Tin Pants Theatre Company
last updated April 29, 2011
The Tin Pants Theatre Company is the McLean Mill National Historic Site’s resident troupe of interpretive actors, who make history come alive with original stage shows, guided tours, engaging puppet characters, family fun activities, improvisational theatre, and friendly and informative times with the Mill’s visitors. Wanting to keep the name of the company in the spirit of the steam sawmilling days, the term ‘Tin Pants’ comes from a slang expression used by West Coast loggers, and refers to the canvas rain pants the loggers wore that became so hard when they dried out, they could stand up on their own!
Each summer, Tin Pants present a brand new original stage show. It is performed in the Nikkei Theatre, a tented outdoor performance space, nestled among the trees on the McLean Mill site. The show itself focuses on B.C.’s logging history, incorporating into its tale lots of story telling, fun characters, puppets, audience participation, high energy, and talented performing.
With their Greenhorn Tours, Tin Pants members are happy to guide visitors around the site and sawmill, relaying the history and stories behind McLean Mill in its heyday. As well as your guides, the actors become puppeteers of a wonderful collection of characters and animals that talk to visitors around the site.
On Old-fashioned Days (Mondays to Wednesdays), Tin Pants members run games, crafts, story telling, sing-a-longs, drama games, and many more family orientated activities.
Last but not least, the Tin Pants Theatre Company and local Port Alberni actors take on Friday nights at McLean Mill with their weekly Theatre Sports Tournaments. It’s a show of improvised, original, spontaneous theatre in a friendly competitive format. It’s a hoot, it’s crazy, and it provides audiences of all ages with a brand new show each week!
Introducing the 2011 Tin Pants Theatre Co.
James Brook
Born and raised in Port Alberni and the West Coast, James had an early love for the outdoors. The appeal of theatre was introduced early in high school with Improv taking a front seat. He went on to represent ADSS at the Canadian Improv Championships and has since honed his skills as a founding member of the Portal Players IMPROV ARMY. Aside from improv and outdoor adventures, he is also enthusiastic about being a first time father to a beautiful girl, Shyla. James is excited to combine both his passions to present you a great summer show.
Marie Franceschini
Marie is thrilled to escape the concrete jungle she calls home to act with Tin Pants Theatre Troupe for the second time. Marie's broad range of theatrical experience includes accomplishments in opera, children's theatre, musical theatre and improv. After graduating from The University of Western Ontario (B.Mus voice performance) and then The Canadian College of Performing Arts, Marie has spent the past two and a half years working as an actor and singer in Toronto. Recent credits include: Snow White (Evil Queen), The Gondoliers, Angelina Ballerina: The Musical, Toronto Fringe Festival, Turn of the Screw (the opera) and Titanic: The Musical.
Joseph Goble
Joseph Goble is an actor, singer, dancer, from Smithers, B.C. Being a hyperactive child who wouldn't stop vibrating, his parents thought the best solution to his problems would be to put him in a Ballet class. Most recently, Joseph was seen tap dancing in the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Joseph also has a passion for acting and has just finished his first year at C.C.P.A. in Victoria. He enjoys working with animals and is an ex-competitive western horseback rider. He can also be spotted on B.C. rivers, either kayaking, or rafting. Joseph is excited to be working at Tin Pants, creating new works, educating himself and others, and broadening his performing experience.
Jonathan Greenway
Jonathan is currently an enthusiastic first year theatre student at Vancouver Island University. His love of performing has bloomed from his numerous High school productions and community theatre around Nanaimo, as well as from his speech entry awards at both Upper Island and N.I. Festivals. This past year he has enjoyed performing in several of V.I.U.'s productions, one of which was "The Arsonists". Jonathan has an interest in politics, enjoys creative writing, and recently took up the guitar. He is very excited to be a part of The Tin Pants Troupe, as he has come up to watch the shows each year, and looks forward to what he can bring to the creative process.
Demi Pedersen
Demi's love for theatre and performing began in her first year of high school when she landed one of the principal roles in the schools' production of Oklahoma. Since then, she has worked both on stage and behind the scenes in several productions in high school and community theatre and has recently finished her first year in theatre at V.I.U. When not in a theatre, Demi enjoys writing, playing music and watching Wes Anderson movies! She is very excited to be back in her beautiful hometown of Port Alberni and is thrilled to work with artistic director, Kerry Robertson, and the talented new cast of the Tin Pants Theatre Company.
