Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Written by Tom Stoppard
**Sensitive Content Warning: Murder, death, sexual references, suicide, stage combat, offensive language, discussions of sexual assault
If you would like more information about the content of this show please do not hesitate to reach out to either snbtheatre@gmail.com or our confidential equity and accessibility email snbequity@gmail.com
Audition Dates: October 2025
Show Dates: January 2026
Play Synopsis
Acclaimed as a modern dramatic masterpiece, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead is the fabulously inventive tale of Hamlet as told from the worm’s-eye view of the bewildered Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters in Shakespeare’s play. In Tom Stoppard’s best-known work, this Shakespearean Laurel and Hardy finally get a chance to take the lead role, but do so in a world where echoes of Waiting for Godot resound, where reality and illusion intermix, and where fate leads our two heroes to a tragic but inevitable end.
(Via Dramatists Play Service)
Character Descriptions
Leading Roles
Rosencrantz
Guildenstern
Rosencrantz
Guildenstern’s dimwitted friend. Really good at winning coin flips. Like, really good. How many wins in a row is that? No, really, how many?
Guildenstern
Rosencrantz’s sharper counterpart. Wait, which one is Rosencrantz again? Are you sure it’s not this one?
Supporting Roles
Hamlet
The Player
Hamlet
An arrogant, cruel prince. Portrayed as a man.
The Player
A crass and dramatic manager of mirth.
Featured Roles
The Tragedians
Alfred
Ophelia
Claudius
Gertrude
Polonius
The Tragedians
Musicians and actors who accompany the Player.
Alfred
A Tragedian. Portrayed as a man.
Ophelia
A victim of her circumstances.
Claudius
A tyrannical king. Hamlet’s uncle. Portrayed as a man.
Gertrude
A wife and queen. Hamlet’s mother.
Polonius
Ophelia’s father.
Meet the R&G Production Team
Naomi Badour (she/her) - Director
Naomi is a longtime member of Sock ‘n’ Buskin, and she’s been around the block over the years. This is her second time directing after Dracula (2022) and her fifth Sock ‘n’ Buskin production overall. She also served on the board for three years and ended her time at Carleton by serving as Sock ‘n’ Buskin’s Co-Artistic Director last season. Naomi is so excited to be directing this show for her victory lap, and she can’t wait to work with such a wonderful production team and board to make it happen.
Rebecca Johnson (they/she/he) - Assistant Director
Freshly free from graduate studies, Rebecca is looking forward to wrapping themselves in the comforting and fantastical embrace of the world of theatre. Relatively new to the stage, Rebecca is honoured to have acted as the Assistant Stage Manager of The Picture of Dorian Gray (SnB, 2025), the role of Bodies in Odds and Ends (YIF, 2025), and as a last-minute Stage Manager for All that Glitters in the Dark (Ottawa Fringe Festival, 2025). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (SnB, 2026) will be Rebecca’s first crack at being an Assistant Director, and he couldn’t be more grateful that fate dragged him toward an iconic script and a dream(y) production team. Outside of theatre, you’ll probably find Rebecca causing chaos at the D&D table, elbows-deep in soil at some farm or another, or sailing the seven seas (or at least Mooney’s Bay) as a pirate. Most likely, however, she’ll be curled up in bed rewatching the early Barbie movies and waiting impatiently to show you their slideshow detailing why the Barbie Cinematic Universe is actually the most profound collection of media ever made.
Gabbie Cruz (they/them) - Stage Manager
After a year of being in the wonderful worlds of “Adulting”, “Having An Office Job”, and “Paying Taxes”, Gabbie is a proud SnB alum who is incredibly excited to dive headfirst back in the theatre community, doing the thing they do best: frantically scribbling notes in the margin of their stage manager binder. Selected credits for stage management: Diary of Anne Frank (Theatre Aquinas, 2016), Peter and the Starcatcher (Theatre Aquinas, 2018), Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet (Theatre Aquinas, 2018), Concord Floral (SnB, 2021), Anne of Green Gables (SnB, 2022), Clue (SnB, 2023), Fun & Games (Youth Infringement, 2024), and So You’re Stuck In An Underground Bunker (Faerie Goblin Productions for Ottawa Fringe, 2024). They also wrote a play for Youth Infringement, What The World Needs Now, which won them an Emerging Artist Award with recognition from the City of Ottawa. While they’re not partying in the tech booth, they are supporting queer and trans students, playing D&D, and continuing the Summer of Friendship well past the summer season (which is sooo the friendship company-core).
Lara Daglik (she/her) - Assistant Stage Manager
Lara is a third-year Psychology student and is thrilled to be returning for her second season with SnB! Last year, she worked on both Rumors and The Picture of Dorian Gray as a Stagehand and was Stage Manager for Monologue Night. In her spare time, you can find her working on various types of crafts to varying degrees of success, baking sweet treats, and working on her photography skills. She’s looking forward to another great season!
Teresita Thorne (she/they) - Assistant Stage Manager
Teresita is a lover of the arts, fashion, and story-telling. They wear many-a-bedazzled hat, predominantly as an actor, and were recently awarded as “acting excellence” for Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting role by the Eastern Ontario Drama League. A newly debuted director with SnB for the willie-winning The Picture of Dorian Gray. In her latest creative venture, Teresita dons the hat of artistic director for their partnered mini-production house, The Dress-Up Box. Select theatre credits include: Aurellia u/s in Golden Threads, Jackie Willis in Guilty Conscience, Greta Ohlsson in Murder on the Orient Express, Marmee in Little Women, and Bobbie James in Concord Floral. When not plotting how to bring new and fantastical worlds to life, Teresita spends time tinkering away with distant lands in their mind. Now, they reach for the hat of assistant stage manager, and Teri can’t wait to scamper and spread joy behind the scenes!