Martha Henry, Director of Stratford’s Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatr
September 19, 2008
The Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre begins its 11th session on September 23, with a new class of talented young actors embarking on 19 weeks of intensive classical theatre training at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
Under the direction of Martha Henry, the conservatory is North America’s only conservatory training program for classical actors. Operating from September through February, the conservatory consists of an intensive program by senior artists and teachers. The conservatory is a paid program with no tuition fees.
Roughly 250 people auditioned for a place in the conservatory. The six selected are: Quincy Armorer, Skye Brandon, Jennifer Paterson, Christopher Prentice, Suzanne Roberts Smith and Matt Steinberg. “They are a wonderful mix of people,” says Henry, “all quite different.
“They’re all people who, when they come into the audition room, make you sit up and say, ‘Oh, that’s interesting.’ And they all have a real need to be here, which when you are auditioning is an essential quality.”
Before acceptance into the conservatory, all of these actors had been through a theatre training program and worked professionally for several years. Upon completion of the conservatory training, the six actors will be given contracts for the 2009 season at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
In a new development at the conservatory, some of last year’s participants have been invited to return to further their training. “We are extending our involvement with these young actors by offering them a second year of training,” Henry says. “We select the very, very best into the program and will continue our commitment to them if they feel they wish to have more time in the conservatory.”
In the 2009 season, the conservatory actors will appear, along with senior members of the company, in Ben Jonson’s Bartholomew Fair under the direction of Antoni Cimolino, general director of the Festival. This production will play at the Tom Patterson Theatre during the Festival’s regular season.
The Birmingham Conservatory was founded in 1998 by former artistic director Richard Monette. Monette was scheduled to direct the conservatory’s third-term production of The Two Gentleman of Verona, until his sudden passing on September 9.
“Richard founded this Conservatory; it belonged to him,” says Henry. “Our sorrow is doubled now that we will have no chance to have his vast insight, knowledge and wit in the rehearsal hall.”
In Monette’s place, Stephen Ouimette, a long-standing member of the Festival company, will direct the final Conservatory project, which will be presented on February 14. “Richard would have been gratified and relieved to have Stephen represent him within the Conservatory,” Henry says. “Mr. Ouimette is an actor and director of extraordinary skill. We’re privileged to have him take the torch from Richard and carry it on.”
Martha Henry, the director of the conservatory, has been associated with the Stratford Festival since she appeared as Miranda to William Hutt’s first Prospero in 1962. Since then she has participated in over 60 productions and received numerous awards for her work.
Web Resources:
List of the 2009 Members of the Birmingham Conservatory
Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre
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