement and contemporary musical theatre creation.

    “We are equipping the next generation of theatre educators and artists with a high level of practical theatre training as well as critical training in how to teach music and theatre; you need both to produce dynamic musicals in any creative setting,” Roberts-Smith says.

    While studying at Brock’s state-of-the-art Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, students will learn and create in a fully equipped professional arts facility that houses a 242-seat theatre, four rehearsal studios, a scenery studio and wardrobe, production and lighting shops.

    Roberts-Smith says a key element of the program involves students working alongside leading industry professionals and engaging in work-integrated learning opportunities, notably with Canadian professional theatre company Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ont.

    Students will collaborate on the development of a professional musical theatre production through Theatre Aquarius’ National Centre for New Musicals, a transformative force in both Canadian and international theatre.

    Mary Francis Moore, Artistic Director of Theatre Aquarius, says education has always been central to the company’s mission and is essential to building a vibrant theatrical future.

    “The combination of musical theatre training with education, together with Brock’s partnership with the University of Portsmouth, represents an exciting and much-needed addition to Canada’s post-secondary landscape,” she says. “We see tremendous potential for students to benefit from meaningful engagement with both Canadian and international approaches to musical theatre creation.”

    During their time at Brock, students will also help to rewrite the script for theatre education in Canada by participating in the Canada-wide Staging Better Futures/ Mettre en scène de meilleurs avenirs project, which is co-led by DART.

    “This new program and our partnership with Theatre Aquarius will continue to shine a spotlight on minoritized voices by supporting reconciliation, equity, anti-racism and access in post-secondary theatre education,” says Roberts-Smith.

    Admissions for the new International Double Degree Musical Theatre and Education program are through a workshop-based invitational which includes a vocal audition. More information about the program is available on the DART website.

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    Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Future students, News

  • Dramatic Arts student takes career cues from Shaw Festival

    Monday, August 31, 2026 | By

    Shaw Festival theatre artists and intern on the stage.

    Image caption: Dramatic Arts (DART) graduand Gabriela Queiros developed her theatre artistry and honed her professional skills through DART’s 2026 Shaw Festival Internship. The program has partnered with the Shaw Festival since 2011 to provide internships for graduating students that focus on diverse aspects of production including performance, design, technical production, directing, arts management and education. From left to right are Mikayla Stradiotto, Shaw Festival Ensemble actor; Alexa Belgrave, Metcalf Foundation Music Intern; Jeremiah Sparks, Shaw Festival Ensemble actor; Queiros; Cheryl Mullings, Shaw Festival Ensemble actor; and Kimberley Rampersad, Shaw Festival Associate Artistic Director.

    Monday, August 31, 2026 | by 

    Gabriela Queiros got a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional theatre this summer as she embarks on her own career in the industry.

    The Dramatic Arts (DART) graduand, who will receive her degree during Brock’s upcoming Fall Convocation, completed DART’s 2026 Shaw Festival Internship with a focus on acting.

    Queiros, who specialized in performance at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA), said learning from Shaw’s celebrated repertory theatre Ensemble was a dream come true.

    “It was exciting to learn about the difference aspects of the company and experience the wide variety of genres covered in the 2026 season. From Sleuth to Funny Girl and The Wind in the Willows, the talent and versatility of Shaw actors inspired me, and I hope to deepen those elements in my own acting work,” she said.

    In addition to backstage tours of the festival and seeing nearly every play of the Festival’s 2026 season, Queiros shadowed Associate Artistic Director Kimberely Rampersad who directed the 2026 musical theatre production Perfect Pairings.

    During the rehearsal process, Queiros was invited to make observations as the cast rehearsed songs from iconic composers and songwriters. The experience allowed her to see how a professional production is built from beginning stages to final performance.

    “It was inspiring to see how the actors explored their creativity under the guidance the director with joy and laughter while maintaining their incredible work ethic and professional focus,” she said.

    Queiros attended a weekly Ensemble class led by Rampersad, engaging with company members and working on scenes from various plays.

    “Interacting with actors at the top of their game once a week and diving into scene work was invigorating, especially analyzing text and speaking and performing the lines in the way Bernard Shaw himself intended them to be spoken,” she said.

    Queiros also participated in technical runs of this year’s Bernard Shaw play Heartbreak House directed by Tim Carroll, Shaw’s Artistic Director. She was struck by the physicality of the play and the actors’ focus on mastering the technical elements involved in the production.

    “Witnessing actors embody their characters so fully and completely during tech week while also communicating with the director and crew was an experience I will carry forward and try to emulate in my own acting career,” she said.

    The DART program has partnered with the Shaw Festival since 2011 to provide internships for graduating students that focus on diverse aspects of production including performance, design, technical production, directing, arts management and education.

    The opportunity creates a stepping that allows students to bridge what they have learned at Brock with processes and practices used in the professional theatre industry.

    Since completing the internship, Queiros has been working as a theatre educator and actor with Carousel Players, a professional theatre company for young audiences based in St. Catharines.

    “Every day I draw on the skills and techniques I developed both in DART and at the Shaw. I am grateful for these opportunities to grow as a theatre artist and to make industry connections,” she said.

     

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    Categories: Current Students, News

  • Wardrobe experience leaves Dramatic Arts grad on pins and needles — in the best way

    Wednesday, June 10, 2026 | By

    Dramatic arts student Nav Brar works on a mushroom costume in the Costume Shop.

    Image caption: Dramatic Arts graduate Nav Brar discovered his passion for wardrobe and costume design at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, where he contributed his skills to creating costumes for performances.

    published Wednesday, June 10, 2026 in The Brock News | by 

    Nav Brar found an unexpected new passion woven into the fabric of his Brock University experience. Though he’s had a lifelong love for the stage, the Dramatic Arts (DART) graduate wasn’t sure where his academic path would lead when he first arrived at Brock — that is, until he stepped into Wardrobe at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA). Now, Brar is forging ahead with purpose after earning his degree and being honoured with the 2026 Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts Textile Award at Brock’s 119th Convocation on Wednesday, June 10. Always more focused on acting and writing, Brar had never pictured himself in theatre production. Then came his a first-year DART production course, which ignited his passion for fabric and materials. In his third year, he landed the role of Assistant Head of Wardrobe, learning from and working with DART’s Head of Wardrobe Bobbi Pidduck on the School’s theatre performances.

    Nav Brar crosses the stage in graduation gown at convocation.

    Dramatic Arts graduate Nav Brar discovered his passion for wardrobe and costume design at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, where he contributed his skills to creating costumes for performances.

    Brar quickly picked up sewing, cutting and minor pattern drafting, all integral skills for professional costume designers. “Somehow, working with my hands and envisioning the final product, it was easy for me to understand what I needed to do,” he said. For Brar, the beauty is in the challenge of the process. “It’s envisioning the design, what you need to make, figuring out the math and then figuring out what the steps are,” he said. “Sometimes we build a simple T-shirt, and sometimes we work on hugely technical garments with lots of specifications to fit the production.” Working alongside Pidduck on mainstage productions, including Metamorphoses and Métis Nutcracker, was a transformative experience for Brar as he developed his design and dressing skills, bringing two-dimensional designs to three-dimensional life. “When the actor puts on the costume and performs on stage, you see it all come together,” he said. “It’s a very exhilarating experience to see something you’ve made or created give the desired effect.” When the curtain closes on each production, Brar is driven to keep creating, knowing he has contributed to enhancing the audience experience. “It’s incredibly meaningful and fulfilling,” he said. “Nav has been dedicated to his work, seeking to learn as many skills as possible and consistently improving with each new project, continuously navigating challenges with grace and humour that earned the respect of his peers and instructors at DART,” Pidduck said. From student peers to faculty, Brar said the support of the close-knit DART community sets the stage for students to grow and thrive in their academic and creative endeavours. “All of our professors and instructors are so kind. They are all talented theatre professionals and so willing to share their knowledge with students as we develop our own creative voices,” he said. “The opportunity to create in such a stunning facility has truly been a golden experience for me.”

    Photo of flower costumes from Metis Nutcracker Production.

