Why people should see Blood Relations?

Because if they don't, I may just take something sharp to them...

Seriously though, it's a great script performed by a group of very talented and passionate students. It's about Lizzie Borden and if you don't know who she is, do yourself a favour and Google her. It has darkness, humour, tension, hope, despair, love and of course, mystery and murder. What more could a theatre-goer want?

Why was it important to you to work on this play?

It was a chance to work with a group of very talented and passionate students. Not to sound like a broken record, but it's the truth. Having gone through the Theatre Program myself and therefore having been an actor in the productions, I was excited to do so from another angle this time. That and the fact that I really loved the script and subject matter.

I understand the first version of this production was My Name is Lisbeth, staged at Douglas with Sharon Pollock playing Lizzie Borden. How important is this history to the current production?

Very. I'm very much into the idea of an actor creating his or her own work. That fact that we are putting on this play at the place of its birth definitely colours it. Not so much a sense of coming home, but definitely stopping by for a holiday visit.

How will this production differ from its first inception?

Well, it's a different play from My Name is Lisbeth. It's grown and changed into Blood Relations. It's also over 30 years on from its inception. So it'll be no doubt different. Not having been around Douglas 30 years ago, I'm not at liberty to say how different. If we can find someone who was, we can shake them down for the details.

Lizzie Borden - do you think she did it or not?

That's my own little secret and maybe I'll share with someone if they ask me after seeing the show.  Promotes dialogue that way, which is always a good thing.

You're a graduate of the Theatre Program at Douglas - what year did you graduate and what projects have you been working on since then?

I graduated in 2008 and I've been quite busy since then with our small starting-out theatre company, 591 Productions. We've put on shows we've written ourselves and I've also had the wonderful opportunities to work with other companies on their original productions, as well as participating in some independent films. It's been busy and hopefully will be busier yet.

Why did you choose Douglas?

Straight up - I had a better feeling from Douglas: the staff, the people, the place and program, than I did the other schools I auditioned for. Also, I heard more good things about the Douglas program from people whose experience and opinion mattered to me. My only regret is that, at the moment, there isn't a third year to the program. If or when that happens, I'll be back.              

How does it feel to come back and direct Blood Relations here?

Great. Really great. I'm thankful for the opportunity to do this and love every minute of it. It's a great place full of great people doing great things. There you go, any place that pulls five greats out of me in a single paragraph is an exceptional place in my book.

Any advice for current Theatre students?

Work hard and have fun. It's a gift to be able to do this. Respect it. Enjoy it. Don't be afraid to shine.  Accidents and mistakes are opportunities to learn things you may otherwise not, so don‘t fear them.  And bribe Allan (Lysell, Theatre Program Coordinator) with cookies.

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