When Wendy Grew Up
A Litmus Theatre Production
Written by Jordi Mand
adapted from the works of JM Barrie
Directed by Matthew Thomas Walker
Digital Design and Editing by Karyn McCallum
Sound Design and Composition by Gloria Mok
Costume Design and Consultation by Anna Treusch
Stage Managed by Logan McNutt
Produced by Adriano Sobretodo Jr, Claire Wynveen and Matthew Thomas Walker
Featuring
Claire Wynveen as Wendy
Adriano Sobretodo Jr. as Peter
Michaela Lamm as Jane
Gwenyth Dobie as Mary
Matthew Thomas Walker as Eddie
Director’s Note:
Each Litmus project begins with a desire to revisit a story that has shadowed us throughout our lives. We like to delve into “how” and “why” a certain story gains its persistent foothold in our psyche, while another will disappear into the breeze. How do those that linger ultimately shape our outlook? And can they evolve and change, as we evolve and change?
When we approached Jordi Mand about the stories that have lingered with her throughout her life, we were excited when she brought Peter and Wendy to the table with particular interest in JM Barrie’s Afterthought, the epilogue that revisits Wendy as an adult, 27 years after her first escape with Peter. We, too, had long and complex relationships with the iconic story of escape vs. responsibility and were invested in uncovering how it could be meaningful to us today. At the time, we had no idea we’d be telling it in the midst of a global pandemic.
What I love about Jordi Mand’s retelling is her investigation of fantasy. Fantasies are, themselves, stories we tell ourselves about an alternate life that could be more exciting, fulfilling and carefree. Wendy’s urge to escape into fantasy echoes our own – particularly during a series of lockdowns when our lives became more complex and demanding than before. In her re-framing of the story, Jordi asks us whether our fantasies actually help us to lift out and gain reprieve from our day-to-day, or whether they inhibit us from actually being present in our realities.
I extend my gratitude to the creative team who all stretched themselves in new directions as we navigated how to tell this story in a time of social distancing. Thanks also to you for joining us, virtually, to experience it. We can’t wait to gather in space with you someday soon.
JORDI MAND – Playwright
Jordi writes for theatre, TV, and film. Her plays include: Between the Sheets, Caught, and Brontë: The World Without – which have been produced nationally, internationally, and published by Playwrights Canada Press. A graduate of the CFC’s Bell Media Prime Time TV Program, Jordi was a writer on the hit CTV Canadian crime drama, Cardinal. She has new plays in development with the Stratford Festival and the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company. She is the writer of the upcoming film adaptation of Harriet Alida Lye’s thriller, The Honey Farm, and is developing her original TV series with Alibi Entertainment. jordimand.com
MATTHEW THOMAS WALKER – Director/Co-Artistic Director
Matthew is a multi-award winning theatre creator and one of the founding Co-Artistic Directors of Litmus Theatre. For Litmus, he has adapted and directed Matchbox Macbeth (Top 10 plays of 2010, NOW Magazine), directed and co-wrote Birth of Frankenstein (Dora Award for Best Direction, Dora Nomination for Best Script) and adapted and directed Brave New World (7 MyTheatre Award Nominations). Other directing credits include: Beyond Windows, Ephemera and Orlando (FSPA) The King Stag (Randolph) Speaking in Tongues (DMV Theatre), Oregano (Theatre Rhea), Mourning Dove (Sudbury Theatre Centre), The Ghost Ship, The Selkie of Kincardine (Sundown Theatre). Matthew has taught, led workshops and sat on panels for various theatre organizations and educational institutions throughout Ontario and Nova Scotia. In 2018 he joined the faculty at the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University. He is a graduate of York’s MFA in Theatre Performance and of Dalhousie’s Acting Program.
CLAIRE WYNVEEN – Actor/Co-Artistic Director
Claire is the Communications Manager at the Toronto Fringe and the Co-Artistic Director of Litmus Theatre. In her spare time, Claire likes to write and has recently written articles for Intermission Magazine, The WeeFestival for Arts and Culture, a well as plays for Litmus Theatre and Sundown Theatre. Claire was co-writer of the Dora Award-winning Birth of Frankenstein (Litmus Theatre). Claire holds an MFA in Acting from York University and a BAH in Stage and Screen Studies from Queen’s University. Claire has taught workshops and classes with York University, Queen’s University, Toronto Fringe, Theatre Centre, Canadian Stage, Classical Theatre Projects and the Paprika Festival. Claire is a member of the East of the Don Choir and a mom of two lil’ ones.
