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What happens when a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning playwright decides to take on the unexpectedly twisted world of fairy tales? Branden Jacobs-Jenkins joins us to discuss his new work at the Shaw Festival.  Jacobs-Jenkins pulls back the curtain on crafting a show from scratch with a new ensemble of actors, the pure magic of spontaneous puppet design, and why storytelling remains an ancient, living art form. It is an insightful and hilarious conversation about honouring old traditions while daring to rewrite the rules.  Branden Jacobs-Jenkins joins the Shaw Festival as the writer and director of A New Work in Progress. An internationally acclaimed playwright and theatre artist, his celebrated works include Purpose, Appropriate, The Comeuppance and Gloria. His plays Everybody and An Octoroon have been produced here at the Shaw Festival. Branden is a Professor in the Practice at Yale University and serves as the Vice President of the Dramatists Guild council. He is the recipient of two Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship, the Windham-Campbell Prize for Drama, and the inaugural Tennessee Williams Award. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

What happens when actors have to perform two completely different masterpieces at the exact same time? Actors Tom and Michael join host Spike to talk about pulling double duty at the Shaw Festival in Amadeus and Heartbreak House. The two share stories from their earliest acting gigs before diving into what it actually takes to bounce between two massive scripts every day. They break down the literal physical challenge of acting on a steep, slanted stage, the trick to making centuries-old language sound natural, and how they find the human heart inside the legendary rivalry of Salieri and Mozart. It is a candid look at the messy, exhausting, and deeply rewarding reality of live repertory theatre. Tom Rooney returns for his 4th season at the Shaw Festival, appearing in both Heartbreak House and Amadeus. Since joining the Shaw ensemble, Tom has delighted audiences in My Fair Lady, The Apple Cart, and Cyrano de Bergerac. A highly celebrated actor, he spent 14 seasons with the Stratford Festival and has starred in numerous hit productions at Crow's Theatre, including Uncle Vanya and Fifteen Dogs. Tom is a Dora and Sterling Award winner, whose extensive film and television credits include Transplant, Under the Banner of Heaven, and Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Michael Therriault celebrates his 5th season at the Shaw Festival, pulling double duty in Heartbreak House and Amadeus. His memorable Shaw credits include Me and My Girl, Anything Goes, and Rope. Michael is a prominent fixture of both the Canadian and international stage, having starred in The Lord of the Rings in Toronto and the West End, The Producers for Mirvish, and Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway, alongside a prolific multi-season tenure at the Stratford Festival. His screen work includes notable roles in Fellow Travelers, Chucky, Locke & Key, and Murdoch Mysteries. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

On the second part of the conversation, Stephen sits down with Tim Carroll for an expansive, witty, and remarkably honest Q&A session. This conversation was recorded live at the Shaw Festival in February 2026. Stephen Fry is an award-winning English actor, author, and playwright whose connection to the Shaw Festival includes adapting the book for Me and My Girl and creating his solo trilogy Mythos, directed by Tim Carroll. A legendary figure in British pop culture from Blackadder to QI to The Traitors, Fry famously embodied the definitive screen version of Jeeves alongside Hugh Laurie in the 1990s television adaptation Jeeves and Wooster. He shares a deep, decades-long artistic relationship with Shaw Artistic Director Tim Carroll, which includes collaborating on the West End and Broadway transfers of the historic Globe Theatre productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

On the first of our special two part episode, Stephen Fry takes us from his isolated childhood in Norfolk and the realization that language was his ultimate superpower, to the transformative discovery of Oscar Wilde that helped him embrace his identity. This conversation was recorded live at the Shaw Festival in February 2026. Stephen Fry is an award-winning English actor, author, and playwright whose connection to the Shaw Festival includes adapting the book for Me and My Girl and creating his solo trilogy Mythos, directed by Tim Carroll. A legendary figure in British pop culture from Blackadder to QI to The Traitors, Fry famously embodied the definitive screen version of Jeeves alongside Hugh Laurie in the 1990s television adaptation Jeeves and Wooster. He shares a deep, decades-long artistic relationship with Shaw Artistic Director Tim Carroll, which includes collaborating on the West End and Broadway transfers of the historic Globe Theatre productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

