RedWit Theatre has announced its cast for Living with Olivia Cadence Donovan!
The play follows Emily who has been living with Olivia her whole life. Olivia is her best friend and roommate, her protector and her downfall. She can be extraordinarily difficult and time-consuming but she is always there. Olivia is Emily’s Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Living with Olivia Cadence Donovan is a play about not just surviving but living with OCD.
To give audiences a glimpse inside the world of a young woman living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), this production is back with new additional content; a brand new second act written by Allison Shea Reed. The play is directed by Sean O’Brien, Stage Managed by Jory McLean, and produced by RedWit Theatre at the Tankhouse Theatre in the Young Centre for the Performing Arts.
The Cast:
- Allison Shea Reed (In the Next Room – RedWit Theatre) – Emily
- Gabriella Circosta (The Cenotaph Project – Theatre by the Bay) – Olivia
- Tristan Claxton (Hamlet(s) – Skipping Stones Theatre) – Rowan
- Conor Ling (The Seat Next to the King – Minmar Gaslight Productions) – Graham
Living with Olivia Cadence Donovan returns to Toronto from January 14 – 25, 2020 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. To support the production you can donate here.
RedWit Theatre: RedWit theatre is committed to producing theatre that addresses themes and issues present in North American Culture, that are often swept under the rug or considered taboo. The goal: to make spectacular theatre, but also theatre that matters.
The cast of Living with Olivia Cadence Donovan answer the following question:
Why are you excited for audiences to see this show?
Gabriella Circosta
Olivia
"I am excited for audiences to see this show because I believe it will bring people together. This show will make us laugh, cry and grow together while spreading awareness to understand what is to live with OCD."
Tristan Claxton
Rowan
"I’m excited for audiences to have the opportunity to learn more about a mental illness that is often misrepresented and misunderstood. More than that, I’m excited for them to learn about it through these characters, not a lecture. They have the opportunity to see into a very real world, with very real characters, and I think that’s what makes this play special."
Allison Shea Reed
Emily
"The show does what I have never been able to do in my real life, it gives people a way in and a common language when it comes to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It allows audience members to see what having OCD looks and feels like through these very real people. It is not a PSA, it is simply a story about a young woman who is struggling with her disorder and attempting to navigate the world she inhabits. And I am most excited for audiences to see what happens next. What happens when a character stops combatting her own disorder and instead begins making decisions in her own right. I can’t wait for audiences to be surprised by how much they might actually relate and already understand how someone suffering from OCD might feel."
Conor Ling
Graham
"I'm excited for audiences to see this show because I think its an interesting and accessible platform to learn about one of the less talked about mental illnesses. I think audiences will leave this show having gained an appreciation for what OCD truly is, and will, therefore, be able to understand more about what it is to live with mental illness. Mental illnesses are diseases like any other and deserve to be talked about in an open, safe, and non-judgmental environment. There's a lot of focus in the arts right now on increasing awareness and lessening stigma around mental health, and I'm honoured to be a part of that movement."
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