    Nav Brar built dynamic costumes for the Dramatic Arts mainstage productions including Métis Nutcracker written by award-winning Canadian playwright and Assistant Professor Matthew MacKenzie.

    The Marilyn I. Walker Textile Award is given to a graduating student to further their apprenticeship or study in textiles. “Nav has contributed so much to the theatre program through his beautiful costume designs and constructions,” said Visual Arts Professor Linda Carreiro, Associate Dean, Fine and Performing Arts and MIWSFPA Director. “He truly deserves this award, and I’m thrilled that he will be able to use it to continue honing his craft.” Brar will pursue the Fashion Techniques and Design program at George Brown Polytechnic to expand on his theoretical and technical foundation in garment construction and costume building. He hopes to be found happily working away in a professional wardrobe room one day. “I am excited to keep developing my design eye,” he said. “I am forever grateful for the role Brock has played in setting me on this path.”

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    Categories: Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Faculty & Instructors, Future students, In the Media, Media Releases, News, Uncategorised

  • Co-op sets stage for Dramatic Arts student’s future career

    Tuesday, October 14, 2025 | By

    Photo of DART student Liam Farrell

    Image caption: Liam Farrell, a third-year student studying Dramatic Arts at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, completed two co-op work terms that have shaped his career path in building community through the arts.

    Tuesday, October 14, 2025 | by 

    Whether he’s on stage, behind the scenes or working with youth, Liam Farrell knows his calling is to build community through the arts.

    A third-year Dramatic Arts (DART) student at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA), Farrell has explored different areas of the theatre industry through co-op work terms that have been pivotal in shaping his skills and career direction.

    Over the summer, Farrell completed a work term with Carousel Players, an award-winning professional theatre company for young audiences in downtown St. Catharines.

    Supporting drama educators and bringing performances to life for young campers was an experience he will never forget.

    “I was mentored by artistic professionals and had the chance to meet, and be inspired by, incredibly creative kids,” he said.

    Farrell, whose passion for performing arts encompasses acting and all aspects of creative production, helped support youth of all abilities during his time at Carousel Players.

    “Being part of their inclusive community helped me grow in adaptability and empathy,” he said.

    Photo of Liam Farrell laughing with a child at a Carousel Players camp.

    Over the summer, third-year Dramatic Arts student Liam Farrell gained valuable industry experience in the arts thanks to a co-op work term with Carousel Players, an award-winning professional theatre company for young audiences.

    Facilitated by Brock’s Co-op, Career and Experiential Education (CCEE) team, which connects students with relevant work terms and offers a range of resources to support career development, these experience shed new light on Farrell’s studies.

    “I applied ideas and approaches from my classes that deepened my understanding of arts education and my connection with the local arts community here in Niagara — the experience solidified my desire to work in theatre,” he said.

    Farrell also gained valuable experience during his 2024 work term as an actor with Pirate Life Theatre in Hamilton where he honed his problem solving skills while learning about organizational logistics and administration.

    Quentin Dus, Talent Partnership Consultant with CCEE, said experiences like Farrell’s demonstrate how they can open doors for students to explore their potential and the impact of strong partnerships between Brock’s co-op office and community partners.

    “Watching Liam thrive in his co-op role at Carousel Players as well as Pirate Life Theatre previously has been incredibly rewarding. His growth and success speak volumes about his talent, adaptability and passion for the dramatic arts,” Dus said.

    Looking to the future, Farrell aims to work with professional theatre companies, locally and abroad, and contribute his knowledge and experience to strengthening communities and building bridges through the arts.

    “I’m grateful to Carousel Players for their mentorship, and I’m excited to carry these valuable experiences forward in my career.”

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    Categories: Current Students, News

  • Distinguished grad builds community through transformative arts progamming

    Friday, October 10, 2025 | By

    Photo of Alana Perri receiving FOH Distinguished Graduate Award

    Image caption: Interim Dean of Humanities James Allard (left) presented Alana Perri (BA ’13) with the 2025 Faculty of Humanities Distinguished Graduate Award on Sept. 21 during the University’s recent Homecoming celebrations.

