{"id":122242,"date":"2026-03-03T13:17:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T18:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=122242"},"modified":"2026-03-03T13:17:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T18:17:32","slug":"interview-award-winning-playwright-judith-thompson-talks-queen-maeve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/03\/03\/interview-award-winning-playwright-judith-thompson-talks-queen-maeve\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Award-Winning Playwright Judith Thompson Talks About Queen Maeve"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_122244\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122244\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-122244\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-03T131106.624.jpg\" alt=\"Actress Clare Coulter as Queen Maeve in the Judith Thompson play of the same name (Photo: Dahlia Katz)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-03T131106.624.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-03T131106.624-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-03T131106.624-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-03-03T131106.624-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-122244\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actress Clare Coulter as Queen Maeve in the Judith Thompson play of the same name (Photo: Dahlia Katz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Tarragon Theatre\u2019s Artistic Director, Mike Payette and Executive Director Lisa Li, are presenting the Toronto Premiere of Queen Maeve by Governor General\u2019s Award-winning playwright Judith Thompson.<\/p>\n<p>Canadian theatre and screen legend Clare Coulter stars in the play. It marks the first time that Coulter and Thompson have worked together at Tarragon in more than a decade.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is a tremendous gift to welcome back two of Canada\u2019s most celebrated artists back to Tarragon Theatre,\u201d remarks Tarragon\u2019s Artistic Director and show director Mike Payette in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Queen Maeve takes the stage from <strong>March 3 to 29<\/strong>, with an opening night of March 11.<\/p>\n<h3>The Play<\/h3>\n<p>The story is bittersweet, as Coulter\u2019s Maeve faces her twilight years, and tries to come to terms with her life as she has lived it. She confronts her past from her bedroom, wrestling with regrets and losses, and making sense of the mistakes she made for love.<\/p>\n<p>She is an elderly woman who\u2019s life seems rather crushingly ordinary from the outside. But, is she also the reincarnation of a legendary Irish warrior queen?<\/p>\n<p>Identity, legacy, and aging are the major themes that run through the work, where reality and myth are intermingled.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Clare Coulter<\/strong>\u2019s recent theatre credits include Top Girls at Tarragon Theatre, and King Lear at the World Stage Festivaln. Coulter has an extensive background in both TV and film as well as theatre, including appearances on the series Severance, Fargo and Star Trek: Discovery, and many others, and several films. She is a Dora Award winner, and has been nominated for a Genie, Gemini, and Canadian Screen Award, among others.<\/p>\n<p>As an actress, she\u2019s worked with some of Canada\u2019s most significant writers, including Michel Tremblay, Ann-Marie MacDonald, and W.O. Mitchell, along with Judith Thompson and others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJudith Thompson\u2019s repertoire is foundational within Canadian theatre, and her latest work, Queen Maeve, invites us into the world of a woman that is equally familiar as she is timeless in her warrior mythology,\u201d says <strong>Payette<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPortrayed by the incomparable Clare Coulter, the play takes us through a day\u2019s journey of our heroine who is battling life and memory within the confines of her self-described tomb, all-the-while seeking refuge in the possibility of forgiveness and family connection. Layering biting dialogue with rich imagery and beautiful narrative, I am thrilled to share this quest with a team of greats for this exceptional play\u2019s Toronto homecoming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Queen Maeve also features a stellar ensemble cast: <strong>Ryan Bommarito<\/strong> (Tarragon debut, Strawberries in January: A Musical Fantasy\/Centaur Theatre, Moonfall\/Lionsgate), <strong>Caroline Gillis<\/strong> (New Magic Valley Fun Town\/Tarragon Theatre, Saving Graceland\/Blyth Festival, Women Talking\/MGM), and <strong>Sarah Orenstein<\/strong> (Patience\/Tarragon Theatre, Shakespeare in Love\/Stratford, Albatross).<\/p>\n<h3>Judith Thompson<\/h3>\n<p>Judith Thompson is a two-time Governor General\u2019s Award-winner (White Biting Dog, The Other Side of the Dark).