'The Self-Isolated Artist' Series: Toronto profile of Theatre Foolscap
Interview compiled by Joe Szekeres, Chief Toronto Critic
To begin a new business venture during these tumultuous days is something that sometimes makes me wonder if it is worth the effort. Will this new venture pay off somehow? Will the drive and energy be there to make sure the business will continue to grow and thrive?
When you get the opportunity to meet two individuals like Duncan Gibson Lockhart and Liam Lynch, you will see a passion and commitment these two men have for the business venture they are about to undertake. Along with Brynn Cutcliffe and Cassie Davidson, these four young people have begun a new theatre company based in Toronto – ‘Theatre Foolscap’.
Two years ago, I had the opportunity to see Messrs. Gibson Lockhart and Lynch take to the stage in Theatre on the Ridge’s summer festival in Port Perry, Ontario. The energy these men exuded in their on-stage performances made me believe right from the start they were flesh and blood characters. When I had the opportunity to chat with them during that summer, their energy and love of the performing arts truly shone brightly. Their commitment to bring professional theatre to Toronto is admirable and I look forward Theatre Foolscap’s premiere.
I held this interview online with Duncan and Liam:
1. How have you and your families been keeping during this crisis? What has been most challenging for you currently? What have you been doing to keep yourselves busy?
Duncan: My family is keeping well. I’ve been able to go home (to Sarnia, ON), and I actually got to spend my birthday with them this year, which meant homemade cookies from my grandma! I haven’t been able to visit since Christmas, so I’ve been using this as vacation and catch-up time, trying to make the best of the situation. Hopefully, my parents appreciate my company! (I’m sure they do).
Initially I thought that staying connected may be the most challenging thing, but the combination of technology and free time has allowed me to connect with some of my friends a lot more frequently, which has been really lovely. From an artistic side, I’m a person that loves to pour themselves into a project with 110% of my being, and this is especially the case with acting. Obviously, like everyone else, the shows that I had booked have either been postponed or cancelled and that’s left me in a bit of a void of where to direct my focus, which has been very challenging.
I’ve been writing and brainstorming ideas a lot. I’ve been working on the smaller scale for short films and shorter plays just to keep in practice while I develop the larger ideas I had been working on previously. I’ve also been able to participate in some staged readings that were a blast! I’m starting to look for new monologues to add to my audition portfolio and pick through some plays that have been on my bookshelf, but I’ve neglected to read. I’ve done a lot of reading and I’ve played A LOT of Dungeons and Dragons.
Liam I’m doing okay, actually - of course, there are peaks and valleys. Some days you wake up and tackle everything on your to-do list, and some days you just set out to find the energy to shower that day. Having said that, I do feel like one of the most valuable resources to artists is time - time to work on projects, time to explore…and we certainly have an abundance of that. I’m trying to think of that as a gift. I’m about halfway through a screenplay that I’ve put off for years, and I’ve been working on editing the script for our first production. I also love to cook and bake, which I think my family is grateful for - it is certainly different with all four of us being back in the same house. The last time we were, it was two adults and two teenagers. Now, it’s four adults - it takes some rearranging and readjusting. But that’s where the baking comes in handy - people are usually happiest when fed.
2. As relatively new graduates from theatre schools, has this COVID 19 crisis had you second guessing or re-thinking your chosen career path? Were either of you or anyone from Theatre Foolscap in rehearsals, pre-production or performance when the lockdown came into effect?
Duncan: I don’t think I have the prerequisite courses from high school to go into healthcare, and I have successfully avoided working in fast food up until this point in my life; other than that, I think a lot of professions are in the same boat as we are. Everyone must adapt and find new ways to go about business. Obviously, there are always doubts in a career path such as this, but every time I have that seed of doubt, I get pulled back into it pretty quickly, whether by seeing someone’s Instagram (like the Howland Company), a friend reaching out, or just having a bizarre idea that could be a play. I think this is all going to lead to some really interesting and inventive theatre in the future and I hope we can be on the front line of that. I wouldn’t want to miss any of it.
I think we were all in pre-production or rehearsals for something. I know Cassie had some shows lined up. Brynn was assisting directing Talk is Free Theatre’s Secret Musical, which I know nothing about because it was a secret. Liam can answer for himself. Personally, I had a first read through the day before the restrictions went into effect and I was preparing for a really interesting season at Theatre on the Ridge. Missing out on those opportunities, especially so early in our career, has definitely been really tough, but we all know how necessary and serious these precautions are.