    Friday, October 10, 2025 | by 

    Alana Perri (BA ’13) is on a mission to ensure creative expression is accessible to all.

    Perri, who recently received the Faculty of Humanities Distinguished Graduate Award during Brock’s 2025 Homecoming celebrations, is dedicated to fostering inclusivity, accessibility and empowerment by harnessing theatre for non-traditional uses.

    A performer at heart, Perri began her journey at Brock in 2009 as a Dramatic Arts (DART) student.

    Through her studies, and a pivotal course exploring “drama therapy,” she found her true calling in expressive arts therapy. She also gained co-op experience at RAFT, an organization aiming to reduce youth homelessness in St. Catharines through attachment-based programs.

    “We brought drama into a place where feelings of joy and fun were often scarce. Together we created a book together filled with poems and art called I Just Need to Let This Out. This experience showed me how the arts for everyone; I still have the book, and every day it reminds me of the power of expressive art,” she said.

    Now the Executive Director and Owner of Purple Carrots Drama Studio, an Toronto-based organization offering innovative drama and expressive arts programs for neurodiverse youth, teens and adults, she has had profound impact in the lives of others.

    When Perri took the helm of Purple Carrots in 2020, she was driven to keep the arts programs running when much of the world was shutting down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “We work with the disability community and with people of all abilities, so it was not possible or beneficial for everyone to participate virtually, but our community is incredibly strong and passionate and rose to the challenge, and we’re still here,” she said.

    The drama studio now serves approximately 300 participants across Canada, providing inclusive, expressive arts programs and workshops that encourage emotional regulation and self-awareness.

    “We use different art forms to help build social and communication skills and work towards a final production or performance to share with family and friends. We also provide one-on-one coaching and other community services; it’s a really beautiful purple world we’ve built,” she said.

    Perri often collaborates with fellow alumni at Purple Carrots, with more than half of the Purple Carrots team comprised of DART graduates.

    “Being part of the DART community was a totally different way of learning, steeped in community. Everyone — faculty, staff and students — support each other, during and beyond graduation. I am grateful to have been given the space to create and find my path and continue working with my Brock community,” she said.

    Perri’s professional practice previously extended beyond the drama studio as an Expressive Arts Therapist, using creative expression as a therapeutic tool to support diverse communities through life transitions, including grief and palliative care.

    Perri has also empowered the next generation of creative leaders through education, teaching students at Mohawk College how to integrate the arts into treatment for individuals living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and instructing DART students at Brock on how to leverage movement in education and theatre applications.

    She said being recognized as a Distinguished Graduate is an honour.

    “The University has always been there to support me. I am so grateful, and I try to pay it forward everyday through the work that I do. I’ve made it this far, and I will keep going.”

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    Categories: Alumni, News

  • ‘Now, you get to exist the way you want to’: Dramatic Arts grad’s life-changing journey

    Wednesday, June 11, 2025 | By

    Graduating student in gown proudly holds up Pride flag

    Image caption: Dramatic Arts graduate Oliver Webb Wilkinson (BA ’25) celebrated his academic achievements as well as his journey of self-discovery through artistic creation during Brock’s 117th Convocation.

    Wednesday, June 11, 2025 | by 

    Oliver Webb Wilkinson (BA ’25) will never forget the first time he stepped on the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre stage as his authentic self: a transgender man.

    At the end of his first year studying Dramatic Arts (DART) at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA), Webb Wilkinson realized he was not quite who he thought he was.

    “I entered first year living in residence a regular city girl, but quickly realized something was different for me,” he said.

    Webb Wilkinson embarked on a winding — and joyful — journey of self-discovery.

    “All of my professors and classmates were so supportive as I was figuring out what was happening in my head and heart. How could I marry what my soul is with what my body is? The path is different for every trans or gender-queer person,” he said.

    Brock’s Student Health Services team helped Webb Wilkinson navigate important health information and access resources, support that Webb Wilkinson was grateful for as he began his medical transition.