What happens when a creative team strips down a complex, surrealist masterwork to its rawest essentials? Director Philip Akin and actor Sophia Walker join movement director Spike to discuss their upcoming production of Adrienne Kennedy’s Ohio State Murders. The semi-autobiographical play follows a celebrated writer who returns to her alma mater, only to unravel a history of deep personal trauma and institutional racism. Philip Akin returns to the Shaw Festival to direct Ohio State Murders. He has previously helmed several defining Shaw productions, including The House That Will Not Stand, Gem of the Ocean, Trouble in Mind, and "Master Harold"...and the Boys. A legendary figure in Canadian theatre, Philip recently directed the acclaimed Canadian premiere of The Lehman Brothers Trilogy at Canadian Stage. His pioneering career has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Director, the Central Ontario Theatre Conference Lifetime Membership Award, and is a Member of the Order of Canada. Sophia Walker enters her 3rd season at the Shaw Festival, appearing in Ohio State Murders and A New Work in Progress. Shaw audiences previously saw her powerful performances in The House That Will Not Stand and Gem of the Ocean. A veteran of the Canadian stage, Sophia spent 12 seasons with the Stratford Festival and has starred in recent contemporary hits like Fairview and Slave Play at Canadian Stage. On screen, she plays Councillor Liz Harding in Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent and has held recurring roles in Y: The Last Man and Shadowhunters. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

What happens when a creative team strips away the clutter of a turn-of-the-century classic to find its modern, urgent heartbeat? Director Tim Carroll, set and costume designer Ximena Pinilla, and composer Claudio Vena sit down with movement director Alexis Milligan to pull back the curtain on their minimalist reimagining of George Bernard Shaw’s Heartbreak House. Tim Carroll marks his 11th season as the Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival, directing Heartbreak House, Amadeus, and A Christmas Carol this year. Since taking the artistic helm, Tim has directed acclaimed Shaw productions such as Flush, Gnit, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Desire Under the Elms. His illustrious international career includes directing the Tony-nominated Broadway productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III starring Mark Rylance. A former associate director at Shakespeare’s Globe, Tim has staged productions for the Stratford Festival, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and opera houses and national theatres worldwide. Ximena Pinilla returns for her 3rd season at the Shaw Festival as the set and costume designer for Heartbreak House, as well as the design assistant for A New Work in Progress by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Her previous design footprints at Shaw include serving as the set designer for A Recluse and His Guest and The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Ximena’s diverse design credits span theatre, contemporary dance, and opera across Canada, alongside production and costume design work for independent films like Clara! and Soleil de nuit. Claudio Vena brings his musical mastery to the Shaw Festival for Heartbreak House as the music director, composer, and sound designer. His extensive history with Shaw includes creating original music and soundscapes for Gnit, Everybody, and Saint Joan. A Gemini Award winner and two-time Juno nominee, Claudio is the current music director of the Phoenix Orchestra and a founder of the renowned Quartetto Gelato. His diverse career spans conducting for the Stratford Festival and the Canadian Opera Company, scoring films like TO in 24, and performing alongside legendary vocalists including Pavarotti, Domingo, and Bocelli. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

In this episode, we tour the brand-new Shaw Artists' Village to see how this cultural hub is transforming life on and off the stage.  We sit down with lead sponsor Jim Burton to discuss the new Burton Center for Lifelong Creativity, and chat with Pragna Desai about the village’s community programming. Head of Wardrobe Jason Bendig and Associate Head Janet Ellis take us behind the scenes of costume creation, and Bailey Cohort interns Espoir Segbeaya and Rylan Thomas share what it’s really like to live and train on campus. More information at https://www.shawfest.com/beyond-the-stage/ Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

What happens when you trap two powerhouse comedic actors in a high-stakes British farce filled with split-second timing, physical torture, and a mountain of Tiger Balm? Actors Peter Fernandes and Martin Happer drop by to talk about reuniting for One for the Pot and unleashing a masterclass in chaotic energy on the Shaw Festival stage. They pull back the curtain on the grueling athletic precision required to survive a nightly slapstick routine, unlocking the show's mathematical rhythm, and the hilarious reality of having your old theater school demons come back to haunt you. From mastering complex regional dialects with expert coaching to juggling the dizzying gear shift between broad physical comedy and cerebral Shaw, they reveal exactly what it takes to keep a wild theatrical romp entirely on the tracks. Peter Fernandes celebrates his 5th season at the Shaw Festival, stepping into the director's chair for Sleuth while also appearing on stage in One for the Pot. Shaw audiences will recognize him from past favourites like One Man, Two Guvnors, Charley’s Aunt, and The Importance of Being Earnest. A three-time Dora Award winner and recipient of the Philip Akin Black Shoulders Legacy Award, Peter has performed extensively with Canadian Stage (Fat Ham), Crow’s Theatre (Fifteen Dogs), and Soulpepper. He is also an artistic associate at Crow’s Theatre and an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Martin Happer is celebrating a remarkable 21st season at the Shaw Festival, appearing this year in One for the Pot and Heartbreak House. Over his two decades with the ensemble, Martin has become a mainstay of the Shaw stage, with credits including Wait Until Dark, Witness for the Prosecution, Dracula, and Saint Joan. Beyond Niagara, he has performed with the Arts Club, Studio 180, and Theatre Aquarius. Television audiences will also recognize him from his numerous screen appearances, including roles in The Hot Zone: Anthrax, The Expanse, Frankie Drake Mysteries, and Murdoch Mysteries. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

