How do you take a cabaret of French songs and transform it into a fully staged, immersive experience inside a Spiegeltent? In this episode, Jay Turvey and Matt Alfano reflect on the creation of La Vie en Rose at the Shaw Festival, a collaboration rooted in movement, music, and memory. Drawing on everything from Edith Piaf to Gene Kelly, from historical Parisian dance to physical theatre, the show reimagines a night in Paris as an intimate theatrical event.

And we’re also joined by Eponine Lee to talk about crafting music for the Troubadors, and how the unlikely pairing of No Doubt and Eliza Doolittle helped inspire the vibe.

Jay Turvey is an award-winning actor and director. His directing credits at Shaw include The Secret Garden, Gypsy, and The Light in the Piazza, and he and his partner Paul Sportelli have co-written several original musicals including Maria Severa and Tristan.

Matt Alfano has appeared with the Stratford Festival, Drayton Entertainment, Mirvish Productions, and on Broadway in Jesus Christ Superstar. Credits at the Shaw Festival include One Man, Two Guvnors, Anything Goes, White Christmas, and Gypsy.

Eponine Lee is an actor, musician, and songwriter. Her Shaw credits include Wait Until Dark, Troubadors, The Orphan of Chao and Snow in Midsummer, as well as performances with the Stratford Festival, Soulpepper and many others. You can find her latest single here.

Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.

Hosted by Alexis Milligan
Produced by Kelly Wong
Original Music by Travis Seetoo

We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

How do you bring a 1905 play into the present without losing its punch? In this episode, director Peter Hinton-Davis and designer Gillian Gallow share their creative process behind Major Barbara at the Shaw Festival, from deep research and instinctive design to the urgent questions that make Shaw’s satire feel startlingly relevant in 2025.

Together, they explore what it means to approach a George Bernard Shaw play as living, political theatre that challenges audiences not just to watch, but to reflect.

Peter Hinton-Davis is an award-winning director and dramaturg who has led productions across Canada, including The Shadow of a Doubt, Sex, An Octoroon, and Cabaret at the Shaw Festival. He served as Artistic Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre from 2005 to 2012, and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2009.

Gillian Gallow is a Siminovitch Prize–winning designer whose work at the Shaw Festival includes An Octoroon, The Devil’s Disciple, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Shadow of a Doubt. She has designed for major companies including the Canadian Opera Company, Stratford Festival, Soulpepper, and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.

Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.

Hosted by Alexis Milligan
Produced by Kelly Wong
Original Music by Travis Seetoo

We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

Real-life partners Marla McLean and Graeme Somerville talk about co-creating and co-starring in Dear Liar, a play based on the 40-year correspondence between George Bernard Shaw and Mrs. Patrick Campbell. They reflect on building a show together, discovering the complexities of this real-life relationship, and how letters can come alive on stage.

From their rehearsal room to their home life, this is a thoughtful and generous look into their partnership, both on and off the stage.

Marla McLean has spent 19 seasons as part of the Shaw Festival ensemble, performing in over 30 productions such as Witness for the Prosecution and Playboy of the Western World. Her work across Canada has earned critical acclaim, including a Merritt Award for The Miracle Worker. She also teaches acting and classical text at the National Theatre School.

Graeme Somerville brings over two decades of Shaw Festival experience, with standout performances in Saint Joan, The Devil’s Disciple, and Henry V. His work has been recognized with a Dora Award, and he has appeared on stages across the country including Canadian Stage and the National Arts Centre. He is also a mentor and educator at the National Theatre School.

Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.

Hosted by Alexis Milligan
Produced by Kelly Wong
Original Music by Travis Seetoo

We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com