    Photograph of four actors in scene from Mementos

    Oliver Webb Wilkinson (BA ’25) performed alongside fourth-year Dramatic Arts students and members of Peregrine Theatre Co. in “Mementos,” which explores themes of hope and amidst life’s challenges. From left are Megan Mastantuono, Simon Bell, Webb Wilkinson and Maddox Keller.

    “Partaking in the creation of who you are is a beautiful, empowering thing; truly feeling who you are and seeing it outwardly is magic,” he said.

    Studying theatre at Brock, with a Concentration in Performance, allowed Webb Wilkinson to explore themes of identity through creativity and playfulness.

    “Failure doesn’t exist in DART; if things don’t work, you try something else. What I will remember is the sense of play and lack of judgment in classes,” he said. “Trial and error is part of making theatre, we learn from things that don’t work.”

    Through Brock co-op opportunities, Webb Wilkinson worked every summer at professional theatre organizations, including Crane Creations Theatre Company as Artistic Producer, Pirate Life Theatre as a performer and recently Theatrix Costume House in Hamilton as an intern.

    These experiences gave Webb Wilkinson a sense of what his future workplace would look like and allowed him to benefit from professors who are theatre makers and learn from professionals like DART’s Head of Wardrobe Bobbi Pidduck, who works in wardrobe at the Shaw Festival.

    “It’s school theatre at a professional calibre, and there is nothing like a mainstage at Brock,” Webb Wilkinson said.

    In the DART 2023 mainstage production of A Vampire Story, Webb Wilkinson played his first role as a male character, and said the creative team led by Director Gyllian Raby were completely open to his interpretation of masculinity.

    “It was an incredible and affirming moment for me,” he said.

    In his final year, Webb Wilkinson explored his interest in costuming as the Assistant Designer for the Department Mainstage Scorched, mentored by Head of Wardrobe Bobbi Pidduck and production designer and faculty member, David Vivian, and also played key roles in the DART 4D56 production Mementos, a student-led production guided by Associate Professor Mike Griffin.

    “We were so lucky to have Professor Griffin guiding us as we wrote and mounted Mementos,” he said. “I spoke with him a lot about the growing stress of being trans at a time when there is increasing oppressive legislation targeting the trans and queer community — but at the same time, experiencing the joy of being loved and supported by your family and friends.”

    Webb Wilkinson wrote characters reflecting these themes into the play. He said a line in Mementos summed it up for him.

    “‘Now, you get to exist the way you want to’: to write those words and perform them was life changing. Theatre speaks to people in profound ways, and Brock gave me that chance to communicate with audiences whose stories were similar,” Webb Wilkinson said.

    This summer, Webb Wilkinson will be working in Toronto with MERCHANT, a production company specializing in commercials and collaborations with advertising agencies. He will help build storyboards, check and book film locations, conduct research on props and costumes and be a production assistant on set.

    Webb Wilkinson said he’s become a whole different person in the best way possible at Brock.

    “The University has been such a kind and wonderful environment. I don’t want to leave, but Brock has made sure I’m prepared to go.”

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    Categories: Alumni, Current Students, News

  • Youth theatre festival shines spotlight on Canada’s brightest emerging talent

    Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | By

    Photo of high school students participating in Wardrobe workshop.

    Image caption: High school students from Ontario and New Brunswick made puppets in a workshop led by Dramatic Arts instructor and local designer for theatre Alexa Fraser as part of the 2025 National STAR Festival hosted at the MIWSFPA.

    Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | by 

    Teens learn tricks of theatre trade from industry pros

    Secondary school theatre students and creative professionals from across the country recently gathered for a dynamic celebration of creativity and excellence in youth theatre.

    Hosted by Brock’s Department of Dramatic Arts (DART), the 2025 National STAR (School Theatrical Arts Recognition) Festival welcomed 200 students to the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA) from May 8 to 10 for a packed schedule of workshops and opportunities to showcase their talents through friendly competition.

    David Vivian, DART Associate Professor and Scenographer, said engaging workshops led by acclaimed industry professionals and post-secondary educators provided a powerful platform for students to shine.

    “From musical theatre to playwriting and technical production participants gained valuable insight from influential theatre artists,” he said. The festival is unique for its focus on story telling and performance without design elements such as sets and costumes.