<\/p>\n<p>Beginning in the 1980s, with Artistic Director <strong>Urjo Kareda<\/strong>, Thompson worked extensively at Tarragon Theatre. White Biting Dog premiered there in 1984, and it would be the first of many of her plays to take the stage first at Tarragon. The association helped to establish both Thompson\u2019s career, and Tarragon as a company focused on fostering Canadian playwriting.<\/p>\n<p>Today, Thompson is playwright, director, screenwriter, actor and artistic director\/producer with an international reputation. She is also a professor at the School of Theatre, English, and Creative Writing at the University of Guelph.<\/p>\n<p>Queen Maeve had its world premiere in September 2023 at Here For Now Theatre in Stratford, Ontario.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5TCwVqscdJI?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Judith Thompson: The Interview<\/h3>\n<p>How did the story take shape?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was given the prompt,\u201d Thompson recalls. It as part of a project to write a series of ten online plays commissioned by a Montr\u00e9al theatre company. \u201cI said sure, I\u2019m very interested in that, in aging, and what it means, and excavating that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When it came to the idea of Queen Maeve, she had to do some digging.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI did have to do some research,\u201d she says. \u201cI think I looked up Irish queens and warriors.\u201d Queen Maeve was perfect. \u201cThat&#8217;s actually right for the character,\u201d she\u2019d thought.<\/p>\n<p>Irish heritage doesn\u2019t play into the story or character per se. \u201cThe point is, she needs to find the mythic queen in herself.\u201d As Judith points out, Maeve, like many older women in our world, has been deemed a non-entity by society at large \u2014 but, within her family circle, she\u2019s a force to be reckoned with. \u201cSometimes, a destructive force,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s framed by her interactions with her PSW,\u201d Thompson explains. <strong>Caroline Gillis<\/strong> plays the role of Siobhan, her personal support worker.<\/p>\n<h3>Dealing With The Past: Summoning The Inner Warrior Queen<\/h3>\n<p>While the action is confined to a single day, it contains what Thompson calls two \u201cbig juicy scenes\u201d where Maeve relives pivotal moments in her life. They represent the times when Maeve, far from being a non-entity, changed everything for everyone concerned. She has to address the fallout that resulted, and her guilt.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s her final day. She has to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While the details may be different, the larger themes will resonate with women in the audience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think all of us, we women, we all have to find the mythic queen warrior inside ourselves in order to survive in this misogynistic world,\u201d Thompson says.<\/p>\n<p>The talks about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nhl\/story\/_\/id\/45812984\/hockey-canada-trial-judge-says-onus-proof-not-me\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recent court case<\/a> where five hockey players in London, Ontario were acquitted of sexually assaulting a young woman because the judge didn\u2019t find her credible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe says she had to play the role of the porn star in order to survive,\u201d Thompson says. While the judge didn\u2019t believe her story, she thinks women understand it only too well. \u201cAs women, we understand this is survival mode,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat&#8217;s what I was exploring is that at any age, we have to find that warrior,\u201d Thompson continues.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd who&#8217;s to say that she isn&#8217;t Queen Maeve?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Judith notes that people have essentially dismissed the character as a victim of dementia \u2014 but Thompson doesn\u2019t see it that way.<\/p>\n<p>Maeve is looking for a way to face her regrets over the past. She\u2019s ordinary and forgettable to everyone else \u2014 except within her own family. \u201cThere, we are architects.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_122245\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122245\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-122245\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/ClareCoulter_PH_JaeYang_Tarragon_QueenMaeve5665-1.jpg\" alt=\"Actress Clare Coulter as Queen Maeve in the Judith Thompson play of the same name (Photo: Jae Yang)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/ClareCoulter_PH_JaeYang_Tarragon_QueenMaeve5665-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/ClareCoulter_PH_JaeYang_Tarragon_QueenMaeve5665-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/ClareCoulter_PH_JaeYang_Tarragon_QueenMaeve5665-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/ClareCoulter_PH_JaeYang_Tarragon_QueenMaeve5665-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-122245\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actress Clare Coulter as Queen Maeve in the Judith Thompson play of the same name (Photo: Jae Yang)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Casting<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cAs soon as I wrote it, and spoke to the original director [of the Stratford Festival premiere] I suggested Clare, and I wanted Clare,\u201d Thompson says. \u201cClare has worked on five of my plays. I know she really understands my work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Coulter is a powerhouse of an actress.