William Shakespeare's Macbeth
Directed by Bruce Kirkley
March 20, 21 & 22, 2025 -- UFV Performance Studio, Abbotsford [SOLD OUT]
BOOK A PERFORMANCE AT UFV ($10 General, $5 Students)
March 27, 28 & 29, 2025 -- Chilliwack Cultural Centre's Rotary Hall Theatre [SELLING QUICKLY!]
BOOK A PERFORMANCE AT CHILLIWACK CULTURAL CENTRE ($15 General, $10 Students)
SPECIAL PROMO: Use discount code MCB20 when buying tickets at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre and get 20% OFF tickets to Ballet Kelowna's MACBETH!!
About the Play
UFV Theatre presents Macbeth by William Shakespeare
With the highly anticipated directorial return of Associate Professor, Bruce Kirkley, Macbeth will be performing from March 20 - 29, 2025. This will be the second production of UFV Theatre's 2024-2025 season and in addition to its run at UFV Abbotsford’s Blackbox Theatre, it will also be performed in Chilliwack at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre’s Rotary Theatre.
Presented by the UFV SOCA Acting and Production classes, Macbeth is a masterwork in tragedy by William Shakespeare, written in 1623. Adapted to be set in a dystopian future, the play follows the rise and fall of a brave general driven to murder and madness by his ambition and a prophecy. The play explores themes of power, guilt, and the corrupting influences of unchecked ambition.
The student cast features Bren McPhee, Sabrina Morgan, Owen Muller, Harshit Sharma, Isabella Dimanno, Jash Vashi, Taya Viger, Lydia Gunnink, Chloe Loewen, Han Wood, Hazel Franklin, Tavleen Grewal, Bill Trieu, and Niya MacKay.
The student design team includes Olivia Sommer (set designer), Ashleigh Henczel (head of props/builder), Thea Vanagteren (projection designer), Ryen Lavoie (sound designer), Charlize-Joelle Rafter (costume designer), Kimberley Perkins (assistant costume designer), and Jessica Blanchard (hair and makeup designer). They are supported by production crew members Sara Gray (stage manager), Marie Brideau (assistant stage manager), Starla Rorison (costume assistant/dresser), Avrey Jantz Krahn (costume assistant/weapons master), Sukhsagar Singh (sound operator/actor understudy), Aftab Randhawa (lighting operator: in partnership with The Workplace TASK Program).
Production students are mentored by UFV production class instructor and Technical Coordinator, Jared Raschke, Wardrobe Manager, Heather Robertson, and Production Manager, Giuseppe Condello.
Performances will be held in the Performance Studio, Building D, 105, Abbotsford Campus, University of the Fraser Valley, 33844 King Road.
Cost: $5 for students, $10 for the public.
Contact soca@ufv.ca for inquiries.
Follow the UFV School of Creative Arts @ufvsoca on Facebook and Instagram to be informed of future productions and events happening at UFV SOCA.
Meet the Director
Bruce Kirkley | Emeritus Associate Professor, Theatre
Q & A with the Director
Q. Tell us about your Theatre experience and your role as the director in the upcoming production Macbeth.
A. I’ve directed close to 50 theatre productions throughout my career. This production of Macbeth will be my fifteenth Shakespeare play. My most recent Shakespeare productions for UFV Theatre include Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar, The Merchant of Venice, and The Tempest. Although now retired, it’s been an enormous thrill and privilege to be given the opportunity to return and work with such an amazingly dedicated and gifted group of students.
Q. Why was the play Macbeth chosen for this year’s production?
A. The world of Macbeth evokes an intensity and interiority that accords well with the intimacy of UFV’s studio performance space. The play’s rich cast of characters, fast-paced action, and dystopian vision also provide exciting opportunities for students to explore the challenges of acting, designing and producing Shakespeare’s works.
Q. Can you tell us what makes this production unique, what types of performance techniques will be explored, and how will multimedia be integrated?
A. Shakespeare’s Macbeth exposes the seductive power of suggestion and reveals how half-truths, or disinformation as we call it today, can set people on a delusional path toward evil and destruction. Set in 2054, our production of Macbeth presents a not-too-distant dystopian future. The international order has collapsed. The world has devolved into feudal states and warring clans. While vestiges of the old technological era survive, the devastations wrought by climate change have prompted a reemergence of nature worship and a return to ancient pagan rituals, symbols and practices. Concurrently, the implosion of the world economy and the consequent dissolution of global supply chains have generated severe shortages, especially in military armaments and munitions. The sword, shield and dagger have resurged as the weaponry of war … and assassination.
