The National Theatre School of Canada celebrates its 50th anniversary today. Over the past half-century, more than 1,500 theatre professionals have graduated from the private, non-profit Montreal school's programs in acting, directing, play writing, design and production.
Twelve more will graduate from the three-year English-language-acting conservatory this school year. Currently starring in Romeo and Juliet at the National Arts Centre, here is the class of 2011.
Ishan Davé, 20
Hometown: Thornhill, Ont.
Why did you choose to go to NTS?
A friend of mine invited me to see a show of his, in his second year, a collaborative original work called The Citizens. It was one of the best shows I'd ever seen.
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS?
Falling forward. Say yes. Failure. Follow impulse. All are manifestations of the same ideology: openness.
Why have you chosen acting as a profession?
My parents took me to see Panic Room (David Fincher, 2002), and Kristen Stewart, with her little pixie cut, stole my heart. I was 12. I needed to meet her, and still do actually.
Brett Donahue, 24
Hometown: Winnipeg
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS?
The school has firmly grounded me in my understanding of how a story and character are made, and the time and patience required of oneself and other actors to fully discover all the details of what you are trying to create.
Why have you chosen acting as a profession?
Acting is a place where I get to study humanity, throughout all periods of time, through a wide variety of characters. It pushes my imagination, and with each story and character that I take on I take away more of an understanding of myself.
What past NTS graduate - actor, director, playwright, designer - inspires you most?
I would have to say Jonathan Goad. Long before I knew about NTS, I saw him in Orpheus Descending at the Manitoba Theatre Centre - it kind of kicked my interest in theatre to another level.
Matthew James Donovan, 25
Hometown: Kingston
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS?
How to make my mind work with my body.
What past NTS graduate inspires you most?
Susan Coyne. The many directions her career has taken her are very inspiring to me as I love both writing and acting.
Where do you see yourself in 50 years?
Probably performing the title role for the first performance of King Lear on the moon. I mean, 50 years is a long time.
Katy Grabstas, 20
Hometown: Ottawa
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS?
How to work with myself. Acting itself is complicated enough, but there's always the voice in my head that wants to make it just that much harder. Another important thing I learned was really how much theatre there is in Canada.
Why have you chosen acting as a profession?
Originally, I acted in plays because it's the closest thing I could find to time travelling. That evolved to a real need to tell stories, to be a guide to other people into worlds far from their everyday life (or painfully close to their everyday life).
What past NTS graduate inspires you most?
Martha Henry. To devote one's entire life to theatre and never give up on it as an art form or become disillusioned by it, then, after so many years of living the theatre life, creating a conservatory for young people wishing to become actors is truly inspirational.
Curtis Henschel, 25
Hometown: Saskatoon
Why did you choose to go to NTS?
I was deliberating between possibilities - conservatory training, graduate school for psychology - and the National Theatre School chose me first.
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS? To eat well, to sleep. Endurance and self-trust, too. But above all, to eat well to take time to sleep.
Where do you see yourself in 50 years?
Making pies. In a house, if I have my wish, with dogs, good work ahead and behind, and lots of Prairie sky.
Sophie Holdstock, 24
Hometown: North Saanich, B.C.
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS?
Trust: to trust myself and my instincts; to trust my fellow actors; to trust the director; and to trust the words. Because without trust all you get is a very controlled, measured, dead performance.
What past NTS graduate inspires you most?
Seana McKenna, because I hope and dream to be so lucky as to play even half of the roles that she's played. And Sandra Oh, because she is consistently working in film and TV. Her determination and work ethic inspire me.
Where do you see yourself in 50 years?
In my dreams I'm still acting, on the stage and in films, maybe preparing to play Old Margaret in Richard III, or Winnie in Happy Days. And grandbabies, there are always grandbabies in my dreams as well.
Adrian Morningstar, 20
Hometown: Toronto
Why did you choose to go to NTS?
I couldn't see myself sitting at a desk for the rest of my life. I need to be performing, I need to be creating.
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS?
To observe. Take it all in. No matter where, or what the circumstance. There is always something to learn. Something new.
What past NTS graduate inspires you most?
Wajdi Mouawad is right there at the top. He's doing it all. A real inspiration.
Philip Nozuka, 23
Hometowns: Queens, N.Y./Toronto
Why did you choose to go to NTS?
I wanted to be in a program where I could focus solely on my craft as an actor and be challenged in a vigorous yet very creative environment.
Why have you chosen acting as a profession?
At first I wanted to be famous. And perhaps sometimes I still do. But, more importantly, when I have the opportunity to witness a powerful piece of art I know in my heart that the arts' role, on a universal level, is their ability to inspire the type of compassion and understanding of the human condition that can eliminate any ignorance that leads to injustice.
What past NTS graduate inspires you most?
Jonathan Goad. Just from watching Goad on stage I feel like I'm in the presence of a man whose spiritual roots are planted strongly in the ground.
Alexandra Ordolis, 25
Hometown: Montreal
Why did you choose to go to the NTS?
I auditioned there thinking it would be good practice before auditioning for other schools. I was pretty shocked to get in - and knew I had no choice but to go.
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS?
Discipline, stamina and failure.
What past NTS graduate - actor, director, playwright, designer - inspires you most?
The list is long! But the playwright Claudia Dey really inspires me, because she creates characters and stories in such beautiful and imaginative ways.
Where do you see yourself in 50 years?
In the mirror. I read that joke in The Globe and Mail. I like it, and hope it's okay I steal it here.
Hugh Portman, 20
Hometown: Calgary
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS?
To learn to trust myself and my classmates.
Why have you chosen acting as a profession?
Nothing compares to the feeling of being onstage and sharing with a community.
Where do you see yourself in 50 years?
Travelling the world, acting when I feel the desire, and making the most of my life.
Jackie Rowland, 20
Hometown: Discovery Bay, Hong Kong
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS?
Failure is an important part of creativity. Bravery can be your friend. To be open is hard but important. Do generally works better than don't.
What past NTS graduate - actor, director, playwright, designer - inspires you most?
R.H. Thomson came to our school and talked about politics influencing the acting business. His practical dissection and invigorating challenge for the future of Canadian theatre was fortifying for me.
Where do you see yourself in 50 years?
Existentially: climbing over a picketed fence. Hope that wherever or whatever I am (doing), my young soul gives a thumbs up.
Samantha Wan, 20
Hometowns: Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont./ Port Moody, B.C.
What's the most important thing you've learned at NTS?
NTS has show me how to take care of myself. As a young actor I want to jump into the show heart and soul every night; but I realized that is only possible if it's held by technique. I have to go home and take care of my voice and my body, so that I can give everything up to you guys at night.
Why have you chosen acting as a profession?
I want to reach people. Politician, guidance counsellor, therapist - all jobs I've considered. I tried to think about what influences me, and kids like me. As an actor I feel our voices reach ears that other professions can't.
What past NTS graduate - actor, director, playwright, designer - inspires you most?
R.H. Thomson, for his activist work in the arts, and Sandra Oh for her exceptional work that has brought her past being the "Asian character" to an award-winning actress.
Where do you see yourself in 50 years?
Perhaps I may have my own company up and running, but to be honest I don't know. I haven't even lived half that time yet. That idea of "not knowing" is very exciting to me.