In this episode, join playwright Erin Shields, Nehiyaw storyteller Trina Moyan, and University of Toronto professor Adriana Brook as they explore storytelling as a transformative force across time. From the origins of Greek epic poetry and its roots in oral tradition to its transition to the written page, the panel reflects on how stories like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey continue to shape culture today. Discover how ancient narratives and modern adaptations such as Shields’ Ransacking Troy reveal the enduring human impulse to share stories as a way of understanding the world.

Support for The Meighen Forum is generously provided by Kelly & Michael Meighen and the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation.

Note: Transcript coming soon.

What happens when the spotlight suddenly shifts, and someone must step in at a moment’s notice? In this episode, stage manager Maxwell T. Wilson (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), swing and co-dance captain Anthony MacPherson, and assistant director/casting associate Aaron Jan (The Winter’s Tale) join moderator Monique Lund (Annie) for a candid discussion about the essential but often unsung work of understudies and swings. From the discipline it takes to track multiple roles to the courage required to perform with little warning, they share behind-the-scenes stories that reveal why these artists are true guardians of “the show must go on.”
Support for The Meighen Forum is generously provided by Kelly & Michael Meighen and the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation.

How does sound shape the way we experience a story on stage? In this episode, sound designer Debashis Sinha (Anne of Green Gables) and composer/sound designer Verne Good (Twelfth Night, 2024) join Associate Forum Coordinator James Hyett for an illuminating conversation about the artistry behind theatre’s sonic world. From the delicate serenity of birdsong to the jarring pulse of a jackhammer, they reveal how music, effects, and ambient sound work together to deepen character, set tone, and transport audiences.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Support for The Meighen Forum is generously provided by Kelly & Michael Meighen and the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation.