1939

In 1939, a group of students at a fictional residential school in Ontario are faced with the daunting task of putting on a play by William Shakespeare for the King and Queen of England on their first Royal Tour of Canada. But as news spreads and audience expectations abound, the students, resilient and resourceful, find their own way into the text, determined to challenge the notion that there’s only one way to do Shakespeare. Born of both family legacy and the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the development of 1939 was guided by Indigenous Elders, survivors, and ceremony.

Jani Lauzon is a multiple award-winning actor/writer/director, a Juno nominated singer/songwriter and a Gemini Award-winning puppeteer. Her company, Paper Canoe Projects, was created to support production of her own work including: A Side of Dreams, I Call myself Princess, and Prophecy Fog. Previous writing includes: The Scrubbing Project, The Triple Truth and The Only Good Indian with Turtle Gals Performance Ensemble. She has been a playwright-in-residence at Cahoots Theatre Projects and Factory Theatre. Residencies include: The Tracey Wright Global Archive at The Theatre Centre, Nightswimming Theatre, and The Barker Fairly Distinguished Writer-in-Residence Fellowship. Jani was the Senior Playwright-in-Residence at the Banff Playwright Colony in April 2015.

Kaitlyn Riordan is a settler of Irish and French descent. From 2012-2021, Kaitlyn was part of the leadership team at Shakespeare in the Ruff. In 2018 her play, Portia’s Julius Caesar, premiered there and it continues to be produced locally and internationally. Plays in development include I Sit Content, about Emily Carr, Gertrude’s Hamlet, and The Nude Nun. Kaitlyn is also a four-time Dora nominated actor.