The Company of Blue Stockings

GABRIELLE SOSKIN – Director / Persephone Artistic Director

Gabrielle came to Montreal from her native England in 1970. A graduate of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Trent Park College and Concordia University, she started her theatrical journey as an actor before becoming a teacher and a director. She has had a challenging and fascinating career working over the years participating in the training of many vital young artists in the community and directing every genre imaginable.

After founding Persephone Productions in 2000, she was a recipient of the 2007 Myron Galloway award for distinction given by Montreal English Critics Circle association for her special contribution to Montreal English Theatre. In February of 2013, Gabrielle performed for Persephone in The Walnut Tree by Martha Blum and adapted for the stage by Geoffrey Ursell and in 2018 she performed in her own play Counting Aloud.
OLIVIA WOODS – Assistant Director

Olivia Woods is an emerging artist and recent graduate of Concordia's Acting for the Theatre program. While in school, she performed with Revolution They Wrote, Other Coast Theatre, and The Segal Centre. Olivia has been recently exploring her passion for directing through shows such as Lion in the Streets (Concordia University) and Encore (Tableau d'Hôte). She has enjoyed deepening this skill even further with Blue Stockings.
ALEXA GREGORY – Set / Costume / Props Designer

Alexa Gregory is a recent graduate of the John Abbott College theatre department. She has always had a passion for designing, period clothing in particular. She felt lucky to have the chance of designing the costumes for ‘Pride and Prejudice’ last year. She has known that this is what she wanted to do all her life.
CAITE CLARK – Lighting Designer

Caite Clark is a Montreal-based artist and educator. She is the resident lighting designer for the Acts of Listening Lab, a research-creation hub dedicated to the transformative power of listening in the context of oral history performance. It brings together artists, researchers, and activists from across disciplines and cultures interested in exploring ways to make life stories matter in the public sphere. Caite made her directorial debut with Tomorrow (Hooks and Crooks Theatre), in addition to lighting design for The One (Hopegrown Productions) at this year's Montreal Fringe Festival. She holds a BFA in Theatre and Development from Concordia University. 
HEATHERELLEN STRAIN – Sound Designer

HeatherEllen Strain is a Montreal based Stage Manager, who recently graduated with a BFA from Concordia University’s Design for the Theatre program. Her focuses are on stage management, as well as sound design. Recent credits include: Stage Manager and co-Sound Designer for The Tempest (Concordia University), Stage Manager and Sound Designer for Tomorrow (Hooks and Crooks, Montreal Fringe), Stage Manager for Don't Read The Comments (Sermo Scomber), Apprentice Stage Manager for Once (Segal Centre), Stage Manager for Elsewhere (Imago and Oddstumble), Production Assistant for Clean Slate (Talisman Theatre), Apprentice Stage Manager for Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, and Measure for Measure (Repercussion Theatre).
ANNALISE PETERSON-PERRY – Stage Manager

Annalise Peterson-Perry is a Montreal based theatre practitioner and  recent graduate from Concordia University’s Theatre and Development program. Having worked in theatre and film for close to ten years, Annalise is interested in multiple avenues of creating and supporting great storytelling. Recent credits include: Apprentice stage manager for Measure for Measure, and Much Ado About Nothing (Repercussion Theatre), Stage Manager for Underbelly (Concordia Collective Creation), Assistant Director for Learned Ladies (Concordia), Wardrobe Mistress for Mamma Mia!, and The Hobbit (Globe Theatre Regina), Wardrobe Dresser & Stitcher for Shrek the Musical (Globe Theatre Regina), and Assistant Designer for Bechet Shorts (Concordia One Act Festival). Annalise is grateful for this opportunity with Persephone Productions and is looking forward to continuing to work in the Montreal theatre community.

