News
Spotlight on Our Cast and Crew – Pride and Prejudice
Each newsletter, we will highlight a member of our talented cast and dedicated crew from our current Senior School production of Pride and Prejudice. Today, the stage is set for Maran Hawley '26, who has a pivotal role on and off stage, and Will Larder '26, who methodically and precisely takes on the role of Mr. Darcy. We also shine a spotlight on Gabby Shaw '25, who steps into the role of Jane Bennet, and Nicole Onyeka '26, a dedicated member of our stage crew bringing the production to life behind the scenes.
Meet Maran Hawley – Showcasing her talents on and off stage
Maran Hawley is a Grade 11 student from Port Williams, Nova Scotia. She embodies the spirit of artistic versatility at King's-Edgehill School. Having attended KES since Grade 7, Maran is now in her fifth year and has become deeply immersed in the School's performing arts community. Her passion for performance and creative expression has led her to participate in both on-stage productions and backstage crew work. Maran embraces the performing arts as a way to channel her natural creativity. From multiple senior productions as a crew member to her value of the collaborative aspects of theatre work, her experience expands wide. "My favorite part has been collaborating with my friends and creating inside jokes and memories," she reflects. Maran strongly advocates for greater student involvement in the performing arts and believes it strengthens the School's art community and enables more ambitious projects. Looking forward, she is super excited to develop stronger bonds with this year's crew members.
Will Larder – Bringing Mr. Darcy to life
Will Larder, a Grade 11 student from Falmouth, Nova Scotia, has undergone a remarkable transformation during his six years at King's-Edgehill School. He was once a self-proclaimed fine arts skeptic who "obstinately refused to participate in artistic activities." Will's journey into theatre began with a pivotal role as Timon in The Lion King Jr. when he was in Grade 8. "I despised the fine arts for the entirety of my childhood," Will vividly admits, "but when I came to King's-Edgehill, I was forced to reevaluate my outlook on this pillar of life, and I realized I had been wrong." Now, theatre has become one of his favorite pursuits. He particularly enjoys the freedom of expression and the challenges of character transformation. His current involvement in Pride and Prejudice allows him to explore theatrical performances without any pressure. Will passionately offers wisdom to anyone that wishes to participate in theatre productions or other disciplines of art: "To those who are nervous, I promise that if you truly believe in yourself and commit, you will not only find yourself immune to ostracism, but you will not be nervous when you walk on stage to perform." His journey from skeptic to enthusiast serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of keeping an open mind.
Meet Gabby Shaw – Bringing Jane Bennet to Life
Gabby is a Grade 12 student and one of the talented performers in this year's Senior School play. A boarder from Windsor, Nova Scotia, she has attended King's-Edgehill School since Grade 6. Drawn to the creative expression of performing arts, she was particularly intrigued by the opportunity to participate in a period performance of Pride and Prejudice. Her natural affinity for singing, dancing, and performing has made theatre a perfect outlet for her artistic talents. “I love how the performing arts allow you to express yourself creatively, and when it comes to acting, you can transform yourself into an entirely different character,” Gabby explains, when asked about her involvement in the performing arts. She strongly advocates for student involvement in theatre productions, emphasizing its value for self-expression, stress relief, and confidence building. Looking ahead to the April performance, she encourages the KES community to attend what promises to be an outstanding show with a super talented cast.
Meet Nicole Onyeka – Behind the Scenes of the Stage Crew
Nicole, a first-year student from Nigeria, has joined the Senior School play's crew team this year. While her initial interest in performing arts was sparked by friends at her previous school, she chose to step behind the scenes at KES as a way to be involved while pushing beyond her comfort zone. Rather than taking the stage, Nicole found her place helping to create the magic backstage. “I was excited to be involved but nervous about acting, so I chose to help with the crew,” she explains. “I was more comfortable helping the play in other ways than acting.” Drawing from her own experience, Nicole highly recommends theatre participation to others, emphasizing that it's not just a fun experience but also an excellent opportunity to challenge yourself and forge new friendships.
Stay tuned for more cast and crew spotlights, and don’t forget to mark your calendars – Pride and Prejudice is coming to the stage April 10–12!
Karlee Sinclair
Junior and Senior School Faculty
King’s-Edgehill School is located in Mi'kma'ki, the unceded ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq People.
