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A Niall McNeil Production presented by the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, in association with Touchstone Theatre

Beauty and the Beast: My Life

Written and directed by Niall McNeil

APRIL 1-3, 2027

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Part fantasy, part reality, with huge dollops of whimsy, Beauty and The Beast: My Life transports audiences into a vibrant realm that references Disney and Cocteau but charts its own unique narrative path through Niall’s experiences and multi-faceted art practice.

Talk about innovation. Talk about risk. Talk about reward. Talk about Niall McNeil’s Beauty and the Beast: My Life. …All theatre is collaborative, but this collaboration is particularly exciting: so many high-powered artists coming together to realize the vision of another high-powered artist who’s sharing an aspect of human experience we seldom see on the stage… I encourage you to see Beauty and the Beast: My Life. You will be lucky to encounter this artist.

Colin Thomas, Fresh Sheet

Photo by Tim Matheson. Pictured Niall McNeil.

SHOWTIMES: April 1 - 3, 2027

Thurs, April 1 – 7:30pm 
Fri, April 2 – 7:30pm 
Sat April 3 – 2PM

CONTENT INFO

Women of the Fur Trade. Pictured Kelsey Kanatan Wavey & Cheri Maracle. Photo by Frank Cattroll
Women of the Fur Trade. Pictured Kelsey Kanatan Wavey & Cheri Maracle. Photo by Frank Cattroll
Women of the Fur Trade. Pictured Kelsey Kanatan Wavey & Cheri Maracle. Photo by Frank Cattroll
Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, Cheri Maracle, Lisa Nasson. Photo by Fred Cattroll.
Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, Cheri Maracle, Lisa Nasson. Photo by Fred Cattroll.
Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, Cheri Maracle, Lisa Nasson. Photo by Fred Cattroll.
"It’s a testament to Koncan’s writing that Woman of the Fur Trade works so masterfully as a satire: it disarms with its wit, charms with its narratives and provokes with its timeless themes."

Joshua Chong, Toronto Star

CAST + ARTISTS

ARTISTS

Playwright | Frances Končan

Director | Renae Morrisseau

Scenic Designer | Lauchlin Johnston

Lighting Designer | Jeff Harrison

Projection Designer | Candelario Andrade

Projection Design Assistant | Melissa Joakim 

Sound Designer/Composer | MJ Dandeneau

Sound Design Assistant | Miquelon Rodriguez

Associate Sound Designer | Jack Goodison

Costume Designer | Vanessa Imeson

Production Manager | Kayleigh Sandomirsky

Fight Director | John Koensgen

Revival Stage Manager | Erika Moray 

Revival Assistant Stage Manager | Elsa Orme

CAST

Marie-Angelique – Kelsey Kanatan Wavey

Cecilia – Cheri Maracle

Eugenia – Columpa Bobb

Louis Riel – Jonathan Fisher

Thomas Scott – Victor Hunter

Niall McNeil

Niall McNeil is an artist living with Down Syndrome who has been involved with theatre from an early age through his lifelong association with the Caravan Farm Theatre.

Niall was an ensemble member of Vancouver’s Leaky Heaven Theatre 1999-2006, under the direction of Steven Hill. In 2010, Niall performed in A Christmas Carol as a member of the English Acting Company of the National Arts Centre, Director Peter Hinton. Niall and Marcus Youssef have co-written two Jessie Richardson Theatre Award winning plays together, Peter Panties (2011) (Leaky Heaven/Neworld Theatre) and King Arthur’s Night (2017) (Neworld Theatre). In 2018, Niall was awarded a Certificate of Honor from Studio 58 acting school in Vancouver.​​

Niall acted in Director Marie Clements’ 2012 short film, Pilgrims (TIFF 2012). In 2022, Niall partnered with Marie again as creative collaborator and subject of her NFB documentary Lay Down Your Heart (VIFF 2022). Niall directed his first documentary film The Originals, about the founding members of the Caravan Stage Company and Farm Theatre, which premiered at the 2024 DOXA Film Festival.