Rebecca Northan and Bruce Horak Are Sneaking Improv into Mainstream Canadian Theatre

About This Episode:

What happens when three goblins discover the complete works of Shakespeare and decide to stage Macbeth? Rebecca Northan and Bruce Horak, the creative minds behind Spontaneous Theatre and the Goblin Empire, join Phil to share the wild origin story of Goblin:Macbeth; from a rushed eight-day creation to becoming a phenomenon at major Canadian theatre festivals. They discuss the challenges of performing in Hollywood-grade silicone masks, the art of caring for audiences while embodying creatures, and how they've managed to sneak improvisation into prestigious Canadian theatre companies like the Stratford and Shaw Festivals.

This episode explores:

• The serendipitous eight-day creation of Goblin Macbeth and performing in expensive silicone masks
• How mask work, clown technique, and bouffon influence the goblins' relationship with audiences
• Sneaking improvisation into mainstream Canadian theatre at Stratford and Shaw Festivals
• The legacy of Keith Johnstone and Loose Moose Theatre Company in shaping Canadian improv
• Why live theatre is the antidote to artificial intelligence and isolation
• And much more!

Guests: 🎭 Rebecca Northan and Bruce Horak

Rebecca Northan is a "Jill-of-all-trades": actor, director, playwright, improviser,producer, and sometimes-prop-maker. She is the Artistic Producer of Spontaneous Theatre, known for its audience-centered creations that almost always break the fourth wall. Rebecca has worked across Canada as an actor and director. Most recently she co-created Murder-on-the-Lake for the Shaw Festival, which played to 87% houses in the 2025 season. In 2026, Rebecca will travel to Bard on the Beach, in Vancouver, to direct the Merry Wives of Windsor, and will then remain perform in Goblin:Oedipus. Rebecca, and co-creators Bruce Horak & Ellis Lalonde continue to expand the "Goblin Empire", with several future Goblin projects in the hopper. Rebecca is a Canadian Comedy Award Winner, and has also starred in two Canadian TV series ("Alice, I Think", and "The Foundation"). She also teaches improvisation occasionally, and hopes to someday launch a training facility. Rebecca's hit show, Blind Date, has toured across Canada, parts the US, off-Broadway, and in London & Oslo.

Bruce Horak is originally from Calgary, Alberta where he trained in Theatre and Improvisation at the prestigious Loose Moose Theatre. He has worked professionally in Canada and abroad for over 25 years. He can be seen onscreen in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds for Paramount Plus as the Chief Engineer, Hemmer. When not creating new works and performing onstage, Bruce devotes his time to painting, composing, and writing.

Connect with Rebecca Northan and Bruce Horak:

🌐 Spontaneous Theatre: spontaneoustheatre.com

📸 Instagram: @spontaneoustheatre

📸 Instagram: @rebeccanorthan

📸 Instagram: @brucehorak

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