Liam: I’ve never felt more resolute in my choice, if I’m being honest. I feel with all this time to myself, I’m starting to see the picture the artist and the adult I want to be - which is curious to find among the chaos. I know the four of us at Foolscap had things we were either working on or beginning to prepare for - and it’s tough to see that put off, of course. I was going to be onstage and behind the table this summer, and it’s hard to slow those excitement gears turning. But hopefully, we’ll all be able to explore those pieces again - a postponement, rather than a cancellation.
3. Tell me how Theatre Foolscap came to fruition. Whenever I hear the word ‘foolscap’, I think of those ruled sheets of paper I used to pass out to my students for tests and examinations.
Duncan: It all happened amazingly fast. Cassie Davidson and I had finished producing our first play with another company and it felt as though we put a lot of the effort into producing and brand-building that could have been put into our own company. I had three or four future projects I wanted to work on, and I knew Cassie had projects of her own, so I arranged a meeting with Cassie to see if we could turn these ideas into the foundation of our own company. The very next day I sat down with Liam and Brynn Cutcliffe because Liam wanted to talk to us about an “opportunity.” He, of course, also wanted to start a company with Brynn and I, and I said yes, but only if we bring in Cassie, because she is a living, breathing genius. We all had a similar mandate in mind of creating new work and opportunities for emerging artists to bring something new with a high level of professionalism to the theatre world. So, in that sense it was a very easy fit. Thinking of a name for the company was the hardest part. I’m still shocked nobody liked Sunshine Sparkle Ladder Theatre Co., but what can you do. I feel truly fortunate to be able to work on the thing I love with the people I love.
Liam: We have our first production all lined up and waiting to be explored when the quarantine has been lifted. It’s my favourite Shakespeare and I am chomping at the bit to dive in. Theatre Foolscap came to be when Duncan, myself and two brilliantly smart people named Brynn Cutcliffe and Cassie Davidson sat in a coffee shop on Broadview Avenue. We are all creators and producers, in addition to being actors. We had a goal of a community of emerging artists finding space and time in which to share the work and ideas they were passionate about. A place for that show you’ve always wanted to do, or that piece you’re starting to feel ready to share. We wanted Theatre Foolscap to be a platform for emerging artists to come together to carve out their visions and their crafts with professional process. Frankly, I’m just relieved we decided against ’Sunshine Sparkle Ladder Theatre Co.’
4. Given how many businesses have been hurting since we’ve been under pandemic lock down for over a month now, does any of this news deter you from your goals with Theatre Foolscap? Any words of wisdom or advice to artists who may be hurting or have been hit hard by this crisis?
Duncan: It doesn’t deter us at all. It does postpone us, but that gives us time to do even more work and preparation on the projects we have lined up. After graduating theatre school, it felt like I was shot out of a cannon. I think this will be remarkably similar. I think it’s okay to feel hurt. We live on the edge of a knife a lot of the time in this world and one opportunity can feel like a world of possibilities. To lose that is heartbreaking. That said, now more than ever is the time to connect with people, whether it be for business or not. Spread as much love as you can into the world. As always, it’s necessary to put yourself out there and create for yourself. Use this time to workshop and try ideas you never thought could be possible. And if I couldn’t emphasize it enough, CONNECT! Ask your heroes if they’d be available to set up a zoom meeting to talk about theatre. You’d be surprised how many people would love the opportunity to talk to you about what they are passionate about.
Liam: I can’t speak for everyone, but I don’t feel deterred. Goals shift and change. Safety, responsibility, and consideration are our current goals, and that’s what we have to maintain. I recently watched a comedian on Netflix who said something to the extent of (and I’m paraphrasing) "as long as you accept that fact that your dreams won’t go exactly how you plan, you’ll never be unhappy in the pursuit of your dream.” And I think that’s just about perfect.
5. The news talks about our world having a ‘new normal’ once the quarantine has been lifted. Many performing artists have turned to online streaming and/or You Tube presentations to showcase or perform their work since word is getting out there may not be large gatherings for concerts, sports and theatre until possibly October/November of this year.
In your opinion, is there value for a theatre company to consider this new ‘medium’ for theatrical presentations? Is this format something that Theatre Foolscap will or could possibly adopt as your company goes forward?
Duncan: There is absolutely value in this medium. I mentioned them previously, but what Howland Company did on their Instagram page with their murder mystery was absolutely brilliant. The Songbird Series is also a beautiful idea of allowing artists to spread joy to people in isolation. There are so many wonderful companies out there doing incredibly creative things and I hope there’s more to come.
