Emma Graveson ’14 had recently returned home after studying in Amsterdam when COVID-19 hit. With the world in upheaval, Emma decided to take the time to think about and prioritize what she really wanted in life. After being cast in a play, directing several short ones and re-immersing herself into the theatre community, Emma was offered an opportunity to direct ‘Shakespeare in Love’ with Theatre in the Country. We sat down with the alum to learn where life has taken her since graduation, how this experience has been, and what she has planned next.

Growing up, Emma was actively involved in the theatre program at Meadowridge. After graduating in 2014, Emma wasn’t sure what her life path would be but knew it wouldn’t be the theatre. She didn’t want the lifestyle of an artist and preferred something more stable. Emma attended the University of King’s College Halifax, taking their Foundation Year Program and then studying Classics with a focus on Ancient Greek Philosophy and History of Science and Technology. After graduating, she then moved to Amsterdam to obtain her masters in Western Esotericism at the University of Amsterdam’s Centre for the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents. When COVID-19 hit, Emma took the time that COVID provided to think about and prioritize what she really wanted in life. While theatre wasn’t something she wanted as a career, she realized it was still something she wanted as part of her life. The theatre was always a positive force in her life, as it provided her with such great experiences with her teachers and classmates, so it was time to bring that back to share her passion with others.

The theatre was always a positive force in her life, as it provided her with such great experiences with her teachers and classmates, so it was time to bring that back to share her passion with others.

After being cast in ‘Murder in the Nile” by Agatha Christi just before COVID hit, Emma had been re-immersed into the theatre community. With the transition to online theatre to keep up engagement, Emma kept pushing and inquiring to be involved. When the theatre was able to open again, Emma’s inquiries had paid off when she received the call looking for directors from Theatre in the Country.

Emma had directed short plays and co-directed a play in university, but ‘Shakespeare in Love’ with Theatre in the Country was her first experience directing a full length, full cast production on her own. Every week, there was a new hurdle that Emma and her team had to overcome. This production of ‘Shakespeare in Love’ was an extremely large and complex production for her first solo directing experience. With 18 cast members playing over 40 different characters with just as many costumes, 28 scenes and 27 set changes, on top of live music, dancing, sword fighting, intimacy scenes, a dog and child actors, this wasn’t an easy show to coordinate. Emma also had to ensure that all roles had understudies, with COVID adding additional stress with the changing restrictions and actors constantly having to isolate if showing even mild symptoms

The past two years have been challenging for so many and Emma appreciated that she and her team could gather together in a group setting to create something they were all proud of, while having fun. Witnessing the audiences return to live theatre to attend a show that is sad but uplifting with funny moments, Emma shares that it was so great being able to facilitate that moment.

With 11 shows running over three weeks, audience feedback has been great. Emma shares, ““It was so great to see how the actors internalized what I worked on with them and make it their own by giving it a new life beyond what I could help them with, but using the supports I’d given them to get there.”

When asked what piece of advice she would share with Meadowridge students, Emma states, “Keep pursing what you’re interested in, even when other things come up, you get busy, or if you know it won’t be your career. Make time to prioritize the things you enjoy just because you enjoy them and because it brings you happiness.”

With ‘Shakespeare in Love’ closing, Emma is now stage managing at Metro Theatre. Emma is excited to see what she will be doing next but hopes the theatre will be a part of her life forever.