Adapted by Katie Hamill
Based on the novel by Jane Austen
Directed by Daryl Cloran
This production explores themes of sexuality and romance.
Kate Hamill’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel follows the travails of the Dashwood sisters—sensible, subdued Elinor and the passionately emotional Marianne—after their father’s passing leaves their family dependent on the whims of wealthy relations. When suitors, both suitable and otherwise, start courting the Dashwood girls, the sisters must blend sense with sensibility to protect their hearts and their reputations. Bristling with wit, cutting social commentary and old-fashioned romance brimming with longing and tender affection, Sense and Sensibility is pure Regency Period delight.
The 2025 Season is supported by Ophelia Lazaridis.
Production Co-Sponsors:
The William and Nona Heaslip Foundation
The Tremain Family
Jessica B. Hill and Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane. Photography by Ted Belton.
Birmingham Conservatory, 2014/2015
2025: Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, La Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons and Phoebe in As You Like It. Eighth season. Stratford: Viola (Twelfth Night), Lady Capulet (Romeo and Juliet), Helen (All's Well That Ends Well), Lady Anne (Richard III), Emily Brontë (Brontë: The World Without), Bess (Mother's Daughter). Playwright: The Dark Lady (SIR-SotS/Lunchbox-TSC), Pandora (PTE). Both plays are available online and at the Festival Gift Shop. The Dark Lady is part of Bard on the Beach's 2025 season, and recently had a staged reading at Red Bull Theatre in New York City. Film/TV: Five Days at Memorial, The Boys, Kings of Napa. Voice/Mocap: Star Wars Outlaws. Training: Birmingham Conservatory, McGill University, Dawson College. Awards: SATA for Artistic Excellence - The Dark Lady, Bernard Amyot Teaching Award - NTS, Mary Savidge Award - Stratford Festival. The Dark Lady has won six awards across three provinces, including three Betty Mitchell awards. Online: Instagram: @jessicabhill.
Birmingham Conservatory, 2024
2025: Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, appears in As You Like It and understudy in Dangerous Liaisons. Third season. Stratford: Portia in Something Rotten!, The Diviners, Joanne in Rent, Richard II. Elsewhere: Vicky in Chris, Mrs. (Boldly Productions); Gloria in Damn Yankees, White Christmas, The Importance of Being Earnest, Shawground, 1922 in Concert, Charley's Aunt, Duke and the Two Irenes, Song for a Winters Night (Shaw); Home For the Holidays (Theatre Aquarius); Emcee in Cabaret, Finding Black Joy (Grand Theatre); Mamma Mia! (Stage West); Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet (Capitol Theatre); Sophie in Mamma Mia! (Rainbow Stage). Voiceover: We the Culture (Facebook). Training: Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance, Sheridan College; H.B. Beal Secondary and C.C.H. Online: @oliviasinclairbrisbane. Et cetera: Olivia dedicates this season to her amazing support system, her family both chosen and biological, her friends and mentors. To anyone moving through life with bravery, joy, kindness and deep love.
2025: Oliver in As You Like It and John Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility. Stratford debut.
2025: Duchess Senior in As You Like It, Mrs. Jennings in Sense and Sensibility and Madame de Rosemonde in Dangerous Liaisons. 32nd season. Last year, Ms. McKenna directed Twelfth Night on the Festival stage, mentored directing students at the National Theatre School, did her very first Murdoch Mystery, received the 2024 Stratford Festival Legacy Award, and taught her grandson how to swim underwater. Her previous roles at the Festival include: Juliet, Lady Macbeth, Medea, Richard III, Portia, Paulina, Jaques, Julius Caesar, Katerina, Dolly Levi, Amanda Wingfield, the Marquise de Merteuil, Queen Elizabeth I and Madame Arcati. Elsewhere, she has played Cleopatra (Centaur), Shylock (Shakespeare Company/Hit and Myth Prod.), Hermione (Kansas City Rep), Yaga (Tarragon) and Lear (Groundling Theatre Company). She has three Doras, a Jessie and a Genie award, and is a Member of the Order of Canada. Love and gratitude to the McPotters.
