Performances
The Studio at Vertigo Theatre
- 2026 Apr 9 Thursday 7:00 PM
- 2026 Apr 10 Friday 7:00 PM
- 2026 Apr 11 Saturday 1:00 PM
- 2026 Apr 11 Saturday 7:00 PM
- 2026 Apr 12 Sunday 1:00 PM
- 2026 Apr 12 Sunday 7:00 PM
Auditions
- 2026 Jan 31 Saturday
What To Know About This Production
The Painter and The Lake, written by Cayley Wreggitt, is a one-act interdisciplinary show that uses a wide array of visual and performing artistic disciplines to explore an artist's relationship with creativity and inspiration.
The Painter and The Lake tells the story of Peter, a down on his luck painter who escapes to the Canadian Rockies in search of inspiration. However he gets more than he bargained for when he encounters Lillian, the human personification of a mountain lake, played by a dancer. Finally inspired, Peter becomes more successful than ever before, gaining attention from notable art galleries. But something sinister lurks beneath Lillian's surface. She doesn’t want to be made into a commodity and sold to the highest bidder. She is a divine muse, and as Peter’s success grows, so does Lillian’s desire to lure him back to the mountains and into her murky depths forever.
This piece dabbles in elements of horror, and folklore to create a compelling narrative about the dualistic nature of art in capitalist society. It also reflects themes of environmentalism and the importance, and artistic impact of the natural world on Canadian artists.
PROJECT HISTORY
Choreographic vignettes and initial development of The Painter and the Lake were presented in "Visions of Lillian", part of Dance at Nextfest 2023. This piece featured performers Thomas Geddes as Peter and Samantha Ketsa as Lillian.
"Visions of Lillian" was choreographed by Samantha Ketsa and written by Cayley Wreggitt, production design by Nicole Logan, lighting design by Skye Grinde, sound design by Samantha Ketsa, stage management by Andrea Murphy, and voiceover by Grace Fedorchuk.