Grinder's Grumblings

The Unseen Host, 2023 Are you looking for something to do next summer? Grinder Productions is currently accepting expressions of interest from directors who would like to direct a play in our 2027 season at the Ennotville Historical Library. Every year we produce two weekends of shows. One weekend has already been chosen, but we are looking for another show for the other week. In future years we may expand this call for submissions to include other venues and more open-ended production ideas, but we’re starting small for 2027. Here’s what we’re looking for: Plays for a small space: our default stage size is 12 feet wide by 10 feet deep. Small cast: 1 to 4 actors Simple set, lighting, sound, etc - we have the space two days before performances Low-royalty or no royalty scripts preferred Marketing - who do you foresee wanting to come to this show, and why? How might they hear about it? Do you have people that want to do a play in the summertime? It’s typically harder to find cast and cre...

Last week Grinder Productions did something amazing. We brought not one but two shows to the Grand River Arts Festivals' 10-minute Play Competition. This was our third year participating, but the first time we've had two shows in competition at the same time, only minutes apart. It was a day filled with laughs, surprises, and friendship, reminding us all of just how much fun a community of theatre people can be when they get a chance to get together and be their weird and whacky selves.  I'd like to thank the casts of both shows for their time and exuberance, and to Mya, our director for Hellward Bound, cheering her cast on from afar. Special shout out to Cassandra Hunt, who won an adjudicator's award for acting. And of course to the world's greatest wife, making her playwrighting debut with A Husband's Secrets, playing the role of Gail with no more than a cane, a prop gun, and sheer willpower to get her through.  And of course, there's always talk of next y...

In our barnyard there sits a pile of junk: old mangers and other feeders from past stabling configurations, wooden gates from a different era, slowly rotting away, and lots of other detritus from various and sundry projects, all designed to make the farm run smoother (most of which were quickly proven failures). The pile of junk wouldn't look out of place in any barnyard, and I've seen barnyards with piles of junk much larger than ours, but still, it shouldn't be there. It's a hazard to the livestock, a haven for rodents, and an endless source of sharp metal objects just waiting to puncture a mind-bogglingly expensive tractor tire. And worst of all, that pile has been there for years, and has grown over time. I didn't start the process of accumulating the junk, but I have certainly made that junk pile my own. Over the past few weeks I've finally managed to start dealing with some of the junk. A few boards here, a bit of wire there, even a piece of rope - no idea...

  Electra Cast - before and after the show It's been a couple of weeks now since we brought the curtain down on the 2026 Grinder Summer season with our production of The Electra of Euripides. What an adventure! A big thank-you to this small-but-mighty cast, rehearsing in the shadows of a much larger show, who pulled together quickly to create something spectacular in a very short period of time. I can now definitively check "Greek Tragedy" of my directorial bucket list. Now that I've had a bit of time to recover (and to write blog posts) I'm starting to look ahead to the next two projects here at Grinder, a pair of shows in the Grand River Arts Festival's 10-minute Play Contest in Brantford this September. This is our third year participating, but the first where we've had two plays - one of Jules', and one of mine. Rehearsals will be getting underway for those soon, so watch this space for some rehearsal shots from both shows.  And while I don't t...

  What a ride! This past weekend we transformed the Ennotville Historical Library into Handlebar Dan's House of a Old Wives, a Sarsaparilla Saloon and the setting for one of the largest shows we've ever staged in this intimate little venue. This "Gay 90's" melodrama drew capacity crowds at both performances, enthralling audience members young and old (and I really mean that - some of the biggest reactions I saw were from the "too cool for old school" teenagers).  I'd like to thank everyone who took part in this play, with a special thanks to my assistant director Mya, who stepped into the role of Sally Simple at the 11th hour, and of course to Jules, the world's greatest stage manager and world's greatest wife, who stepped into the role of Gertrude Gretchen Gwillimbury at the 11th and a half hour, performing through injury.  This is the sort of play that I hope is done somewhere again. It already has had a staged reading in Georgia, in additi...

The Cast of Electra Calista Alison - Chorus: Normally starring in backstage crew roles, Calista is beyond thrilled to be making her stage debut in Electra! She is so grateful to Eric, and Grinder Productions for this opportunity, mentorship and trust. Big thanks to the cast for their kindness and support! Gareth Roberts - Orestes:  Gareth is a recent graduate of UTM’s Theatre and Drama Studies joint program with Sheridan College, now enjoying taking opportunities to branch out across acting, writing and plenty of new artistic challenges. He hopes you’ll enjoy tonight’s performance, and asks that theatre audiences always continue to push themselves in their engagement with art; being curious, making connections, and of course letting it change them! Credits include  Twelfth Night as Sir Toby ; The Devised Project: The New Dress and Miss Milan/Ensemble; The Alchemist as Lovewit; The Play that Goes Wrong as Trevor. Cassandra Hunt - Farmer, Old Man, Messenger, Clytaemnestra, Ca...