(he/him)
2025: Orlando in As You Like It, appears in Sense and Sensibility and understudy in Dangerous Liaisons. Second season. Stratford: Cloten in Cymbeline, Lachlan in The Diviners. Selected theatre credits: The Master Plan (Theatre Aquarius, Soulpepper); Rockabye (ARC Stage); The Master Plan (Crow's Theatre); Redbone Coonhound (Tarragon Theatre); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Bard on the Beach); Sweat (Canadian Stage); Antigone…, Selfie (Young People's Theatre); Julius Caesar, The Comedy of Errors (Canadian Stage); The Adonis Project (The Piece of Mine Festival). Film/TV: Star Trek: Discovery (Paramount+/CBS); Coroner, Workin' Moms (CBC); Murdoch Mysteries (CBC Television, Citytv); 13: The Musical (Netflix). Voiceover: Audiobook: No Bootstraps When You're Barefoot. Education: York University Acting Conservatory. Awards: Dora Award winner and nominee. Online: Instagram: @christopherallen.me.
(she/her) Birmingham Conservatory 2022/2023
2025: Madame de Tourvel in Dangerous Liaisons, appears in Sense and Sensibility and understudy in As You Like It. Fourth season. Stratford: Rachel Whyte in Get That Hope, Princess of France in Love's Labour's Lost, Richard II, Player Queen in Hamlet and Olabisi in Death and the King's Horseman. Elsewhere: Corinna and seven other characters in Primary Trust, 16 characters in No Child (Arts Club); Ann Atwater in The Best of Enemies, Novelette in 'da Kink in My Hair (Pacific Theatre); Same Difference (Theatre Conspiracy); Catherine in The Numbers Game (Storefront Theatre). Film/TV: American Wasteland, Corrective Measures, Swan Song, Voir, The Baby-Sitters Club, Detour, Song Bird, Scared Lies, Sirens. Radio/Recordings: Aisha in Redbone Coonhound (Arts Club); Mama in Rishi & d Douen (Rumble Theatre and Carousel Theatre). Training: York University. Awards: Peter Donaldson Award recipient, Michael Mawson Award recipient, and B.C. Arts Council Pivot recipient.
Birmingham Conservatory, 2003
2025: Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility and appears in As You Like It. 12th season. Stratford (selected):The Sound of Music, Crazy for You, Man of La Mancha, Love's Labour's Lost, Much Ado About Nothing, The Duchess of Malfi, The Brothers Karamazov, Richard III, Peter Pan, Present Laughter, Measure for Measure, The Threepenny Opera, The Swanne. Elsewhere: Three seasons at the Shaw Festival, including Damn Yankees, Mother Daughter, My Fair Lady, Kabarett, Prince Caspian; Assassins (MTC/TIFT); Onegin (Musical Stage); This Is How It Goes, Frog and Toad, Sweeney Todd (Neptune); Wizard of Oz, Gatsby, Einstein's Gift, Elf (Grand); Christmas Story, Les Misérables (WCT); Treasure Island (TNB); Othello (SLSF) Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad, Hay Fever, The Red Priest (Thousand Islands); Sticks and Stones, The Mikado (NAC); Beauty and the Beast (Citadel/Theatre Calgary); Romeo and Juliet (Resurgence). TV: Anne With An E, Suits, Murdoch, Reign. Training: Queen's University, Birmingham Conservatory.