Q. What do you want audience members to take away from this production?
A. We imagine dystopian worlds to recognize the futures that we do not want to create.
Q. Can you describe the types of opportunities students have working in this production, (such as the stage manager, costume/hair makeup), and what are the types of skills that students are learning and building on during this production?
A. Mounting a theatre production is a monumental act of collaboration and generosity from everyone involved, both on and off stage. Developing and maintaining a strong, supportive creative team requires each person’s full commitment, dedication and selfless contributions. For this production, in addition to developing skills in working with and playing Shakespeare’s complex language, the students had the opportunity to work with some highly skilled theatre specialists. Nathania Bernabe and Jackie T. Hanlin from Vancouver’s Affair of Honour held an introductory workshop on stage combat for everyone involved in the production. They also designed and directed the exciting fight choreography for the scenes of violence in Macbeth. In addition, Phay Moores and Ashley Donahue of Principal Intimacy Professionals led an afternoon workshop on Stage Intimacy where our students gained valuable knowledge on how to perform intimacy in ways that ensure a safe, respectful, and consent-informed practice. Phay Moores, a UFV Theatre Alumnus and now a professional Intimacy Director for theatre and film, also gave generously of her time to choreograph and coach the cast in the moments of intimacy that occur throughout the play. This production and our students have been richly blessed by the contributions of these outstanding artists.
Q. Finally, can you share with us what makes you passionate about theatre and performance?
A. Theatre imagines and creates life before us and within us. Like life, a theatre performance “struts and frets [its] hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.” And like every living thing, each performance is unique, complex, fragile, resilient, fleeting, and precious.
Meet the Cast
Bren McPhee | Macbeth
Bren is thrilled to be playing Macbeth and has enjoyed working with such a rich and complex character. Bren is a fourth year BA student who hopes to pursue a career as a drama teacher. Bren has loved acting for as long as he can remember, being involved with numerous theatre productions both on and off stage. Bren wants to thank his fellow cast and crew, and he is so excited to share such a beloved story with you and hopes you enjoy the show.
Sabrina Morgan | Lady Macbeth
Sabrina Morgan is thrilled to have the opportunity to play Lady Macbeth in the upcoming Tragedy of Macbeth. She is honored to portray such a renowned, morally complex character, especially alongside such a wonderful cast and crew. Sabrina balances her rehearsals with her studies to become an animator, working with the Media Arts department. She has previously worked with UFV Theatre, performing in Ghosting of Sumas Lake as part of the performance ensemble. Sabrina has also appeared in multiple student-directed pieces, including the Director’s Showcase. Her goal in theatre is to find a community—a place where she can express herself and share her passions with others. Through performing, she has found just that.
Owen Muller | Macduff, Captaine
Owen Muller will be playing Macduff and the Captaine in UFV’s production of Macbeth. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in theatre in the hopes of finding a career in the theatre industry. Owen has thoroughly enjoyed the stage combat training and the chance to exercise what he has learned from his acting classes with the director, Bruce Kirkley. He hopes he can connect with both characters on a deeper level than he has ever experienced before.
Harshit Sharma | Banquo, Menteth
This is Harshit’s second production with UFV. As soon as he heard that the next show was going to be Macbeth, Harshit knew he had to be a part of it. Working with Bruce, the director, has been a delight for Harshit! He can't wait for people to watch UFV Theatre’s adaptation of Macbeth.
Bella Dimanno | Malcolme
Bella has been acting on the stage since she was very young, performing in shows such as Trifles (UFV, 2024), Jesus Christ Superstar (NAC, 2023), Antigone (UFV, 2020), and Diary of Anne Frank (CPG, 2019). She will now be stepping into the role of Malcome for Macbeth! Bella is currently attending UFV as a Bachelor of Arts student and is working with talent in Vancouver to start her voice acting career. This production has been an incredible experience, and she hopes you enjoy the show!
Jash Vashi | Duncan, Second Murderer, Seyward
Jash is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. He feels lucky to be part of the cast of Macbeth. Jash is a dedicated full-time student with a passion for making a mark in the entertainment industry. With over seven years of experience in theatre, he has showcased his talent in notable productions such as Beer Girl, Ramayana, The Backpack, and Water - Our Life, along with numerous one-acts and street plays. Aspiring to become an accomplished actor, director, and cinematographer, Jash is driven by his mission to spread joy and positivity in a competitive and often stressful world through his creative contributions to the arts.
Tavleen Grewal | Fleance, Third Apparition, Messenger, Doctor, Young Seward
Tavleen will be taking on the roles of Fleance, the Doctor, Messenger, Third Apparition and Young Seyward. So far, Tavleen has been enjoying every minute of the rehearsal process and is very excited for the show. Tavleen is currently in her fifth year of studies as a history major and a theatre minor. In the future, Tavleen hopes to be pursuing a career in the industry.
