As UFV’s theatre department prepares the script for their April showing of Pericles, The Cascade sat down with stage manager Keegan Zaporozan and director Anna Griffith to learn more about the selection and adaptation process that takes place for theatre productions.
Pericles is a story authored by Shakespeare in collaboration with other playwrights, leading to a script with a distinct variation in writing style from beginning to end and linguistic changes that make it much easier to understand than some of Shakespeare’s other works. It follows the story of Prince Pericles as he is forced to leave his home and sail from port to port due to his reckless actions. He is searching for the answer to the question: how far must we travel to come home?
Director Anna Griffth discussed why the play was chosen for this season’s theatre production and why it will resonate with UFV students, staff and alumni. She says that “we selected Pericles because many of the themes within it resonate with what we are living through in the pandemic. It is a story about a family separated by circumstances but then ultimately reunited. It is a play full of singing and dancing. So, it is really a celebration piece as we shift back to live, in-person theatre.”
Part of the process to put on a play, after the selection of the story, are the changes made to the script to ensure it fits with the unique environment of UFV and its theatre department. Griffth mentioned the adaptation process necessary to apply Pericles to UFV’s needs. She and her team “adapted the script in ways that give the women more agency and we teased out some of the problematic politics that are present in the original.”
Keegan Zaporozan outlined his role and what has happened so far with Pericles preparation. As stage manager, Zaporozan is the “connection between those on stage and the other departments.” He notes the stage directions as they are decided by the director and offers lines to the actors when they need them. The stage manager is helped by two assistant stage managers, Beatrice Frenette and Mia Davison, who are the go-betweens for the managers and the costume and prop departments, respectively.
Putting on a play is a monumental task that takes months. Casting calls went out in September for the various roles needed for Pericles. They were open to UFV students only and auditions were completed in the months after. By January, the cast had been selected and rehearsals had begun. This meant that not only did the actors and backstage workers begin practicing for the show, but the script and its presentation was being updated to fit the specifics of the UFV stage space and its various systems, like lighting and rigging. As of early February, all actors have to be off script, meaning that they can no longer look at their script books during rehearsal. If they forget a line, it is up to the stage manager to remind them.
The show will be available to preview for free for UFV faculty, students, and staff, and by donation for the general public, on Mar. 23 at 7:00 p.m. Seats for the preview showing can be booked by emailing theatre@ufv.ca.
Opening night will be Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m., and the play will continue on the 25 (7:00 p.m.), 26 (2:00 p.m.), and 31 (7:00 p.m.) of March, and Apr. 1 (7:00 p.m.) and 2 (2:00 p.m.). Admission will be $5.00 for students and seniors, and $10.00 for the general audience. A Zoom showing will also be offered for free during the two April showings. You can book your seats through the UFV School of Creative Arts Eventbrite page.
Photo courtesy of Beatrice Frenette
Allison is starting her BA in English with a minor in Criminology to become a publishing contract lawyer. In her spare time, she watches way too many true crime shows and reads a lot of Y.A. fiction, while slugging along on various articles.
