Twelfth Night
March 13-22, 2025

Fran acted in both theatre and film for many years before turning her attention to directing. She received her MFA in directing from UBC in 2001. Select UVic directing credits include Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Problem Child, The School For Scandal, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and 7 Stories. Favourites for other theatres include Heirlooms and Baggage, As You Like It, For The Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, Much Ado About Nothing and The Importance of Being Earnest. Fran has long been associated with developing new Canadian work and has served as the Program Head of the Playwrights Colony at the Banff Centre for many years.

Acting is Fran’s first love, and her most memorable roles include Brutus in Julius Caesar, Lady Wishfort in The Way of the World, Elizabeth in Richard III, Joanne in Norm Foster’s Jupiter in July, and Martha in Joan MacLeod’s Amigo’s Blue Guitar. She regularly performs her one-woman show, Looking For Kitty and has hosted her own radio and TV talk shows. Film and TV credits include appearances on The Chris Isaak Show, Stephen King’s Dead Zone, Friday’s Curse and Moment of Truth. She played Bette Davis’ daughter-in-law in A Piano For Mrs. Cimino and was nominated for a Genie award for her work in Blue City Slammers. During Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre’s inaugural season, Fran also performed in As You Like It and The Fantasticks.

Teaching has become a focus in Fran’s life – she loves sharing her passion for theatre with the next generation of talented and energetic theatre professionals.

William Shakespeare, born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, is celebrated as one of the greatest playwrights and poets in history. His enduring works, including plays like Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Macbeth, have captivated audiences for centuries with their profound insights into the human condition, complex characters, and timeless themes. Shakespeare’s innovative use of language, mastery of dramatic structure, and profound understanding of humanity have solidified his legacy as the Bard of Avon. His influence extends far beyond his era, shaping literature, theatre, and culture worldwide, ensuring his immortality as one of the most significant figures in English literature.

View a complete timeline of Shakespeare’s plays