    Vivian co-organized the festival with lead Tracy Garratt, Program Leader for the Arts with the District School Board of Niagara and a teacher at A.N. Myer Secondary School in Niagara Falls.

    Photo of carpentry expert Ed Harris giving demonstration to students at STAR Fest

    Dramatic Arts graduate James McCoy (BA ’14), left, Head Technician at the Roselawn Theatre and DART Head of Scenic Construction and Instructor Ed Harris demonstrated stagecraft skills to students of Laura Secord Secondary School, A.N. Myer Secondary School and Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School during the Technical Theatre Olympics Challenge.

    Garratt, a champion of STAR Festival programming in Niagara, said opportunities to engage with diverse narratives and characters help students develop empathy and critical thinking skills, fostering a deeper understanding of the world around them and inspiring change in their communities.

    “As a passionate teacher in the arts, I believe in the transformative power of theatre and the joy of participating in festivals that celebrate creativity,” she said. “Theatre not only nurtures artistic voices but also serves as a vital educational tool that helps students explore complex social issues and inequities.”

    DART Chair Jennifer Roberts-Smith’s delivered a keynote welcome and remarked that now — more than ever — the world needs theatre made by diverse new voices.

    “Dramatic Arts at Brock is fortunate to have our University’s support in making an equitable and inclusive space for all voices to grow,” she said. “We were delighted to welcome the new perspectives of this year’s STAR Festival participants to our beautiful facilities at the Marilyn I. Walker School.”

    Adjudicators of the event represented a diverse cast of theatre professionals in the region, including current and past Shaw Festival ensemble members.

    Vivian said DART’s close relationship with the Shaw Festival’s performing, production and administrative teams is an important component of learning for the Brock community.

    “The DART Shaw Festival Internship has been a life-changing experience for our senior and graduating students,” he said.

    DART graduates also returned to lend their expertise to the next generation, including theatre artist James McCoy (BA ’14), Head Technician at the Roselawn Theatre with Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Colborne.

    McCoy shared his skills and career experience in the STARfest Technical Theatre Olympics, a program of learning and fun competitive collaboration in stagecraft. Students learned news skills and put them to the test in a program adapted for the festival by McCoy, Vivian, and Head of Stage Construction for Dramatic Arts, Ed Harris.

    The opportunity to meet colleague theatre artists from across the country was at the foundation of the community-building event.  Emmett Carter, a student from A.N. Myer Secondary School emphasized that the opportunity to learn and create with new friends, and then witness their performances and presentations was the highpoint of their experience.

    “Meeting people from across Canada was cool. …. Being all here, together at the festival, allows me to see what people are doing across the country and gives me the opportunity to learn what is important to kids from other provinces,” he said.

    Photo of students performing onstage at STAR Fest.

    Students from DSBN Academy in St. Catharines performed an original new play “Dogs Smell Blood” written by student Alaster Nikolic (front). The students polished the play in two sessions with renowned Canadian playwright John Lazarus and Canadian actor, screenwriter and sound designer Sean Meldrum. The play was selected in the national competition for the STAR Short Play program and will be published by TRW Plays (New York).

    Matt Niddrie, a student from A.N. Myer Secondary School, highlighted the joy of experiencing the final moments of the festival.

    “We were all cheering each other on and celebrating each other and our respective accomplishments. This festival builds community. The workshops bring us all together; we all share the same ideals. The festival is a great time for us to be together supporting each other’s passion for theatre arts,” he said.

    During the festival, a DART Creative Citizenship Scholarship award was launched by the department, with the inaugural award presented to a Saint Paul Catholic High School student.

    “Whether these emerging young artists pursue studies in music theatre, dramatic arts, teacher education or other subjects such as the pre-med sciences, nursing, maths and business, I am very enthusiastic about their developing capacity to drive original and meaningful change,” Vivian said.

    The third Niagara Regional STAR Festival is planned for December 2025 at the MIWSFPA.

    Watch the video report below by YourTV Niagara featuring an interview with the lead organizer, Tracy Garratt. (4:13)

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    Categories: Alumni, Future students, News, Visiting Artists

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