Catriona Leger
DIRECTING
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Vibrant. Inspired. Live.
I tell riveting stories in evocative ways while honouring the actor's process
OUTDOOR THEATRE
Directing in the Open Air
Shakespearean adaptations by Catriona Leger (that's me!); other adaptations credited
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AL Connors, Mekdes Teshome, Mary Ellis, Jennifer Cecil
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LtoR: Mahalia Golnosh Tahririha, Mary Ellis, Jennifer Cecil, Mekdes Teshome, Pierre Brault
L to R: Jennifer Cecil, Mekdes Teshome, Mary Ellis, Mahalia Golnosh Tahririha, AL Connors, Pierre Brault
AL Connors, Mekdes Teshome, Mary Ellis, Jennifer Cecil
PERICLES PRINCE OF TYRE
a Company of Fools, 2016
Costumes & Puppets by Vanessa Imeson
Set Design by Stephanie Dahmer Brett
Original Musical Score Composed by Mishelle Cuttler
Live action photos in this gallery by Andrew Alexander
90 minute adaptation of the epic adventures of Pericles. This production, designed for a 7-week summer tour of Ottawa parks, featured 6 actors, 5 of whom played over 50 characters, in a fantasy world inspired by Game of Thrones and Walt Disney. Physical, family friendly, and accessible, with live music, 8 original songs, and audience participation.
Jessica Buchanan, Jakob Kopytko, Morgan Benedict, Rem Murray
Rem Murray, Morgan Benedict, Jessica Buchanan
Jessica Buchanan, Jakob Kopytko, Morgan Benedict, Rem Murray
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
By C.S. Lewis
Adaptation by Melissa Young
Project X Theatre Under the Trees, 2022
Set design by Leon Schwesinger
Costume design by Marian Truscott
Puppet design by Randi Edmunson
Original music and sound design by Lukas Vanderlip
Photos by Lynn Sunderman Photography
A 4-person adaptation of C.S. Lewis' beloved classic tale staged in Prince Charles Park in Kamloops, BC. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy take a thrilling adventure beyond a wardrobe and into the faraway land of Narnia to help Aslan the Lion and their new animal friends save Narnia from the freezing clutches of the White Witch.
Scott Florence, Warren Bain, Gabrielle Lazarovitz, Katie Ryerson
LtoR: Katie Ryerson, Scott Florence, AL Connors, Gabrielle Lazarovitz, Warren Bain, Geoff McBride (front)
Katie Ryerson with Audience Member
Scott Florence, Warren Bain, Gabrielle Lazarovitz, Katie Ryerson
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
a Company of Fools, 2015
Costumes by Vanessa Imeson
Set by David Brown
Live action photos in this gallery by Andrew Alexander
A quirky and colourful, topsy-turvy storybook world brought to life by 6 actors. Full of slapstick, word play, romance and rhyme, this rollicking comical romp toured Ottawa parks for 7 weeks and was the Fools' first ever summer production to be nominated for the Prix Rideau Awards.
Review here
University of Ottawa Archival Project here
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Simon Bradshaw, Katie Ryerson, Melanie Karin Brown
L to R: Geoff McBride, Simon Bradshaw, Katie Ryerson, Matthew John Lundvall, Melanie Karin Brown, John Doucet
Melanie Karen Brown, Matthew John Lundvall
Simon Bradshaw, Katie Ryerson, Melanie Karin Brown
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
a Company of Fools, 2013
Costumes and Set by Vanessa Imeson
Music arranged by Tobie Slippert
Live action photos in this gallery by Andrew Alexander
The Fools' 10th Annual Torchlight Shakespeare Under the Stars production. A 90 minute interactive adaptation with 6 actors playing 20 roles, touring in and around the National Capital Region all summer. Billed as "Downton Abbey meets Bugs Bunny," this whimsical rendition was set against the natural backdrop of Ottawa’s parks, shaken and stirred with an Edwardian twist. This highly physical production had audiences of all ages rolling in the aisles (or on the lawn, rather).