What happens when you trap a creative trio under the porch with a classic storybook masterpiece, an arsenal of folksy percussion, and a script that culminates in a massive, chaotic food fight? Director and adapter Fiona Sauder, fight and movement director Jack Davidson, and composer Jeffrey Newberry join us to talk about bringing The Wind in the Willows to life with the breathless, playful energy of a train that never stops. They share how they navigate the meticulous, ego-free chemistry required to blend independent theatre sensibilities with the massive Shaw Festival machine, the intricate process of building a cozy, textured soundscape out of felted pianos, and how embracing a child’s unbridled imagination can remind us all of the profound power of stepping back to sit under a tree. Fiona Sauder enters their 2nd season at the Shaw Festival, wearing dual hats as the director and adapter for The Wind in the Willows. She previously served as the assistant director for Shaw’s 2021 production of Holiday Inn. As the artistic director of Bad Hats Theatre, Fiona has directed and written numerous acclaimed productions, including Peter Pan, Narnia, and Alice in Wonderland. Their vibrant work in the Canadian theatre landscape has earned them six Dora Mavor Moore Awards, including honours for Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Production, and a spot on the 2024 shortlist for the prestigious Gina Wilkinson Prize. Jack Davidson joins the Shaw Festival for his 1st season, bringing his physical expertise to the ensemble as the fight and movement director for The Wind in the Willows. His movement and fight direction credits across Canada include The Moors (Riot King), A Poem for Rabia (Tarragon Theatre), and Peter Pan (Bad Hats Theatre/Soulpepper). Also a seasoned performer, Jack has graced the stage with the Canadian Opera Company in productions ranging from Romeo and Juliet to Macbeth, and has collaborated extensively with Corpus Dance Projects. He is an alumnus of both the George Brown Theatre School and the National Ballet School of Canada. Jeffrey Newberry makes his Shaw Festival debut as the original music and sound designer for The Wind in the Willows. A versatile conductor, music supervisor, and composer, Jeffrey is the conductor and music director for Mirvish Productions' The Lion King in Toronto. His extensive theatrical footprints include music directing Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang for the Stratford Festival, alongside numerous credits at the Capitol Theatre (Port Hope) as a composer, sound designer, and music director. An educator as well as an artist, Jeffrey teaches at York University and Randolph College for the Performing Arts. He holds a Master of Education from York University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

What happens when you trap three actors backstage with 70 lightning-fast quick changes, a literary masterpiece, and a script that requires absolute comic precision? Actors Damien and Jeff Irving join us to talk about bringing P.G. Wodehouse’s iconic characters to life with the breathless energy of a high-wire circus act. They share how they navigate the meticulous, ego-free chemistry required for a three-person comedy, the terrifying reality of managing an intricate backstage world of shifting costumes, and how the unique, long structure of the Shaw Festival season allows a funny show to truly mature and deepen over time. Damien Atkins returns to the Shaw Festival for his 8th season. Over his extensive career, he has performed in numerous Shaw productions, including Sherlock Holmes & the Mystery of the Human Heart (which he also wrote), Blithe Spirit and The Ladykillers. A highly decorated artist, Damien is a five-time Dora Award winner whose extensive work across Canada includes prominent roles at Soulpepper, Crow’s Theatre, and the Stratford Festival. Jeff Irving is celebrating his 16th season at the Shaw Festival. His memorable Shaw credits have included Anything Goes, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Sweeney Todd. Beyond the Niagara stage, Jeff has performed in As You Like It with the Citadel/RMTC and Tom at the Farm at Buddies in Bad Times, alongside appearances on screen in Fargo and Murdoch Mysteries. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

