Actors, Assemble!

Working with my friend Jamie Cavanagh again feels like a full-circle moment. We first did a play together back in 2014, and now he’s doing it all - actor, producer, improviser, and the guy behind some of the funniest shows in the city. We were shooting promo images for his upcoming production of Invasion: Christmas Carol at The Assembly Theatre (performing the classic Dickens text by a cast of actor-comedians, plus one rogue improviser who “invades” the show every night), and decided to wander the theatre for a few portraits.

I think Jamie is the most versatile performer I know. Few people I’ve worked with can deliver the depth he brings to dramatic roles while being so quick-witted and effortlessly sharp in improv. I also admire his commitment to sustaining an indie theatre in a climate that doesn’t value the arts the way it once did. During our session we talked about how he “wears all of the hats” - cleaning the washrooms, pushing ticket sales and assembling new casts for upcoming shows. He’s hoping this iteration of Invasion: Christmas Carol becomes an annual tradition in the Toronto indie theatre scene.