Taya Viger | First Witch, Macduff's Son
With over a decade of acting experience, Taya is thrilled to perform in her first ever Shakespeare production as the First Witch and Macduff’s Son. Her previous roles in UFV Theatre include Ensemble in The Laramie Project, Head of Props in Rhinoceros, and Director of Bringing Up Lester. She is working on getting her BA at UFV with a Theatre major and English minor with the hopes of working in the Theatre industry one day. When she’s not at school, Taya loves hanging out with her six cats and works as a part time house cleaner and theatre technician.
Chloé Loewen | Third Witch, Third Murderer
Chloé is playing Third Witch/Third Murderer and is choreographing the sisters’ dances in this production of Macbeth. She has been involved in dance and theatre for a long time, always hoping for the opportunity to act in Macbeth.
Han Wood | Rosse
Han is a fourth-year history and theatre student and part-time research assistant at UFV. They have taken on the role of Rosse for this show and have enjoyed exploring the nuances of the character amidst the complexities of Shakespeare. Their love of performance has allowed Han to participate in several shows in high school, as well as You Are Not Alone, a self-produced show as part of the Climate Change Theatre Action. Han is excited to share this production of Macbeth with you and hopes you enjoy the show.
Hazel Franklin | Lenox
Hazel is very excited to be part of Macbeth here at UFV. She has previously worked on a small student-led theatre pop-up at UFV called You Are Not Alone with other cast members. Hazel is currently working towards her BA with a major in theatre, although her focus is looking to be more centered backstage, she is eager to perform whenever given the opportunity. She’d like to thank all her friends and colleagues for always being there supporting her, and she hopes she can do the same for them.
Niya MacKay | Lady Macduff, Gentlewoman, Messenger, Servant, Second Apparition
Niya plays the roles of Lady Macduff, Gentlewoman, Messenger, Servant and Second Apparition. She is extremely grateful and proud to be performing with her fellow students in this production of Macbeth. She has enjoyed getting to know others who share her passion for theatre at UFV. Niya is a second-year student working towards her Bachelor of Arts degree with a minor in Theatre and she plans to fulfill her lifelong goal of becoming a teacher. Having been involved in theatre since middle school, she has had the opportunity to explore various roles and productions; gaining experience and a deep love for the craft. Niya hopes you enjoy the show the cast and crew have worked so hard on.
Bill Trieu | Donalbaine, First Murderer, First Apparition, Seyton
Bill is playing four roles in Macbeth, mainly the First murderer. Over this production, Bill has enjoyed learning stunt choreography, digging deeper into the play and bringing to life the director's vision. At UFV, he's taken part in the Directors Showcase as an actor in two plays. He hopes to become an actor in the future, but is happy to have any kind of presence in theatre.
Lydia Gunnink | Second Witch, Porter
Lydia Gunnink first fell in love with Shakespeare at Credo Christian High School, where she studied Macbeth and delighted in every moment of it. Being the Second Witch and the Porter is a surreal experience for her, and she’ll tell anyone that she easily has the two most fun roles in the entire production. Her bizarre passion for Shakespeare was inevitable given that she’s in her last semester of a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double minor in English and Theater, studying to be a high school teacher so she can pass along her odd obsession. Lydia thanks the LORD that this is her third time playing a role in a theater production beyond middle school fiascos; the first being the Announcer in WhoDunnit in high school and the second being Anne de Bourgh in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley with Gallery 7.
Meet the Production Team
Sara Gray | Stage Manager
Sara has taken on the role of stage manager for Macbeth. Sara’s enjoyed getting to know the production team better and being able to work with all the people collaborating on this show. This will be Sara’s 10th year doing theatre; she’s been both on stage and backstage throughout the years and loved every minute of it. Recently Sara acted in a short film called Pebble Pockets that premiered at the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival, where she played Amelia. She also played Mrs. Peters in Trifles, a play in last year’s Director’s Showcase at UFV. Sara is incredibly proud of everyone who’s able to bring this play to life and is so excited for you to experience the world of Macbeth!
Starla Rorison | Costume Assistant, ASM Dresser
Starla is assistant backstage costume manager, as well as costume assistant for the 2025 Macbeth production. Throughout the process, Starla has enjoyed getting to develop her sewing skills, and getting the opportunity to help out with the production. Starla is currently taking the Visual arts program at UFV, and is planning to graduate with the Visual Arts diploma. Starla’s previous theatre experience includes acting in high school musicals such as Into the Woods and Chicago, as well as set construction for Chicago.
