Inside the Howland Company’s PRODIGAL: Shauna Thompson in conversation with SesayArts

It’s barely March, but Shauna Thompson has been busy this theatre season.

The multidisciplinary Toronto-based artist is currently winning accolades in her dual role as the Preacher and Simone in Prodigal, a new play written and directed by Paolo Santalucia, and produced by Howland Company that is now on stage at Crow’s Theatre. The story follows the return home of Edmund Clark (Dan Mousseau) , the gay, alcoholic, eldest son of a prominent Toronto family, after he is cut off from the family trust. On the plane home, Edmund meets Levi (Michael Ayres), a man with whom he impulsively engages in a passionate encounter before realizing Levi is also on his way to Edmund’s family home. Prodigal examines themes of queerness, privilege, marginalization, and forgiveness as these two young men attempt to return to the families they have lost—one to confront his past, and the other to start his future. In addition to Thompson, the ensemble includes Veronica Hortiguela, Cameron Laurie, Nancy Palk, Rick Roberts, Hallie Seline, Meghan Swaby, and Jeff Yung.

And this is her second production of the season with Howland Company. Last November, she portrayed Irina in a contemporary interpretation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters adapted by Santalucia. And audiences will also remember her from the final commission by Peggy Baker Dance Projects Beautiful Renegades, a play by Michael Ross Albert that was inspired by the anti-establishment politics shaping contemporary dance in 1970s Toronto.

Born in Etobicoke (western Toronto) and raised in Brampton, Ontario, Thompson fell in love with performing when she was just eight years old – a passion that was cemented by her acceptance to the Regional Arts Program at Mayfield Secondary School. After high school, she studied at the University of Guelph, graduating with a degree in English literature with a minor in French language studies.Although she was not studying theatre during this time, she directed, produced, and performed in more than 15 on- and off-campus productions, and was encouraged by theatre professors to pursue a career in acting.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Thompson took their advice. She completed her acting training at the National Theatre School of Canada in 2018, and since graduating, she has worked steadily. She played Romeo in Repercussion Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet: Love is Love. She spent three seasons at the Shaw Festival, appearing in productions of Man and Superman, Victory and The Devil’s Disciple. And last April, she played the role of Maya in the world premiere of George F. Walker’s play Orphans for the Czar last April.

SesayArts caught up with Thompson to talk about her path to performing, the experience of playing Simone in Prodigal – and how Jordan Peele figures in her hopes for the future.

SM: What would you like readers to know about you and your inspiration for pursuing a career in the performing arts?

ST: I wish I had something profound to say to this question but I really just love performing. I always have. When I was a kid I would put on my own little plays or choreograph dance routines to share with my family. For many years, I was actually pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, but eventually I couldn’t deny that my heart was onstage. It brings me a lot of joy to know that something that makes me so happy makes others feel similarly.

SM: What brought you to this project, your second with the Howland Company this season? 

ST: The theme of forgiveness is what I find most intriguing about this piece. I’ve thought a lot about forgiveness myself over the last few years with the rise of cancel culture. I’m very much of the mindset that accountability and justice are much more important than outright expulsion. Hurt people, hurt people. Cancel culture feels like the easy way out and doesn’t address the root cause of why people make poor decisions. Prodigal is full of characters who make questionable choices, and we get to watch them wrestle with if they can forgive themselves and/or those around them. The results don’t always play out the way an audience might expect.

SM: Tell us about this world-premiere work. Who should see it, and what can audiences expect?

ST: I think anyone could see this show. It does have some mature subject matter so those with children may want to factor that in, but I believe the themes of the piece are relatable and important. At the very least, it’ll give audience members an opportunity to reflect on their relationships and, hopefully, say to themselves “I don’t want to be that kind of person.”

SM: Tell us about your role in Prodigal. What attracts you to it? 

What I love most about Simone is that she knows herself. She knows what she wants and goes for it. I’ve always admired people who aren’t afraid to take risks. She speaks her mind and doesn’t seem fearful of being vulnerable if it means achieving her goals. While some may see someone who makes some controversial decisions, I see a woman who is brave in ways I’m not sure I would be. 

SM: How similar or different is your character to you? If you met, would you be friends?

ST: I’d say Simone and I are pretty different even just solely on the basis that we were raised differently. She was born in Côte d’Ivoire to a religious family and eventually immigrates to Canada to pursue a career in politics. So culturally speaking, we’ve had somewhat opposing upbringings as I have none of that lived experience. Where I think we’re similar is that we both speak the same languages (though she may speak one or two more more than me), we are interested in making change through our work, and we’re both black women navigating predominantly white spaces. If our paths were to cross I’m sure we’d get along and have some things to talk about but I’m not sure that it would flourish into a long term friendship.

SM: I know that you are also a dancer, and I’m curious how your dancing informs your acting and how your acting informs your dancing. 

ST: I’ve always been a mover in general. Since I was young I’ve been involved in either dance or a sport. I’m a kinesthetic learner and so movement for me goes hand in hand with almost anything I do. For example, I find it easier to memorize my lines when I’m on my feet moving through space. It’s also a helpful tool for making discoveries about how my characters navigate their world physically whether it’s how they walk or more minute details like hand gestures.

SM: What question didn’t I ask you that you wish I had ( and what’s the answer)?

ST: What’s one thing you hope to accomplish one day career-wise?  

I would love to work on a Jordan Peele movie. I love his work. Let’s just go ahead and say it’s going to happen one day. Speaking it into existence! 

Jordan, if you see this, hit my line! 

Howland Company’s Prodigal is on stage at Crow’s Theatre until March 12, 2023. Audience Advisory: Prodigal features mature language and themes, substance abuse, and mentions of suicide. Recommended for audiences 19+. Reserve tickets crowstheatre.com.

© Arpita Ghosal, SesayArts Magazine, 2022