About This Episode: This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby is joined by Liz Buchanan, a Hamilton-based actor, writer, and director who is also the artistic director of 9M Theatre. Liz shares her journey as a playwright and performer, focusing on her two Hamilton Fringe shows Gnomes A Traumatic Comedy (2023) and Liz A Traumatic Comedy (2024). She discusses her long-standing fascination with gnomes, how she uses humour and absurdity to explore personal trauma on stage, and more.
This episode explores:
- The creative process behind Liz's two fringe shows, which use comedy to explore themes of trauma and healing.
- The personal and surprising history of her fascination with gnomes, stemming from her childhood and the show Fraggle Rock.
- The decision to transition from a multi-cast show (Gnomes) to a solo performance (Liz) to tell a more personal story.
- The unique pressures and catharsis of performing a solo show, especially when the material is autobiographical.
- The founding of her theatre company 9M Theatre, and its focus on a mix of original work and small-scale, intimate productions of Shakespeare
Guest: 🎭 Liz Buchanan Liz is an actor, writer and director in Hamilton who runs a small independent company: 9M Theatre, which puts on a mix of original and modern work in between small, intimate productions of Shakespeare classics.
She has written 3 plays that she has produced at the Hamilton Fringe Festival: 2018's "The Director's Cut", 2023's critical hit "Gnomes: a Traumatic Comedy" and her 2025 follow-up "Liz, a Traumatic Comedy". When she isn't on stage or behind the scenes Liz works part time as a teacher and part time as a Standardized Patient at McMaster University.
Connect with Liz 📸 Instagram: @9mtheatrecompany | @9mtheatre | @gnomeiswheretheartis
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