At Theatre Foolscap, we have always been focused on bringing live theatre to the stage (or a site-specific location). That said, if one of us has a light bulb moment of something that we feel has to be done NOW, then we’re not going to stop ourselves from doing that. Currently though, the plan is to launch our inaugural season in a more traditional sense, and we’re happy to support other people and companies who are out there working on the online medium.
Liam: I think we must be malleable. Theatre is practice, a place, a gathering, and we don’t have access to two out of three of those things. But there are so many opportunities being made available in a much more widespread way - online general auditions, streaming productions online, new virtual training programs (like the amazing ghostlight.ca) It’s all so inspiring, and it’s hopeful, and it’s valuable. For Foolscap, we were very early into our journey as a company when we were put into quarantine. It feels like we started to make a dough, and then realized we are missing a crucial ingredient - we’re not going to throw it away, but now we have to think of what we’re going to make with it instead. The possibilities are endless!
6. Will this current COVID 19 crisis have a lasting impact or effect on the Canadian performing arts scene? Do you see anything positive coming out of this crisis?
Duncan: I think it will. What that is, I can’t say for sure, but it will influence art in one way or another. There’s going to be some stuff we’re going to have to work through.
I do think the amount of experimenting that’s been happening on social media will lead to some outlandishly creative ideas hitting the stage when we get back. It will be interesting to see how technology transforms theatre after this. Social media in theatre can be a bit of a gimmick to make it approachable for younger generations. After this, though, social media feels almost mandatory for everyone, which has led to some rather embarrassing pictures of me being posted by my grandma. We will see how that affects productions. My grandma posting pictures that is. I think there could be some very cool multimedia platforms coming out of this. I think it will broaden what we think of as “Canadian Theatre.” A new normal can be exciting.
Liam: I think we are going to be facing a different mindset, for sure. I hope we are all a bit more patient with each other. We all must ask ourselves how we are going to learn to interact with each other again. There are going to be lots of new questions to ask. I keep joking that I’m excited to see all the two-hander-in-quarantine shows that will be mounted in the future.
As a nod to ‘Inside the Actors’ Studio’ and to the show’s host, the late James Lipton, here are the ten questions he used to ask his guests:
1. What is your favourite word? Duncan: ‘Strawberry’ is a nice juicy word you can taste. My favourite word may change tomorrow. Liam: Antidisestablishmentarianism.
2. What is your least favourite word? Duncan: ‘which’. I use it far too often. Liam: The word ‘pussy’ in any context.
3. What turns you on? Duncan: Watching someone give everything on stage. Sometimes I feel like a maniac when I watch theatre. Liam: A raised eyebrow. The behind-the-ear hair tuck. And gin, usually.
4. What turns you off? Duncan: Gossip. Liam: Vanity.
5. What sound or noise do you love? Duncan: Rain. Liam: Piano plus cello
6. What sound or noise bothers you? Duncan: Anything that’s very consistent and in strict intervals. Sometimes it’s tough living with musicians. Liam: When two different songs play at the same time.
7 What is your favourite curse word? Duncan: ‘Fuck’ is very versatile. I love it. Although I did hear my grandma yell “damn it all to hell” after dropping some cottage cheese on the ground and I thought that was very exciting. Liam: ‘Shithead’
8. Other than your chosen one right now, what other profession would you have like to attempt? Duncan: I would love to teach acting at the post-secondary level someday. I really enjoy helping passionate people achieve their goals. Liam: Something in the culinary arts. Someday, I’d like to write a cookbook.
9. What profession could you not see yourself doing? Duncan: Being a first responder. I have an infinite amount of respect for anyone that has worked in that field. Liam: Anything to do with coding, or IT. Useless, I am.
10. If Heaven exists, what do you hope God will say to you as you approach the Pearly Gates? Duncan: “Your grandpa is waiting by the BBQ with a beer and a burger for you, and we’ve turned him into a Leafs fan.” Liam: “Don’t worry, your dogs are here too.”
To learn more about Theatre Foolscap, visit their Facebook page: Theatre Foolscap; Instagram: @theatrefoolscap or email: theatrefoolscap@gmail.com.
Photo, clockwise top left. Duncan Gibson Lockhart (photo by Ian Brown); Cassie Davidson (photo by Haley Garnett), Brynn Cutcliffe (photo by Sam Gaetz) and Liam Lynch (photo by Kieran Lynch)