THE CAST

CHLOÉ BILODEAU – Tess Moffat

Since graduating from the Dawson Professional Theatre Program in 2018, and becoming a member of Imago Theatre’s 2019 ARTISTA cohort, Chloé Bilodeau has acted and written for both the French and English stages. She was part of the first edition of Shakespeare in the Ruelles in Saint-Henri, as well as the premiere of Voilà, c’est dit!/Get It Off My Chest! at Théâtre Sainte-Catherine. Earlier this year, she took on both roles of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Snowglobe Theatre’s production of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Blue Stockings by Jessica Swale is her first production with Persephone Productions.
​​MAXINE DENIS – Celia Willbond

Maxine Denis is a Canadian/Lebanese actor born and raised in Dubai. Maxine has always had a passion for acting, be it on screen or on stage. She came to Montreal to pursue a Psychology degree at McGill and further her acting professionally. Originally focusing on film and television, she is now branching out into the theatre industry. Moving across the globe alone at eighteen was a challenge, but she managed to build a new home for herself, and is now a professional union actor represented by Bellini International. She is very excited to be playing the role of Celia and can’t wait for everyone to be as moved by this play as she is.
​CAMILA FITZGIBBON – Carolyn Addison

Born in Brazil and now based in Montreal, Camila is a recent graduate of John Abbott's Professional Theatre program, where she is the recipient of the departmental 2019 Pamela Montgomery Award and the 2017 Carla Napier Award. Recent acting credits include Shakespeare Canada’s national tour of The Comedy of Errors, HMC's The Drowsy Chaperone, Just Right Productions’ Firebringer, and FIMIIDO’s Bath/Ory at the Montreal Fringe Festival. Upcoming engagements include playing the Narrator in the world premiere of Home Theatre Productions' Late Night Double Feature this December. When not performing, Camila provides reporting and media coverage of the local stage arts scene as the Founding Editor of Montreal Theatre Hub and as a Theatre Contributor to Global TV’s Montreal Morning News. It is a joy and a privilege to at last be joining the Persephone family with Blue Stockings.
NATALIE DEMMON ​– Maeve Sullivan / Musical Director

Natalie Demmon is a performer and singer based in Montreal, having completed her studies at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec in June of 2018. It was at Bishop’s that she earned her BA Double Honours in Music and Drama, developing her skills as an actress and classical vocalist, as well as design work (set, costumes and lighting). She recently performed in the McGill Savoy Society’s Ruddigore as chorus ensemble, and made her Montreal designer debut as scenographer for Rentrobuff Production’s Tick, Tick… Boom!. She is thrilled to be joining Persephone Productions and to work with a wonderful cast of talented artists to bring the powerful story of Blue Stockings to life.
JUDITH PORTELANCE ​– Mrs. Elizabeth Welsh

Judith Portelance is thrilled to be joining the esteemed Persephone Productions and their stellar cast in Blue Stockings, her second stage performance after a four year hiatus. A graduate of Dawson's Professional Theatre program, and holding a BA in English literature from McGill University, Judith has been known to dabble in creative writing and voice-acting. One of her areas of study has been the female condition in the Victorian era, making her role as Mrs. Welsh in Blue Stockings an absolutely perfect fit. Judith thanks her husband and her cats for their continued support, and sincerely hopes you enjoy the show.
DARRAGH MONDOUX ​– Miss Blake / Minnie

A graduate of the Dome Theatre program, emerging playwright, academic, and award-winning public speaker, Mondoux has toured the greater Montreal area with Shakespeare in the Park (Twelfth Night, 2014, and Julius Caesar, 2015), performed at Place des Arts as part of Pride Montreal 2018 in The History of Sexuality. On the Fringe, she was seen in Glam Gam's parody musical Greasy: A Lesbian Love Story, and premiered her first original play Burning Bridget Cleary as part of her new Irish intercultural production company this past summer. A student at Concordia's Liberal Arts College, from which she is set to graduate with honours in spring, Mondoux is imbued with a particular passion for the subject matter of Persephone's presentation of Blue Stockings, a perfect choice for her first project with the venerable company.
ELISE DE BUSSAC ​– Miss Bott / Mrs. Lindley

