A Winged Revival

“Seven minutes to Lenny!”

The backstage call from Stage Manager Paul Pembleton sets off a flurry of activity in the dressing rooms. Costumes are fitted, makeup is applied and actors run through their cues. For the graduating class of U of T Mississauga’s theatre and drama studies program, this moment marks the culmination of years of study. Soon, the last preshow song – Lenny Kravitz’s Fly Away – fades out and it’s showtime. The actors step into the world of The Birds, a reimagining of Greek playwright Aristophanes’ 2,400-year-old comedy.

This contemporary adaptation, written by Yvette Nolan and directed by Marcel Stewart, moves the action from ancient Athens to Turtle Island, weaving together Indigenous creation stories and natural imagery to explore themes of colonialism and reconciliation. Two humans seek nirvana in a mountaintop bird society – only to impose their own ideas upon it.

Bringing this vision to life demands more than performance skills. In first and second year, students cycle through backstage and front-of-house roles, learning the fundamentals of stage management, set construction, costume design, lighting and sound. In third year, they transition to performance, acting in a “devised project,” which they write themselves, and a “classical project” (sometimes Shakespeare). Fourth-year, students take centre stage, working with professional directors to mount four plays, and assuming at least one featured role.

Attending rehearsals around classes is no small feat. “It is a challenge” says Mike Slater, manager, theatre operations, noting that rehearsals run Monday to Thursday evenings and all day Saturday. But for students, the balancing act is part of the learning process. By the time they hit the stage, they’re not just actors. They’re theatre artists, ready to take flight.