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s like having Aretha Franklin sing your songs,\u201d Judith says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe understands that it&#8217;s a piece of music. She calls it operatic. She inhabits the rhythm in an unmatchable way. Brings a musicality that many might not see, but yet maintains a natural quality as well,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll drama has to be rhythmic and musical,\u201d she adds. \u201cIn a play, it is the medium, it is the rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She points out that, with TV or film, dialogue serves a specific purpose within the plot. It doesn\u2019t have the same emphasis or role as in a stage drama.<\/p>\n<h3>The Production<\/h3>\n<p>Within Maeve\u2019s bedroom in an institution, Thompson explains that the walls are covered by about 400 drawings created by set and costume designer <strong>Ken MacDonald<\/strong>. In the story, they are Maeve\u2019s paintings and drawings, and include subjects like the wolves outside her window, her legendary tomb in Ireland, family members, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Along with Coulter and Gillis\u2019s PSW, <strong>Ryan Bommarito<\/strong> is Jake, Maeve\u2019s grandson, and <strong>Sarah Orenstein<\/strong> portrays Georgia, her daughter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll magnificent,\u201d Thompson says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe is reliving past moments that are pivotal and changed everything,\u201d she adds. The two family members come for a visit. \u201cThey\u2019re looking in on her with a purpose.\u201d It relates to the two tumultuous scenes\/events Maeve is recalling. \u201cShe needs to relive those two scenes in order to forgive herself, or not, in order to prepare herself to die.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As Judith points out, when it comes to old family disputes, over time, many of the details dim and blur, or are even rewritten. In real life, there is seldom a moment of absolute clarity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s the duty of a playwright to parse it out, and unpack it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Since its 2023 premiere, there has been time for Thompson to take another look at the script.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was really wonderful to have the space and time to look at the script with fresh eyes, and do the revisions that I have done,\u201d she says. \u201cIt&#8217;s a revised play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of the aspects she\u2019s enjoying about the Tarragon production is the stage itself. In Stratford, the production took place in a small tent outdoors. At Tarragon, there\u2019s more room for the actors to move around \u2014 and, presumably, fewer flies to buzz around the audience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was enchanting in its own way,\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\n<p>Another plus in favour of Tarragon is the personnel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo have Mike Payette, who is a visionary director. [&#8230;] is just an honour for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Credits<\/h3>\n<p>Written by <strong>Judith Thompson<\/strong>, the play is directed by <strong>Mike Payette<\/strong>, with <strong>Summer Mahmud<\/strong> acting as assistant director.<\/p>\n<p>The rest of the creative team includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Production dramaturgy by Jeff Ho (he\/him)<\/li>\n<li>Set &amp; Costume design by Ken MacDonald<\/li>\n<li>Lighting design by Jason Hand (he\/him)<\/li>\n<li>Sound design by John Gzowski (he\/him)<\/li>\n<li>Movement consultation by M. John Kennedy (he\/him)<\/li>\n<li>Stage management by Em Aubin (they\/them\/all)<\/li>\n<li>Apprentice stage management by Jacob Beecher (he\/him)<\/li>\n<li>Set assistance by Jung-Hye Kim (she\/her)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Find tickets and show details for Queen Maeve [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tarragontheatre.com\/plays\/2025-2026\/queen-maeve\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a;\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/masthead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? 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