Thanks for joining us for our production!
design by Océanne Trudel
By Florian Zeller
Translated by Christopher Hampton
Directed by Océanne Trudel
Produced by Claire Pinkett
Production Dates:
May 1-3, 2025 at 7:30pm
May 4, 2025 at 3:00pm
May 7-10, 2025 at 7:30pm
Synopsis
A fascinating look inside the mind of Andre, a retired dancer living with his daughter Anne and her husband. Or is he a retired engineer receiving a visit from Anne who has moved away with her boyfriend? Why do strangers keep turning up, and where has he left his watch? In a darkly humorous and deeply poignant translation, this is a tragi-comic mystery, a sobering and realistic family story.
You may have seen the 2020 film version, starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman.
Claire Pinkett, S43 President , Show Producer, Set Designer, Front-of-House, Social Media
Claire has been on the Board of Directors of Stage 43 for more than 20 years. She is passionate about keeping community theatre in the community and making it accessible for all. She is a producer, a stage manager, a set builder/painter, a set dec artist, a props mistress, an actress, and anything else a production requires. She is most likely to be seen in the lobby, greeting patrons or selling 50/50 tickets, or onstage before the show telling everyone to turn off their mobile devices…lol!
Message from the President & Producer:
You’ve heard the expression “art is subjective”. Well, in the case of Florian Zeller’s THE FATHER, it’s reality that is subjective. Is what you are seeing on stage real or is it all in André’s mind? This is a masterful piece of theatre that will have you constantly questioning what is real and what is not. Did they eat that chicken for dinner? Is Anne married...divorced...dating? And where is Elise?
This play is both an actor’s dream and a nightmare. After you’ve watched it, you’ll know what I mean. Kudos to the director, the cast, and everyone involved in this production. The playwright does a brilliant job of shedding light on something that many families are faced with, but he does it with an element of humour and intrigue.
This show is a one-act play. There is no intermission. Allow yourself to be fully immersed in the story and its characters, and then, plan to go out with friends to discuss or debate what you just saw. There are so many possible interpretations. Enjoy the experience!
This play will be Stage 43’s entry into the Theatre BC Fraser Valley Zone Theatre Festival in Tsawwassen May 19-25, 2025.
Océanne Trudel, Director
Océanne is honored to return to the director’s chair with The Father, a profound and deeply human story. In 2022, she made her directorial debut with the high-energy musical Footloose, which was met with great success. Since then, she has continued to evolve as an artist, finding her voice and honing her craft. The Father presents a completely different challenge: a tragic farce with a small but extraordinary cast, telling a story that is both tender and heartbreaking. Océanne is incredibly proud to share a piece that feels so true to her artistic journey, and she is deeply grateful to the cast and crew whose dedication and passion brought this play to life. She hopes this story touches your heart as much as it has touched hers.
Message from the Director:
About a year ago, I pitched the idea of The Father and decided to take on the challenge of directing it. I knew I was stepping into a world unlike any I had explored before—a world where memory slips like sand through fingers, where love fights to shine through heartbreak, and where laughter and loss exist side by side.
This story is deeply human. It is tender, messy, infuriating, beautiful. It is life. And it has been an incredible honor to bring it to life alongside a cast and crew who poured their hearts into every word, every silence, every breath of this piece.
My hope with The Father was to create something more than a play—to create a mirror. To remind us that even through the confusion, the grief, the slow goodbyes that life demands of us, there is still humor, still hope, still connection. That love remains, even when memory does not.
I believe that storytelling has the power to make the world feel again. Through this production, I wanted to hold space for the complexity of caregiving, aging, and change—to honor the invisible battles many face every day, and to celebrate the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Thank you for being here. May this story meet you where you are—and may it leave you a little more open, a little more tender, and a little more brave.
Enjoy the show.
A SMALL FEW OF OUR AMAZING CREW:
Shannon Dumas, Stage Manager
Sue Davey, Stage Manager
Stuart Chaplin, Lighting Design
Joy-Ann Lee, Costume Design
THE FATHER CAST:
Greg Bishop as Andre
Greg is happy to be alive and back on stage in the Fraser Valley! Some of his favourite roles include Oscar in Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, Eddie in Fool for Love, and Eurydice’s Father in Eurydice. He also played FranknFurter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (although he was prettier back then)! No stranger to Theatre BC, he directed 2 productions at the FVZ Festival with Langley Players and another with Eyeheart Productions in the GVZ festival a few years back. Greg would like to dedicate this performance to his daughter Melanie who recently played the role of Anne in his ‘real life’ drama and who sat by his side for hours and brushed his hair while he slept.