Review here
Ron Klappholz, Alix Sideris, Alison Hess, Will Lamont, Adam Pierre, Dorian Foley
Quincy Armorer, Melissa Morris
St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, Prescott, ON
Ron Klappholz, Alix Sideris, Alison Hess, Will Lamont, Adam Pierre, Dorian Foley
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, 2012
Set design by John Doucet
Costume design by Roberta Doylend
Music Composed and Arranged by Melissa Morris
Photo credit: Unknown
This full length production performed in and around the beloved waterfront amphitheatre in Prescott, ON featured frantic physical comedy, live music, audience interaction, and a Lady Gaga mash up on accordion, mandolin, harmonium and voices singing in 4-part harmony. Played to record breaking audiences, and nominated for multiple awards.
DEVISED THEATRE
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Created by the Break a Leg Collective: Morgan Benedict, Jessica Buchannan, Nathan Fedear, Allandra Gardiner, Catriona Leger, Brittney Martens, Devon Moore
In development
Theatre is illegal. What have we got to lose? A raw exploration of self, boundaries, and the ever-changing rules about how to produce theatre in the time of global pandemic.
Set by Catriona Leger
With Audience Participant Mary Ellis
With Audience Participant Richard Cliff
Set by Catriona Leger
HASTY ADVICE 5¢
subDevision, 2015
Created by Catriona Leger
An interactive pop up site specific piece where participants are given one on one sessions to ask probing questions about the direction of their lives. Sometimes advice is cheap and meaningful, sometimes it's just cheap.
Inspiration space - upper hallway of Enriched Bread Artists (an old bread factory turned into visual artist studios)
Catriona Leger
Geoff McBride, Catriona Leger
Geoff McBride, Catriona Leger
Catriona Leger
GOOD IRISH FRIENDS (OR, AN ODE TO WES ANDERSON)
Ottawa Theatre Challenge, 2017
Created by Catriona Leger & Geoff McBride
Two socially awkward friends discover their long unspoken love for one another on a rooftop with pigeons.
Devised for an annual 48-hour contest of creation, inspiration items assigned by another company included:
Spiderman Toque
King Pigeon Headline
Irish Gaelic Saying
Nimue played by Dillis Ayafor
Vivienne played by Kate Smith
Kate Smith
Nimue played by Dillis Ayafor
LADIES OF THE LAKE
By Kate Smith, Catriona Leger & John Doucet
Skeleton Key Theatre
GCTC Undercurrents Festival 2013
Set Design by John Doucet
Costume Design by Vanessa Imeson
Lighting Design by Guilliaume Houët-Brisebois
Original Music by Kate Smith & Hillary Fay
Photos in this gallery by Andrew Alexander
In an attempt to escape the terrifying visions that have been haunting her nightly, Vivienne embarks on a journey to end her increasingly disturbing nightmares.
A physically devised piece in one act that blends evocative movement, original music and text to tell an imagined origin story of the Lady of the Lake.
INDOOR THEATRE
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Celebration
Curling Ballet
rehearsal
Celebration
HURRY HARD
by Kristen da Silva
Western Canada Theatre
Kamloops, BC, 2023
Set & Projection Design by Leon Schwesinger
Costume Design by Sabrina Stace
Lighting Design by Liam Befurt
Sound Design by Lukas Vanderlip
Intimacy Direction: Anastasia St. Amand, Karyn Mott
Stage Management: Madison Henry, Victoria Snashall
Photos by: Barbara Zimonick
David Whitely & Chandel Gambles
David Whitely & Chandel Gambles
Promo Poster
David Whitely & Chandel Gambles
VENUS IN FUR
by David Ives
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Costume Design by Vanessa Imeson
Set & Lighting Design by David Magladry
Photos in this gallery by Andrew Alexander
Plosive Productions, 2014
The Gladstone Theatre
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This award-winning play by David Ives is a delicious, suspense-packed study of the erotics of power. A writer-director laments the woeful parade of actresses who have auditioned for his new play. Enter Vanda, an out-of-work actress who turns the tables and takes charge in this sexual roundelay about power and powerlessness.
Jameson Parker, Davide Kaye
DJ Oker Chen
Niko Koupantsis, Jameson Parker, David Kaye, Brian Cochrane
Jameson Parker, Davide Kaye
THE BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS
by Jason Catalano, Jordan-Allen Dutton, GQ, Erik Weiner
Original Musical Score Composed by Anami Vice
Costume Design by Vanessa Imeson
Set & Lighting Design by Jon Tsang
Belfry Theatre, 2014
Arts Club Theatre, 2014
Twentysomething Theatre, 2012
A 4-person Rap and Hip-Hop adaptation of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, with a live dj
4 Jessie Richardson Awards Nominations with 2 wins
Katie Bunting, Brad Long
Brad Long, Katie Bunting
Katie Bunting, Zach Counsil, Brad Long
Katie Bunting, Brad Long
MACBETH
by William Shakespeare
adapted by Catriona Leger
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Costume Design by Sarah Waghorn
Set Design by David Brown
Salamander Theatre, 2012-14
A 3-person adaptation designed for venue touring in and around Ottawa enjoyed 2 revivals after the original run.
THEATRE FOR POST SECONDARY PROGRAMS
Where productions indicate adaptation, gender parity has been incorporated to provide greater opportunities for women
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Meghan Chenosky, Jameson Parker
Lto R: Moneca Melnick, Maria Luisa Alvarez,
Promo Poster
Meghan Chenosky, Jameson Parker
ROMEO & JULIET
by William Shakespeare
adapted by Catriona Leger
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Set Design by Ana Luisa Espinosa
Costume Design by Carmen Allatore
Original Music by Patrick Pennefather & Mishelle Cutlter
Photos in this gallery by Tim Matheson
University of British Columbia, 2010
Show Site
AND SLOWLY BEAUTY
by Michel Nadeau
translated by Maureen Labonté
Set Design by Leon Schwesinger
Costume Design by Marian Truscott
Lighting Design by Liam Befurt
Sound Design by Lukas Vanderlip
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Thompson Rivers University
Actors Workshop Theatre 2023
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Photos by Leon Schwesinger
DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE
by Sarah Ruhl
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Set & Lighting Design by Leon Schwesinger
Costume Coordination by Marian Truscott
Original Music by Lukas Vanderlip
Photos in this gallery by Leon Schwesinger
Thompson Rivers University Theatre Program 2021
Titania, Bottom & Faeries
Hermia, Lysander & Puck
Marquee
Titania, Bottom & Faeries
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
by William Shakespeare
adapted by Catriona Leger
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Set Design by Ross Nichol
Costume Design by Marian Truscott
Original Music Composed by Lukas Vanderlip
Lighting Design by Leon Schwesinger
Photos in this gallery by Leon Schwesinger
Thompson Rivers University, 2020
Foreground: Nathanel, Holofernes; Background: Don Armado, Costard
Boyet, Katharine, Maria, Rosaline
LtoR: Dull, Holofernes, Nathaniel, Jaquenetta, Armado, Costard, Moth
Foreground: Nathanel, Holofernes; Background: Don Armado, Costard
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST
by William Shakespeare
adapted by Catriona Leger
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Set Design by John Doucet
Costume Design by Vanessa Imeson
Lighting Design by Margaret Coderre-Williams
University of Ottawa, 2015
Foreground: Philinte, Frank; Background: Eliante, Celimene
Frank, Celimene, Oronte
Frank, Celimene
Foreground: Philinte, Frank; Background: Eliante, Celimene
THE SCHOOL FOR LIES
by David Ives
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Set Design by John Doucet
Costume Design by Vanessa Imeson
Photos in this gallery by Andrew Alexander
Algonquin College Theatre Arts Program, 2016
Based on The Misanthrope by Moliere
THE PENELOPIAD
by Margaret Atwood
Original Musical Score by Melissa Morris
Set & Costume Design by Brian Smith
St. Lawrence College Music Theatre Program, 2018
Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)by Ann-Marie MacDonald
Set & Lighting by Leon Schwesinger
Costumes by Jakob Kopytko
Thompson Rivers University 2023