ADRIANO SOBRETODO JR. – Actor/Co-Artistic Director
Adriano has performed on stages and screens for over a decade. He graduated from York University’s MFA Acting Conservatory and is represented by The Characters Talent Agency. Recent Theatre: Brutus in Portia’s Julius Caesar (Shakespeare in the Ruff), Mowgli in The Jungle Book (Manitoba Theatre for Young People), The Container (Theatre Fix, MyTheatre Best Supporting Actor Nominee). Recent Screen: The pilot episode of The Strain (FX, directed by Guillermo del Toro), Saving Hope (CTV), recurring roles on Covert Affairs (USA) and Alphas (SyFy). Next Up: Detective Garcia in the film Revenge Delivered on the Lifetime Network. As Co-AD, he’s helped shape and manage all productions to date by Litmus, a company he co-founded in 2009 with Claire Wynveen and Matt Walker. adrianosobretodojr.com
KARYN MCCALLUM – Digital Designer and Editor
Karyn is a performance designer in the areas of set, costume and video design, having added digital design for online performance over this past year. In the live theatre context, Karyn’s focus has been designing for new works as well as site responsive design. In her work in designing for conventional stage, her work has ranged from classical theatre, musical theatre and opera to studio theatre design working with large as well as small casts. Karyn is a faculty member at the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University where she teaches set design, costume design and video design for performance. https://www.karyn-mccallum-design.com
ANNA TREUSCH – Costume Designer and Consultant
Originally from Ottawa, is now a Toronto based Set and Costume Designer for Theatre, Opera and Musical Theatre. She has worked with such companies as CanadianStage, Nightwood, Banff Centre for the Arts, National Arts Centre, Young People’s Theatre, Against the Grain, Coal Mine Theatre, Common Boots, Obsidian Theatre, Factory Theatre to name a few. A recipient of two Dora awards, Anna has also been nominated for The Pauline McGibbon Award and the Virginia Myrtle Cooper Award. She is a proud member of Associated Designers of Canada, ADC659 and IATSE 828. During the pandemic, Anna has been creating comics, art and greeting cards, check out www.treuschdesigns.com
LOGAN MCNUTT – Stage Manager
Logan is a recent graduate of the Stage Design and Technical Theatre honours program at Dalhousie University. He is originally from Oshawa, but is currently located in Ancaster, Ontario. Logan’s stage management credits include Mary Stuart (FSPA, 2021), Concord Floral (FSPA, 2020), Dido and Aeneas / Aeneas and Dido (Dal Opera, 2020), L’Etoile (Dal Opera, 2019), and The Women of Troy(FSPA, 2019). He hopes to pursue a career in stage management, working in opera and musical theatre. www.loganmcnutt.com
GLORIA MOK – Sound Designer & Composer
Gloria is a playwright, production manager, and designer originally from Mississauga, Ontario (Treaty 13 territory). She is a founding member of Silk Bath Collective, a team of three Chinese-Canadian theatre makers who create multilingual plays about the Chinese diaspora. Gloria has worked with theatre companies across Canada including 2b in Halifax; the Globe in Regina; Gwaandak and Nakai in Whitehorse; Cahoots, Driftwood, fu-GEN, Native Earth, Paprika, Ruff, SummerWorks, Soulpepper, TPM, and Why Not in Toronto. Gloria is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada’s Production Design and Technical Arts program.
GWENYTH DOBIE – Actor
Gwenyth Dobie is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Out of the Box Productions, a company that creates original works integrating spoken text, dance, music and interactive technology. Some of her producing and directing credits include Opera Erotique (BC tour and Toronto); The Third Taboo (BC tour); Prior Engagement (Victoria); Sound in Silence (Victoria and Toronto); and Rallentando (Toronto). Gwenyth is on faculty in the Theatre Department at York University, teaching movement and devised theatre. Most recently, with her partner William Mackwood, Gwenyth has created an Artist Residency on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia to support the research and creation of live performance. www.outoftheboxproductions.ca
MICHAELA LAMM – Actor
Michaela Lamm is in elementary school in the Toronto area. She is growing up with a love of the arts and of adventure. She loves to draw, dance, act and be creative and she loves spending time exploring and outdoors with her dog and her family. Michaela has participated in dance and theatre productions in her community for 6 years.