Kate du Crôs as Anne
Returning to our stage, Kate appeared as Mrs. Hubbard in Murder on the Orient Express and as Annie in Calendar Girls. She holds an honours degree in drama from Manchester Metropolitan University, where she directed Absent Friends and performed in The Dangerous Game. She holds a London Academy of Music and Drama Award in acting. Local roles in Pomo Players’ Miracle on 34th Street, Emerald Pig’s Terms of Endearment (as Aurora, for which she won a Best Accent Award), John McGie’s The Chair monologue series, Find Me, Hotel Paradiso, Top Girls, and The Scottish Play. Kate extends heartfelt gratitude to the amazing cast, crew, and director Océanne Trudel for this opportunity. She is deeply thankful to her wonderful family, Chris, Hermione, and Emilia, and to her many dear friends for their unwavering support of her lifelong passion for acting.
Blaine Halina as Pierre
Following a ten-year hiatus from theatre, Blaine returns for his first appearance with Stage 43. Previously known for his work with The Farside Theatre in Coquitlam, credits include Aslan in Narnia: The Musical, George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life, a Live Radio Play, and Adam Oakheart in A Dirty Work at the Crossroads. Other credits include director for A Christmas Carol, and with the Farside director Maureen Reid, co-authored a full-length production set in the roaring twenties entitled, The Great Danny Flynn's Last Silent Picture.
Regielyn Padua (They/Them/Theirs) as Laura
Regielyn is excited to make their Stage 43 debut in The Father. Some of their credits include Kate in Sylvia, Veta-Louise Simmons in Harvey, Ronette in Little Shop of Horrors, Cousin Chen in Tiger Style!, and Zuzu in Dance Nation. A transplant from Northern California, Regielyn has a penchant for felines, cheese, and using song lyrics in everyday conversations. They are grateful to the production team and cast of The Father and their partner Mike for their endless support.
Gerald Thom as Man
A veteran of the 1990’s Vancouver film and television years, Gerry has been living the greater part of the last two decades on Washington’s beautiful Olympic Peninsula. He has appeared on theatre stages all over the Pacific Northwest, but is now back home in equally as beautiful British Columbia. Gerry has greatly enjoyed most recently performing in Parfumerie in the role of Mr. Sipos and as Major Rugermer in Irena’s Vow, both with Gallery 7 Abbotsford’s current 2024-25 season.
Jill Menkveld as Woman
Jill grew up in Coquitlam and will now age herself by stating she remembers when Evergreen Cultural Centre, Stage 43's home for the past (insert correct number here) years, was first built. She enjoys being creative in a number of ways whether it be acting, drawing, painting, photography or finding a room to redesign. Mexico has become a favourite getaway of hers and she can now be found on a golf course... cursing under her breath. She would like to thank Océanne for the opportunity and the cast and crew for their overwhelming support.
Production Team:
Producer – Claire Pinkett
Director – Océanne Trudel-Poulin
Stage Managers – Shannon Dumas, Sue Davey
Lighting Design – Stuart Chaplin
Lighting Operation – Pat Prigge
Sound Design & Operation – Clémence Vasile
Costume Design – Joy-Ann Lee
Properties Coordinator – Sue Davey
Set Design – Océanne Trudel-Poulin
Set Decoration – Claire Pinkett, Sue Davey, Karen Ostroff,
Pierce O’Sullivan
Backstage Crew - Arisa Nagayama
Graphic Design – Océanne Trudel-Poulin
Virtual Program Design – Sharon Notarrigo
Social Media & Publicity – Claire Pinkett & Sharon Notarrigo
Billboard Assistance – David Berrouard
Front-of-House Coordinators – Claire Pinkett, Sharon Notarrigo
Lobby Display – Sharon Notarrigo
Acknowledgements:
Stage 43 would like to express sincere thanks to the following:
The staff and volunteers of the Evergreen Cultural Centre for their support of community theatre and always making it a fun place to play.
Krista Pavane and the technical operations staff of the Evergreen Cultural Centre for their technical expertise and mentorship.
Jessica Fowlis and Emily Bayrock of the Evergreen Cultural Centre for their assistance in promotion.
September Stokes and Valley Driving School for use of space.
And, of course, YOU - our patrons - for your kind support of community theatre!
We are also thankful for our volunteers who spend countless hours creating and rehearsing the magic of live theatre. Did you know that it takes about ten weeks to put a show like this together? Apart from the three rehearsals a week for actors, hours of design and execution go into the set, the costumes, the soundscape and the lighting, and then there are the hours of promotion, marketing and content creation. It is a truly and labour of love. Some of the greatest friendships you can make happen in community theatre. If you are looking for a new hobby, check out our Volunteer Page for more information on how to get involved. Bonus points if you have carpentry skills, since sadly we lost our long-time friend and builder a year ago.
