2025 CDTPS Mainstage Show: Conjugal
When and Where
Description
Join us for the 2025 Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies Mainstage Show Conjugal written by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, directed by Carmen Alvis and performed by our DRM403 students running from March 6 to 9, 2025 at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse (79 St. George Street, Toronto).
More information about how to reserve your tickets will be coming soon!
Play description:
Governor General Award nominated playwright Donna-Michelle St. Bernard makes her academic debut with the Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies production of Conjugal. Inspired by events in Malawi, and infused with themes that hit close to home, this play is part of St. Bernard’s career spanning project called The 54ology, which sees her writing a play for every country in Africa.
In a prep school not far from here, students of Old Bandawa Secondary put on a play about a classmate that was dismissed after participating in a political rally. The students portray multiple characters, including the expelled Andrew, his father Jack (incarcerated for poetry that criticizes the state), a prison guard named Simon, and a married couple that are part of the resistance.
Through movement, poetry, and prose, the students have infused Conjugal with images and ideas meant to propel their audience into action. Will the Headmaster of Old Bandawa Secondary heed the call?
Cast:
Andrew & Peter: Elle Baron, Erin Hui, Jake Pereira
Jack: Farah Fatola, James Eric Jumaway, Noah Rudder
Sarah: Gabriela Chanen, Owen Hill, Maddy Thompson
Simon: Hillary Adebayo, Mashreka Mahmood, Rebecca Robitaille
Creative Team:
Playwright: Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
Director: Carmen Alvis
Set & Costume Designer & DRM 354 Instructor: Snezana Pesic
Lighting Designer: Melissa Joakim
Sound Designer: Miquelon Rodriguez
Associate Director: Rosalind Goodwin
Choreographer: Pulga Muchochoma
DRM403 TA: Robert Motum
DRM354 TA: Hillary Sunberg
CDTPS Manager of Theatre Operations: Ariel Martin-Smith
CDTPS Technical Director & DRM355 Instructor: Adrien Whan
Stage Manager: Unwoo (Woo) Ho
Assistant Set & Costume Designers: Macarena Coronado Harman, Annabelle Gillis, Cici NIE Wenxi, Kaiya Saravanja-Thomson, Cassandra Yip, Angelina (Chenyuan) Zou
Stage crew: Nathan Belyea, Hero Emmanuel, Dela Cruz, Yifei Fan, Adele Thomson, Val Vergara
Performance dates:
Thursday, March 6, 7:30 PM
Friday, March 7, 7:30 PM
Saturday March 8, 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 9, 2:00 PM
An opening night reception will be held on March 6 following the performance.
A talkback session with the director and actors is TBA.
Tickets:
General admission: $20
Students: $10
Alumni: $10
Run time: Approx. 1.5 hours with no intermission