Birmingham Conservatory 2025/20262025: Cécile Volanges in Dangerous Liasons, appears in As You Like It and understudy in Sense and Sensibility. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Hedda in Hedda Gabler, May in Bedlam, Des-Neiges in Les Belles Soeurs, Jocasta in Oedipus Rex (Theatre at Grenfell); Titania in Midsummer Night's Dream (Dartmouth Players); Melissa in Out of It, Marie-Louise in No Man's Land (Rising Tide Theatre). Film/TV: Son of a Critch (CBC); This Hour Has 22 Minutes (CBC); Sugar Highs (OUTTV); Surreal Estate (SYFY); Hudson & Rex (CityTV); Sullivan's Crossing (CTV); Astrid and Lilly Save the World (SYFY); Diggstown (CBC); Alaska Triangle (Discovery). Training: Memorial University of Newfoundland, Grenfell Campus, 2023 (BFA); Power of Connection Intensive with Perchance Theatre. Online: @ashleyjdingwell. Et cetera: To Mom, Dad, Grammy, Jordan - I love you, so I keep going.
2025: Edward Ferrars, Robert Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility, Azolan in Dangerous Liaisons and appears in As You Like It. Third season. Stratford: Peter in Romeo and Juliet, Martin in London Assurance, Benicio in Twelfth Night, Harry Percy in Richard II, Waiter in Grand Magic and understudy in Love's Labour's Lost. Elsewhere: A Few Good Men, Twelve Angry Men, The Miracle Worker, The Birds and the Bees, Death of a Salesman, Brighton Beach Memoirs (Drayton); The Cider House Rules reading (Talk is Free); Suitcases/Provenance workshop (Canadian Stage). Film/TV: Jump, Darling (opposite Cloris Leachman), Deadbolt, In the Dark, Murdoch Mysteries, Man Seeking Woman, Heroes Reborn, Bitten, Reign. Radio/Recordings: Strange Loops (audiobook). Training: The Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Online: Instagram: @tomsdup.
Birmingham Conservatory, 2013
2025: Rosalind in As You Like It, Fanny in Sense and Sensibility and Emilie in Dangerous Liaisons. Seventh season. Stratford: Juliet, Anne Frank, Cordelia, Mary in The Last Wife and The Virgin Trial, A Little Night Music, The Lion... Wardrobe, The Merchant of Venice, She Stoops to Conquer, The Beaux' Stratagem, Finally There's Sun, others. Broadway: Delphi in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Elsewhere: Delphi in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mirvish, Canadian première); The Last Timbit; Medium Alison in Fun Home (Musical Stage/Mirvish, Dora nominee, TTCA winner); Brigid in The Humans (Canadian première at Citadel/Canadian Stage); many productions at Soulpepper, Citadel, Musical Stage Company, Theatre Calgary, Tarragon, Passe Muraille, Segal Centre, YPT and others. Film/TV: Hudson & Rex, Frankie Drake, Departure, Nurses, others. Et cetera: Sara is a musical theatre bookwriter and a playwright. Thank you Chris and Antoni, Tovah and Michele. Hi Josh.
Métis Nation of Alberta
2025: Le Vicomte de Valmont in Dangerous Liaisons, Oliver Martext in As You Like It and Gossip in Sense and Sensibility. Second season. Stratford: The Diviners. Elsewhere: Clue (MTC\Grand Theatre); The Breathing Hole (NAC); Christmas Carol, Jane Eyre, Silver Arrow, Crazy For You, Alice Through the Looking Glass, One Man Two Guvnors (Citadel Theatre); Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, Hamlet, As You Like It, Comedy of Errors, Coriolanus, King Lear, The Taming of the Shrew (Free Will Players); 6.0, 4th Graders (NLT); 10 out of 12, Passion Play, Realistic Joneses (Wild Side Productions); Joy Ride, Black Horse (Caravan Farm Theatre). Film and TV: Tiny Plastic Men Seasons 1-4 (Super Channel); Caution May Contain Nuts Seasons 2-4 (APTN); Blind Ambition, Joe Pickett. Voiceover: Mass Effect 1, 2, 3, Dragon Age: Origins, Anthem, Neverwinter Nights (BIOWARE). Training: BFA University of Alberta. Online: @jesse.gervais, www.jessegervais.com.
