This article appeared in several local newspapers:

Kanata Theatre alumnus at Magnetic North

Kanata Theatre alumnus Colin Williams is back in town as an invited guest of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival. He lives in London, England where he has spent four years bringing Canadian Theatre to the British public.

Williams grew up with Kanata Theatre, being a long-time member alongside his siblings and parents. His acting career began in children’s plays. He took on more challenging roles in plays such as Bousille and the Just, One for the Pot, and Much Ado About Nothing in which he played the evil Prince John. He also put a lot of time and energy into many back-stage tasks. These duties ranged from being stage manager and light and sound designer, down to spray-painting rooms in Kanata Theatre's Ron Maslin Playhouse, at Terry Fox Drive.

Since moving to London, Williams has taken up residence close to the famous Old Vic Theatre and the Royal National Theatre complex, and a short walk from the Shakespeare’s Globe theatre. He has established a non-profit British company called “The Windchill Factor” whose mandate is to promote Canada through the performing arts. Since 2003, London has had more than a dozen locally mounted productions of Canadian writing. The Windchill Factor supported each one, being the co-producer of some productions and by providing marketing services to others. In the coming months, The Windchill Factor will mount two more productions of Canadian plays. Rick Bland's play Thick will make a U.K. tour, while HOUSE, by Daniel MacIvor, will have a one-month run in London.

Williams returned briefly to Ottawa to participate in the Magnetic North Theatre Festival. The Festival runs for eleven days, and its purpose is to showcase recent Canadian plays. Magnetic North is an annual international event, with participants visiting from as far away as Australia and China. The previous two Festivals were held in Ottawa and in Edmonton, and next year’s event will be in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Living and working (and paying taxes!) in the UK does have its glamour moments. He was recently invited (with other Canadians living in London) to a reception with the Queen. “It was quite a shock” chuckled Williams, “to receive an envelope in the mail with a return address of ‘Buckingham Palace’”. There are unexpected advantages to being Canadian, he finds.