Yann Martel, Original Author
Yann Martel is a celebrated Canadian author, best known for his inventive storytelling and insightful explorations of human experience. Born in 1963, in Salamanca, Spain, and raised in a multicultural environment in Canada, Martel’s diverse background heavily influences his literary works. In 2002 he gained international acclaim with Life of Pi, a winner of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction that was adapted into a successful film and stage production, solidifying Martel’s reputation as a masterful storyteller.
Martel’s other works include Self, a metafictional exploration of identity, and Beatrice and Virgil, a novel that delves into the complexities of the Holocaust through the lens of a donkey and a monkey. In The High Mountains of Portugal, Martel weaves together multiple narratives spanning different eras, showcasing his ability to blend the worlds of animals and humans to tell meaningful stories.
Throughout his career, Martel has explored themes of spirituality, survival, and the human condition, earning him a devoted readership. His unique voice and imaginative narratives continue to captivate audiences, making him a prominent figure in contemporary literature. Currently he is working on Son of Nobody, a novel conveying a modern twist on the story of the Trojan War.
He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with the writer Alice Kuipers and their four children.
Lolita Chakrabarti, Playwright
Lolita Chakrabarti is a renowned playwright and actress, celebrated for her impactful contributions to theatre. Her adaptation of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi earned her an Olivier for Best Play and enjoyed an impressive 14-month run in the West End before opening on Broadway in March 2023. Shortly thereafter, her adaptation of the best-selling novel Hamnet premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company and transferred to London’s West End in September 2023.
Her debut play, Red Velvet, premiered at the Tricycle Theatre in London before transferring to St Ann’s Warehouse in New York and then to London’s West End. The play garnered her numerous accolades, including the Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright 2012, the Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright 2012, and a nomination for an Olivier in 2012.
Her other writing credits include Hymn; Stones of Venice, a VR film adapted from Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities for Hong Kong’s New Vision Arts Festival; and The Greatest Wealth, a curated celebration of seven decades of NHS, the British National Health Service.
In terms of acting, her credits include Fanny and Alexander, Hamlet, Vigill, The Casual Vacancy, Wheel of Time, Born to Kill, My Mad Fat Diary, Riviera, Criminal and the TV series Screw on UK’s Channel 4.
Max Webster, Director
Max Webster is an acclaimed Canadian director recognised for his innovative work in theatre and film. With a diverse portfolio, he has directed productions for some of the most prestigious theatres in Canada and beyond. Theatre credits include: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, As You Like It, The Jungle Book, Fanny and Alexander, Cover My Tracks, The Twits, The Winter’s Tale, The Sea of Fertility, Mary Stuart, Much Ado About Nothing, Shostakovich’s Hamlet, Orlando, To Kill a Mockingbird, My Young and Foolish Heart, James and the Giant Peach, My Generation, Carnival Under the Rainbow, Feast Kakulu and Caucasian Chalk Circle.
Opera credits include: La Bohème, The Merry Widow and Owen Wingrave. More recently, Webster directed other major theatre productions, from Henry V to Antigone.
Finn Caldwell, Puppetry and Movement Director
Finn Caldwell is a distinguished puppetry and movement director known for his innovative approach to on stage performance. With a background in theatre, he is also a designer, performer and co-artistic director at Gyre & Gimble, a theatre company specialising in puppetry. His credits include: The Four Seasons: A Reimagining, The Hartlepool Monkey and The Elephantom.
As Puppet co-designer/director, credits include: The Grinning Man and Running Wild. As puppet theatre director, credits include: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Angels in America, The Light Princess, War Horse, Groundhog Day, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, The Bear, The Tempest, Alice’s Adventures Underground, Adventures in Wonderland, Ariodante, Dream Space, Rubies in the Attic, Shrek: The Musical, Climate and Tom Thumb.