Media Kit - Arts Club Theatre Company

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTNicola Cavendish has been seen at the Arts Club and around the countryprimarily as an actress, though she hopes to delve more consistently intowriting, which seems more difficult but doesn't hurt quite as much. She hasappeared as an actress at the Stanley in Mrs. Dexter and Her Daily by JoannaGlass; Up Island by David King; For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again byMichel Tremblay; Unless by Carol Shields and Sara Cassidy; Arsenic and OldLace; and Dirty Blonde. A new project with the Arts Club next season is inthe works. Lately she has been concentrating on writing—her new play isbeing developed as part of the Arts Club's Silver Commissions project.A NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHTWhen I was 27 years old I had the time of my life writing my first play at the request of Bill Millerd. Heknew me as a young actress and tossed out the idea that I try my hand at a Christmas script and submitit for consideration. It's Snowing on Saltspring, with all its heart and wacky notions, was the result. Myrecently deceased husband Michael was my best critic, and provided some wonderful bits throughout—as well as better punch lines than I was coming up with. How I miss him.The impulse for the story came from a woman who used to live in my little South Okanagan village ofKaleden when I was growing up. She was full of character and raised her kids alone in a warm Pickerscabin that usually had a huge soup pot going with a recently slaughtered chicken burbling away. Therewas no lack of judgment in the village, and when I was 15 I realized, to some large degree, she was anoutcast. She had no shortage of struggle in her life ,and my Father never hesitated to give her a lift intotown when he saw her hitchhiking on the highway. From that, and my aptitude for listening, I learnedcompassion and to not decide about people by anything other than their stories. Out of the Kaledenperson sprang the play's character, Bernice Snarpley, who was very left-of-centre, and succeeded inpulling the heartstrings and altering the perspective of some of those with preconceived notions. Forthat I was proud.And really... who wouldn't just love to fly in that sleigh up up and away and spend a sack of time abovethe world with one heck of a squeezy fellow named Santa? I would. Best wishes for good health,contentment, more laughter, less stuff, and lots more out-loud love.