Laura talks with writer/performer Liisa Repo-Martell about what compelled her to adapt one of Anton Chekhov’s most famous plays, “Uncle Vanya,” for a contemporary audience. Liisa shares why she thinks Chekhov’s work is so enduring and how he gets to the heart of our darkest, most petty selves while shedding light on our desires to have more and to be seen. She talks about how she adapted a play written over 100 years ago in Russian and why she has a crush on this famous writer.

After Sonya reveals her love for Astrov, Yelena volunteers to determine if the doctor shares her feelings for him. When Yelena gets him alone, he surprises her with a frightening secret. Reeling from his confession, Yelena convinces her husband, Alexandre, to leave the estate immediately, throwing Vanya and Sonya’s future into question. Upon hearing the news of the couple’s impending exit, an enraged Vanya unleashes his fury on the professor, throwing the household into chaos.

Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, Adapted by Liisa Repo-Martell.

A dazzling adaptation of the masterpiece.

In the twilight of Czarist Russia, Vanya and his niece, Sonya, work tirelessly to manage the rural estate. Their quiet routine is shattered when Sonya's father, Alexandre, a renowned professor, arrives with his glamorous young wife, Yelena. The household succumbs to waves of fury, jealousy, and intoxicated yearning with the presence of the new guests. Amidst the turmoil, the country doctor Astrov arrives to attend to the ailing professor. Sonya confides in Yelena about her profound feelings for the enigmatic doctor.

Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, Adapted by Liisa Repo-Martell.

Chris talks with Marcia, who shares how she was inspired to write her hit play “Serving Elizabeth” after binging the Netflix series “The Crown.” She was livid when she noticed how only white characters were featured while others, the Black voices, were left out of the narrative. She confides how she was obsessed with princesses and queens as a little girl, but her feelings changed as she grew up and became aware of colonialization and the harm caused by the British Monarchy.

Serving Elizabeth by Marcia Johnson

A drama that explores issues of colonialism and who gets to have a voice.

It’s 1952, and Mercy and her daughter Faith run a well-regarded restaurant in Kenya that prepares excellent local dishes like maharagwe and matoke but is struggling due to a family health crisis draining their finances. When a white tourist arrives at the establishment and offers them a lucrative opportunity to cook for secret VIPs, Faith is eager to take the job, but Mercy is suspicious.

Serving Elizabeth by Marcia Johnson

A drama that explores issues of colonialism and who gets to have a voice.

When Mercy discovers she will cook for the young Princess Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Phillip, she refuses the job due to her anger at King George and his interference with Kenyan politics. But her daughter isn’t about to pass up an opportunity that could change her life. Seventy years later, Tia, a young Kenyan-Canadian screenwriter, works as an intern production team in London, UK, preparing an episode for a TV series based on Princess Elizabeth’s historic 1952 visit to Kenya.

Serving Elizabeth by Marcia Johnson

A drama that explores issues of colonialism and who gets to have a voice.

Mercy finds herself with an unexpected opportunity to be alone with Princess Elizabeth but finds herself in an awkward situation with the young royal. And Tia has a face-to-face with the creator of the British TV series and gets a chance to challenge him about the treatment of the characters in his script.

Serving Elizabeth by Marcia Johnson

Chris talks to writer Kevin Loring about his play that explores the intergenerational effects of the residential school system set in his hometown of Lytton, BC. He shares how one of the actors during a workshop reading of his play challenged him to dig deeper into his character’s alcoholism and why it ultimately shaped the development of his award-winning show. He also describes the emotional moment when his play was first performed in front of his community and his thoughts on the meaning of the word “survivor.”

Where The Blood Mixes by Kevin Loring

A funny and honest play about loss and redemption

Floyd and Mooch are best buds. They like to hang together at George’s bar in the village of Lytton, BC, where Mooch can usually be found “mooching” drinks from his friend Floyd. Mooch is unemployed, troubled and usually steals his girlfriend June’s money to buy beer. She’s saving the money either to buy groceries or pay bills. When a letter arrives for Floyd from his long-lost family member, he grows anxious about the reunion and the circumstances that separated them all these years ago.

Where the Blood Mixes by Kevin Loring