Elise de Bussac is a Theatre graduate from the University of Regina. She received her BFA in Acting in 2012. During her University career, she performed in four stage productions, played in several student film productions, and took part in background and crew work for local Saskatchewan film companies. Elise moved to Montreal in 2014 to pursue acting. Since then, Elise has performed in Brave New Productions' Funny Shorts, in Theatre NDG's period drama Alison's House, and has twice performed for renowned acting coach Tom Todoroff. She thoroughly enjoyed discovering Blue Stockings. Elise is very grateful to be a part of this production and hopes you enjoy your experience.
CHRISTOPHER DE VARENNES ​– Will Bennet

Christopher de Varennes is a stage and screen actor, and a graduate of the Dome Professional Theatre Program at Dawson college. He joins the cast of Blue Stockings fresh off a tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream with Shakespeare Canada, in the roles of Lysander, Quince, Puck, and many more. This is Christopher's first show with Persephone Productions, and he is honoured and excited to bring the charming and humble character of Will from the script into your hearts.
ARUN VARMA ​– Ralph / Dr. Maudsley / Professor Radleigh

Arun Varma is an emerging artist who has been performing wherever and however he could for the past eight years. He’s done comedies, tragedies, tragicomedies, comedies that were supposed to be tragedies, and various other shades of the brilliant theatrical rainbow. He is honoured to be a part of the compelling and talented team of Blue Stockings. He hopes you will enjoy this exploration into some of the not-so-rosy, but crucially important, stories of our past. And yes, it will all be on the test.
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CALDER LEVINE – Lloyd / Billy Sullivan

Calder is a graduate of John Abbott College (Professional Theatre: Acting) and Concordia University (Education). He participated in Black Theatre Workshop’s Artist Mentorship program in 2013. He has directed two theatre pieces and one short commercial for Montreal tech start-up, bKey. Recently, he was a part of the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company, touring with A Midsummer Night’s Dream for young audiences. His other Theatre for Young Audiences appearances include playing Rooster in the 2019 TheatreWorks production of Annie, and he has played under the direction of Nadia Verucci. Additionally, Calder has lent his voice to Genius, a Sherlock Holmes radio play spin-off. Calder would like to thank his family and friends and his girlfriend, Bianca for their support. While not pursuing acting projects, Calder teaches English as a second language.
JAYDEN BEATON – Edwards / Professor Collins

Iota’takeratenion Beaton is a Montréal based aboriginal actor. Descended from a Mohawk mother and Ojibwe father, he has always had a fascination with storytelling and performance. A recent graduate of John Abbott College's Professional Theatre program; this is not Iota’takeratenion’s first foray into the Victorian Era, and he hopes to bring his past experience to the exciting project alongside the cast of Blue Stockings, and the rest of Persephone Productions.
SIMON PELLETIER – Holmes / Professor Anderson / Fight Coordinator

Born and raised in Montreal, Simon Pelletier has always had a propensity for acting, alongside writing, making and drinking pretentious coffee, and memorizing collective nouns. He graduated from Concordia's Acting program in 2017 where he began to truly understand what it means to be other people. Some of his public performances include We Are One Theatre’s META-nominated production Smackhead and Geordie Productions’ The Tales of Robin Hood (where he also worked as co-fight coordinator). Simon always seeks to approach his characters with empathy and understanding, and looks forward to applying those to Holmes and Anderson in Blue Stockings.
NICK FONTAINE ​– Mr. Thomas Banks

Involved in the theatre since the age of 11, Nick, over the course of the last 24 years, has gone through an identity crisis of sorts. Initially believing that his life's ambition lay in the cold, factual world of journalism or the more creative realm of screenwrting, Nick has since chosen dramatic arts as a means of dedicatedly focalizing his energies. A 2015 graduate of the John Abbott College professional theatre program, he has, from that time onward, been involved in many stage-acted projects. Recent credits include a socially recluse woodsman in the horror-style play Lupus (Les Affamés), Chief Bromden in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Hudson Player's Club) and a series of colourful characters in Get It Off My Chest (Sipo-Matador Theatre). Otherwise, what else to say other than Nick hopes you'll enjoy Blue Stockings for the characters that compose its story as well as its strong feminist message. Have a great show!