What happens when a high-stakes psychological game of cat-and-mouse blurs the line between harmless fantasy and devastating reality? Actors Patrick Galligan and Sepehr Reybod join us to dissect Anthony Shaffer’s fiendishly clever mystery-thriller, Sleuth, and what it takes to power a two-man masterclass in tension. They share how they navigate the play’s intense, shifting power dynamics, the unique stamina required to sustain such a breathless pace, and the incredible, full-circle mentorship that binds their own history at the Shaw Festival together behind the scenes. Patrick Galligan is celebrating his 23rd season at the Shaw Festival, where his extensive credits include Major Barbara, Witness for the Prosecution, Cyrano de Bergerac, and The Hound of the Baskervilles. His work across Canada includes productions of Oslo and King Charles III with Studio 180/Mirvish, and War Horse with Mirvish/National Theatre of Great Britain.  Sepehr Reybod returns to the Shaw Festival for his second season, having previously appeared in Major Barbara and Tons of Money. His other notable theater credits include English at Soulpepper Theatre, A Witch in Algiers with Shakespeare in the Ruff, and productions of Richard III and R+J at the Stratford Festival. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

How do you approach an iconic mega-musical when its original star casts such a massive shadow? Director Eda Holmes and actor Sara Farb join us to talk about pulling Funny Girl out of the history books and staging it with the freshness and urgency of a brand-new piece of theatre. They share what it’s like to navigate the complex, bittersweet arc of Fanny Brice’s meteoric rise and turbulent personal life, the incredible collaborative energy pulsing through the rehearsal room, and what it takes to guide an enormous cast through such a devastatingly beautiful love story. Sara Farb makes her Shaw Festival debut this season as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl and in The Wind in the Willows. Her extensive career includes playing Delphi Diggory in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway and in Toronto, as well as seven seasons at the Stratford Festival with roles such as Rosalind, Juliet, and Cordelia. An accomplished writer, Sara co-created the Dora-nominated original musical Kelly v. Kelly, and her original plays Way Out There and Love Us Most will both premiere later this year. Eda Holmes returns to the Shaw Festival to direct Funny Girl, adding to an extensive list of past Shaw credits that includes The Apple Cart, Grand Hotel, Arcadia, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Floyd Collins. She is the Artistic Director of Montreal's Centaur Theatre and has directed award-winning productions for companies across Canada, including Buddies in Bad Times and Neptune Theatre. A graduate of the National Theatre School's Directing Program, Eda also enjoyed a distinguished international career as a professional ballet dancer with companies such as the San Francisco Ballet and Frankfurt Ballet. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

We're back! With more interviews with cast and creatives, plus we get to meet some of the folks who keep the gears turning behind the scenes. New episodes begin next Thursday. Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

Every theatre has its story. Few have lived as many lives as the Royal George. In this special documentary episode, we celebrate the life of a building that became the beating heart of the Shaw Festival. From its beginnings as a vaudeville house in 1915 to its transformation into one of Canada’s most beloved theatres, the George has witnessed a lifetime of stories.  As it prepares for its next chapter, we celebrate not just the building, but the people who made it come alive. Written by Cosette Derome Additional contributions from Melissa Novecosky, Neil Barclay, Tim Carroll and Kelly Wong Narrated by Neil Barclay Produced, edited and sound designed by Kelly Wong Archival recordings courtesy of the Shaw Festival Oral History, Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library Music from Epidemic Sound Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]

How do you keep a holiday classic feeling brand new? Director Kate Hennig and choreographer Allison Plamondon join us to talk about reimagining Irving Berlin's White Christmas for today’s audiences, while honouring the timeless music, movement, and nostalgia that define it. They share what collaboration looks like behind the scenes, how storytelling through dance brings emotional truth to familiar songs, and what it means to return to a production with a deeper sense of joy and purpose. Kate Hennig is a celebrated Canadian actor, playwright, and director whose career spans Broadway, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and major theatres across the country. Some highlights at the Shaw Festival include playing Rose in Gypsy, directing Irving Berlin's White Christmas and writing Cyrano de Bergerac. Allison Plamondon is a choreographer, director, performer, and teacher whose work has appeared across Canada and the U.S. Choreography credits include: Irving Berlin's White Christmas at the Shaw Festival, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at YPT, and the acclaimed off-Broadway production Goblin Market.  Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.  Hosted by Alexis Milligan Produced by Kelly Wong Original Music by Travis Seetoo We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at [email protected]