Birmingham Conservatory, 2017/2018
(she/her)
2025: Magda in The Art of War, appears in Sense and Sensibility and understudy in Anne of Green Gables. Third season. Elsewhere: Every Brilliant Thing (Burnt Thicket/Live Five, Fire Exit, Globe Theatre, Winterruption); Our Town (Theatre Rusticle/Buddies in Bad Times); Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, Comedy of Errors, Macbeth (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan); Birds and the Bees (Globe Theatre/Persephone Theatre); Drowning Girls, Secret Mask, Pride and Prejudice (Globe Theatre); Farndale Ave...Christmas Carol (Persephone Theatre). Other: House Co (Second City). TV/Film: Workin' Moms (CBC), Benched (Short). Training: Globe Theatre Actor Conservatory, University of Saskatchewan (BFA). Awards: SATAward for Outstanding Performance (Narrator in Every Brilliant Thing, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, and Callie in Stop Kiss). Online: www.jennaleehyde.com. Et cetera: Born-and-raised on Treaty 6 territory in Saskatchewan, Jenna-Lee now lives in Tkaronto. She's very grateful to be here.
(he/him) Birmingham Conservatory, 2012/2013
2025: Nick in The Art of War, Moodie Spurgeon in Anne of Green Gables and understudy in Sense and Sensibility. 12th season. Josue is a Métis actor, teaching artist and mask maker from the traditional territory of the Dane-zaa, Treaty 8, Fort St. John, BC. Stratford: Lazarus in The Diviners, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, Cymbeline, King Lear, Hamlet, Death and the King's Horseman, Merry Wives of Windsor, Front Page, Comedy of Errors, Napoli Milionaria!, Tempest, Timon of Athens, Madwoman of Chaillot, The Changeling, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aeneid, Taming of the Shrew, Love's Labour's Lost, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Beaux' Stratagem, Mary Stuart, Measure for Measure, Othello. Vancouver: Four seasons at Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival; The Exquisite Hour (Relephant); Wizard of Oz, Seussical (Carousel); The Emperor's New Threads (Axis). Training: Birmingham Conservatory, Director Martha Henry; Studio 58; Canadian National Voice Intensive. Instagram: @laboucanej.
(she/her) Red River Métis
2025: Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables, Heather, Eva in The Art of War and understudy in Sense and Sensibility. Second season. Stratford: Helen, Ghost Mother in Cymbeline and Young Pique, Scots Morag in The Diviners. Elsewhere: Louise in Gypsy, Bella in Gaslight, On The Razzle, Everybody, Flush, Brigadoon (Shaw Festival); Marianne in Sense and Sensibility, Sarah Ballenden (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Timon of Athens (Shakespeare In The Ruins); Charlie Brown, James and the Giant Peach (MTYP); Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth (Magnus Theatre); Les Flats (Le Cercle Molière); Les Misérables (Rainbow Stage). Opera: Mother in Amahl and The Night Visitors (Edmonton Opera); Rose/Marguerite in Li Keur (Manitoba Opera); Peer Gynt (Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra); MESSIAH/COMPLEX (Against The Grain/The Banff Centre). Training: Bachelor of Music (Voice Performance), University of Manitoba. Awards: Juno Award Nominee. Online: www.julielumsden.com. Et cetera: "Onward and upward!" For Uncle Darin, always.
2025: Mrs. Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility and appears in Dangerous Liaisons. Seventh season.
2025: Margaret, Lucy Steele in Sense and Sensibility and appears in Dangerous Liaisons. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Constance in The Three Musketeers (Citadel/Arts Club), Aiden in Smoke (Tiny Bear Jaws), River in Appropriate (CalArts), Unsung: Tales from the Front Line (Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre), Monkey King (Enrichment Works). Film/TV: This Too Shall Pass, Abracadavers (Season 2, 3), Last Stop Video Rentals, Shadow of God. Training: California Institute of the Arts. Online: www.jadevrobinson.com, @jade.robi. Et cetera: Big thanks to my team (Clarina and Shari) and friends for their support! This debut is dedicated to my mom, dad, grandma, and Zach, who have always made me feel like my dreams are within reach. Sharing this with you is one of my greatest joys.