Marie Brideau | Assistant Stage Manager
Marie is the ASM for Macbeth. Marie is a full-time theatre student at UFV working towards her BA. Being new to theatre, so far Marie has experienced being front of house, a stage manager, and now assistant stage manager. She hopes to explore all roles in theatre as she furthers her education and works towards being a professional stage manager and potentially a director or playwright.
Olivia Sommer | Set Designer, Scenic Painter
Olivia Sommer is a graphic design student and artist stretching her canvas to a new medium. She has enjoyed learning more about the technical aspects of theater while designing the stage set. Although she has not had any prior experience in theater or set design, she has enjoyed blending her traditional art and painting skills onto a large-scale, functional surface.
Thea Vanagteren | Projection Designer
Thea is designing the projections for Macbeth. This is her first year as a Media Arts student and her first time doing anything theatre related. So far, her favourite part has been learning how everything works behind the scenes and seeing everyone develop amazing ideas and solutions to issues. She recuperates after a long day of classes and work by snuggling up with her dog and watching silly horror movies.
Ryen Lavoie | Sound Designer
Ryen (he/they) is thrilled to be joining this semester’s production of Macbeth as the Sound Designer. As a Vancouver Film School alumni and current UFV Fine Arts student, Ryen is applying his film and animation sound knowledge to help build the world of Macbeth. This will be Ryen’s first full production in sound design! Outside of theatre, they can often be found crocheting or enjoying a variety of video games from Unpacking to Lethal Company. They have loved working alongside the design team and can’t wait to show off the combined efforts of the talented crew!
Sukhsagar Singh | Sound Operator, Acting Understudy
Sukhsagar is currently completing his second year in a Theatre major at UFV. He is working as the Sound Operator for Macbeth, as well as being an understudy. This has been a fascinating experience for Sukhsagar, who has now worked both backstage and on-stage. As an understudy, Sukhsagar not only learned the script for Macbeth, but he also had the opportunity to learn about each character for a brief time. This is his second production he’s worked on, having previously worked as an actor in UFV Theatre’s The Paper Bag Princess last Fall. Sukhsagar adores theatre and acting and hopes to be a great actor one day!
Ashleigh Henczel | Head of Props
Ashleigh (they/them) has participated in theatre from a young age and continued throughout high school. They spent some time in the workforce before returning to UFV, where they rediscovered their love for theatre. Ashleigh is honoured and excited to take on the challenging role as Head of Props in their second UFV theatre production.
Charlize-Joelle Rafter | Costume Designer
Charlize-Joelle Rafter is a second-year student who has a goal of becoming a costume designer for the movie industry after she is done school. This year for Macbeth, she is doing the costumes for half the characters. This is a huge opportunity for her as she said, “I’m so excited to do this, I can’t wait to see all my hard work on stage.” Charlize-Joelle is so happy to do Macbeth this year as it is one of her favourite Shakespeare plays. She hopes everyone enjoys the play and loves the costumes.
Avrey Jantz Krahn | Costume Assistant, Fight Captain, Weapons Master
Avrey is a fourth-year student majoring in Theatre at UFV. She has been given the role of Fight Captain and ASM of Weapons. Avrey is grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Affair of Honour, the Fight and Movement-based theatre company, and to learn what it takes to be safe when fighting on stage. She has choreographed dance pieces in Matilda the Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and helped visualize an all-dance adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. She hopes to continue working in the entertainment industry as part of productions in both film and theatre. Avrey loved working on this production with her peers and is grateful for the opportunity to be part of bringing this timeless story to life.
Jessica Blanchard | Hair & Make Up Designer, Dresser
Jessica is so excited to be designing the makeup for this year’s production of the Scottish play. She can usually be found on stage with her fellow actors but has decided to take a much-needed break. Jessica loves working backstage on the production team, and is beyond excited for the cast, crew and especially you to see this show.
Kimberley Perkins | Assistant Costume Designer
Kimberley Perkins is in her first year of her Theatre Diploma program and has been excited to be a part of this production, learning all the background work gone into conceptualizing a show. Kimberley enjoys sewing and has made many handmade costumes including outfits for UFV’s Paper Bag Princess, as well as shows at Theatre in the Country and her own play performed at Langley Little Theatre in 2024. She loves to research historical costuming and integrates this knowledge into her pieces. You can find Kimberley teaching preschool, reenacting history as an interpreter at the Fort Langley CN station, practicing archery and Scottish country dancing. Kimberley thanks her wonderful husband and three amazing daughters for supporting her in her crazy whims!