January 2025
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Phoenix Theatre @ UVic

BackstagePASS

Two Unique Comedies Take the Stage This Spring!
Experience the absurd wit of The Killing Game and the timeless charm of Twelfth Night. Plus, don’t miss Broadway and Stratford star Sara Topham and Artistic Director Pablo Felices-Luna visiting the Phoenix Theatre for a special lecture and play reading!

The Killing Game

February 13–22
by Eugène Ionesco. Translated by Helen Gary Bishop. Directed by Conrad Alexandrowicz.

This absurdist comedy turns a mysterious plague outbreak into a biting satire. Amidst chaos and rising body counts, the play humorously explores themes of paranoia, conspiracy theories and societal opportunism.
Learn more about The Killing Game

Spotlight on Spencer McCairns

Set Designer, The Killing Game
Black and White photo of Spencer McCairns (he/they), set designer for The Killing Game
Spencer (he/they) is in their fourth and final year at UVic's Phoenix Theatre and has a strong passion for design and directing. He aspires to pursue a master’s in architecture, blending his background in film with his love of theatrical design to build a career in production design.

Here’s a glimpse into Spencer’s creative process: these set models capture his vision for the play's world. Through collaboration with director Conrad Alexandrowicz and faculty design professor Patrick Du Wors, Spencer transformed these concepts into the stunning, fully realized set you’ll see on stage!
Set Model of design for The Killing Game by Spencer McCairns
With his design, McCairns hopes to evoke the darkness of the show to contrast the comedy of the script and find a place where the audience can see both the beauty and the destruction of human nature. He was drawn to the distorted style of old French towns and drew on that repeatedly in his design process, resulting in a daunting, rusting silhouette of what used to be a thriving, prosperous community. At the centre of the set is a drop with six windows and a house, in homage to the original design McCairns presented to director Conrad Alexandrowicz last spring. Initially envisioned as a towering wall of windows surrounding the house, the design has since evolved to represent an entire town. The set features over fifteen windows, some of which utilize working shutters, a motif McCairns is drawn to in many of his designs. He can't remember the last time he designed a set that didn't feature a window as a key element.
Phoenix Phact: The church bell, one of the few elements visible upon entering the theatre, is a real aluminum bell that has been painted by assistant set designer Emma Brown.

Next up at the Phoenix

Twelfth Night

March 13–22
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Fran Gebhard
Classic comedy full of mistaken identity and the delightful chaos of realty and illusion.
Learn more about Twelfth Night

Orion Lecture Series in Fine Arts

The Phoenix Theatre is thrilled to welcome back UVic Theatre alums, actor Sara Topham and artistic director Pablo Felices-Luna, as visiting artists. Both events are open to the public and free to attend. They take place in the Chief Dan George Theatre in the Phoenix Building.
Wednesday, February 5, 12:30–1:50 pm
Lecture: Sara and Pablo share insights into their decades-long artistic journeys since graduating from UVic Theatre.
Friday, February 7, 12:30-–1:50 pm
Theatre for young audiences play reading: Directed by Pablo and featuring Sara and current UVic Theatre students.
“Keys to building a successful career in the arts”
An inspiring talk with Broadway, Stratford and Shaw Festival actor Sara Topham who shares invaluable lessons on building a theatre career, emphasizing resilience, curiosity and persistence.
Read Sara's bio
"Seven lessons young audiences have taught me"
Pablo Felices-Luna, Artistic Director of Manitoba Theatre for Young People, speaks on the transformative power of Theatre for Young Audiences. Learn how young audiences have shaped his career over the past 25 years.
Read Pablo's bio
The Orion Series in Fine Arts is made possible with the generous support of the Orion Fund.

Alumni News

Our alumni are a close-knit group whose paths often cross following graduation. Orion guest Pablo Felices-Luna will be presenting the play Blue Beads and Blueberries, written by fellow UVic Theatre alum Erin Macklem, at Manitoba Theatre for Young People.

When a father asks his daughters, how much they love him, he feels slighted by the response of his youngest and sends her away. Blue Beads and Blueberries transforms an ancient fairy tale into a celebration of Métis culture.
Read more on Blue Beads and Blueberries

Coming Up in Fine Arts

A photo of d'bi.young anitafrika. Lecture on transformative power of the arts. February 25 at 5pm in UVic's Phoenix Theatre.
More information about UVic School of Music events and tickets available here.
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