2025: Touchstone in As You Like It and Sir John Middleton in Sense and Sensibility. 22nd season. Stratford: La Cage aux Folles, Something Rotten!, Grand Magic, Richard II, Love's Labour's…, Chicago, The Miser, Finally There's Sun, Rocky Horror, Guys and Dolls, Billy Elliot, The Lion, the Witch…, Shakespeare in Love, Hamlet, Alchemist, Crazy for You, Tommy, Grapes of Wrath, Kiss Me, Kate, Cyrano, Mockingbird, The Odyssey, Dream, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus. Elsewhere: 12 Dinners, Life Without, goldfish (Here For Now); Every Brilliant Thing, The Foursome, For the Pleasure… (New Stages); Fleeto, Oh, the Humanity, 4th Graders (Tiny Room); London Road (Dora Award), Indian Ink, Into the Woods, Dream (CanStage); Assassins (Dora Award) (TIFT); Frog and Toad (MTYP); Orson's Shadow (Pilot Group); A New Brain (Musical Stage Company); Shrek, A Christmas Story (Grand); The Producers (Mirvish/Neptune); Seussical, Sylvia (Aquarius); The Three Musketeers (Chicago Shakespeare); Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Citadel), Three Sisters (ATF).
2025: Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables and understudy in Sense and Sensibility. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: An Inspector Calls (Drayton); Three Sisters, Casimir and Caroline (The Howland Company); To Kill A Mockingbird, Hana's Suitcase, Selfie (Young People's Theatre); Blackbird, Spider's Web, Steel City Gangster (Theatre Aquarius); Gloria: A Life (Harold Green Jewish Theatre); The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare Bash'd); Where You Are, Early August (Lighthouse Theatre); Stag and Doe (Theatre Orangeville); Whit's End (Foster Festival); Cockfight, Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Storefront Theatre); We Are The Bomb (Theatre Brouhaha). Radio/Recordings: The Girls (Penguin Random House Canada); Selfie (CBC's Playme Podcast); The Artists (Factory Theatre). Training: George Brown Theatre School. Awards: Two Dora Awards with five nominations. Online: carolinetoal.com, @toalbooth. Et cetera: HUGE love to my family and friends.
2025: Director of Sense and Sensibility. Fourth season. Stratford: Assistant Director of Caesar and Cleopatra, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Trial of Ezra Pound, Good Mother. Elsewhere: Daryl's Beatles-infused adaptation of As You Like It has played across Canada and the U.S., including: Chicago Shakespeare, Shakespeare Theater Company (Washington, DC), Milwaukee Rep, Citadel, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Theatre Calgary, and the Grand Theatre (London). Daryl has directed at theatres throughout Canada, including: Shaw Festival, National Arts Centre, Neptune (Halifax), Bard on the Beach (Vancouver), Canadian Stage and Tarragon, as well as internationally in South Africa and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Et cetera: Daryl is the Artistic Director of Edmonton's Citadel Theatre and has built an international reputation for the Citadel which has included hosting productions of Hadestown, SIX and Peter Pan Goes Wrong previous to their Broadway runs.
2025: Set and costume designer of Sense and Sensibility. 23rd season.
2025: Composer and sound designer of Sense and Sensibility. Stratford debut. Jonathan is delighted to be at the Stratford Festival for the very first time. He brings with him 30 years of experience in the theatre as composer, sound designer, and musician. He has worked with artists and companies such as the Citadel Theatre, One Yellow Rabbit, Theatre Calgary, and Alberta Theatre Projects among others, presenting shows across Canada from the Vancouver East Cultural Centre to the National Arts Centre and many venues in between. Online: Instagram: @jlewisviolin. TikTok: @lewisviolin. Facebook: @moxamstudios. www.lewisviolin.com. Et cetera: For their love and support: "Muchísimo amor y agradecimiento para mi esposa Verónica y mi hermosita hija Melina. Much love and appreciation for my wife Veronica and my daughter Melina."
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