Joule's Odyssey
BY NAN STEWART

A DREAMY, MIND-BENDING TRIP TO SHOCK AND SOOTHE THE SENSES ​

Joule: A small unit of energy 

Where science and myth meet, our modern-day hero journeys through altered states of energy and consciousness. Short-circuit through a day in the life of Joule as she stumbles down a path of chaos and beauty.

Join us in the Mainstage Theatre ​

NAN STEWART/
PLAYWRIGHT

Nan Stewart is a developing actor, director, playwright, and poet, with a keen interest in experimental theatre, movement, and multimedia storytelling. Nan is a member of Alumnae Theatre, involved in the Acting, Directing, New Play Development and CyberReads groups. She is also a member of ACT II STUDIO, and act2studio WORKS, where she serves on the Board, and participates in the Playwrights Circle and Hub, as well as in classes and performances throughout the year. Nan’s recent short plays include Getting Back Home (Alumnae’s WriteNow) and Close Encounters of a Zoom Kind, The Madeleines, and News Junkies (act2studio WORKS).

KEMI KING/
DIRECTOR

​Kemi King is a writer, director, performance artist, and deviser. She has worked with a number of arts organizations over the years, including Obsidian, Canadian Stage, Intermission, the Grand Theatre in Kingston, Ontario, and Soulpepper. Kemi is the Artistic Director of YIKES Co., founded in her second year of undergrad. Working within her practice, theatre of critical care, Kemi emphasizes relation and exploration in her work. She believes there are better ways for arts institutions and artists to co-exist, allowing for the true liberation and radicalization of community consciousness. 

THE CAST

LAWRIE HOPKINSON/
​ANTIQUITY + STORYTELLER

Lawrie Carruthers Hopkinson returns to Toronto after a few years overseas where she performed with English Theatre Madrid as Juror 7 in Twelve Angry Jurors and as Amanda in The Glass Menagerie. She recently appeared as Miranda in The Impossibility of Now at Village Playhouse and is pleased to be back at the Alumnae Theatre after performing in Thirteen Hands for their 100th anniversary season. Her recent film/TV credits include A Christmas for the Books, Paranormal Survivor, Haunted Case Files, and Broke and Famous. 

ALEXANDRA PALMA/
​BRAIN

Alexandra is thrilled to be part of New Ideas Festival 2022 in Joule’s Odyssey. Throughout the pandemic, Alexandra has been working towards her Master of Education in Adult Education and Community Development at OISE, University of Toronto. She is inspired by creative approaches to pedagogy and research, especially Applied Theatre as a resource for social and policy change. Alexandra is delighted to finally return to live performances as “[t]heatre teaches us unequivocally about people’s hopes and for what and whom they care and, consequently, also about those things that encumber dreams and beset imaginaries” (Dr. Kathleen Gallagher, In Defence of Theatre, 2016, p.68). 

TAMIKA POETZSCH/
​DREAMER

Tamika Poetzsch has a BFA in theatre performance and a cat named Spoons. She is excited to be joining such a lovely cast and crew for her Alumnae debut. Recent credits include Anne DeBough in Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley (Scarborough Players), Taylor in Play Along, and Jamie in Sub Rosa (Oakville Players), and you can see her this summer playing Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing (Louie the Goat Productions).

VIVIEN SHEPHERD/
​JOULE

Vivien Shepherd is a triple threat performer and recent graduate of Randolph College for the Performing Arts. She has sung solo in local music venues around the city since she was 16 and has been an arts educator at a musical theatre camp since she was 15. Vivien attended Etobicoke School of the Arts where she majored in Musical Theatre, graduated as an Ontario Scholar, and travelled North America with the award-winning female show choir GLO. In addition to performing, she has a keen interest in dramaturgy, writing, and painting and is passionate about creating from a modern, feminist viewpoint. Vivien is excited and honoured to play the role of Joule in Nan Stewart’s Joule’s Odyssey.

BRITTANY HOWATT/
​REASON + MALICE

​Brittany Howatt is originally from Melbourne, Australia. Her recent credits include appearances in multiple docudramas and award-winning short films. She is also the voice of the 12-year-old male cat, Vasya, in the upcoming animated series Supermeow. She was a student of Aleksi Vellis at The Film Space in St. Kilda, Melbourne, and Peter Kalos of the Melbourne Actors Lab and attempts improv at The Second City on a semi-regular basis. She is excited to be involved in this year’s New Ideas Festival.

THE PRODUCTION TEAM

SAMANTHA DEVRIES/
​STAGE MANAGER

Sam is delighted to be working again with the Alumnae Theatre Company. In addition to being a stage manager, Sam also works as a director, sound designer, and actor in both Canada and the United States.

GLORY SINGH/
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Glory is an aspiring playwright, screenwriter, and director with a keen interest in storytelling across multiple mediums. As a member of the Alumnae Theatre, she is involved in the New Play Development group, the Directors’ group, and the Watch and Talk group. Glory is also collaborating on the NIF 2022 Zoom Theatre Labs. She has completed screenwriting courses at Ryerson University and has written a couple of scripts as part of the process. Glory is very excited to be working on Joule’s Odyssey with such a talented group of people.