Students kick off season with Virginia Woolf play.
The George Brown College (GBC) Theatre School debuted its first play of the season with Orlando (RUHL).
The theatre came alive with laughter, reflection, and emotion as the students brought Woolf’s words to life on stage.
The play follows Orlando, a character who lives for centuries and experiences love, art, and identity across time. Through humour and transformation, it explores themes of gender, time, and self-discovery.
“It’s about life, and it’s about the different ways that life can switch your focus,” Rachel Claire Selby, who plays Orlando, said. “Ultimately, it’s all kind of like a full circle moment. It’s about love.”
“There’s a big aspect of time in it. It’s kind of like this whole epic tale about Orlando.” added Philip Diamond, who plays the archduke and duchess.
While Woolf’s original novel was the first time Orlando’s story was told, the students’ adaptation offers a fresh and modern take on her ideas. The stage version captures the novel’s core message while unfolding in a way that allows the audience to experience Orlando’s life through shifting centuries and identities.
“The playwright did so much research on Virginia Woolf. It’s just a play version with all of the key elements intact and in place in a wonderful hour-and-thirty-minute show,” Selby added.
Despite being written in the early 1900s, Orlando continues to resonate deeply today. Its exploration of gender identity, love, and time feels strikingly relevant to modern audiences. The cast members reflected on how the play’s themes connect to today’s conversations surrounding gender, identity, and social change, highlighting how Woolf’s message still speaks powerfully across generations.
With a cast of 20 students, the production demanded teamwork, focus, and countless quick costume changes. Each actor took on multiple roles, relying on coordination and trust to make every transition seamless.
The students spent five weeks preparing for the show, and their hard work was evident in every moment on stage.
One of the biggest challenges they faced came from the college-wide strikes that left them without a costume team early in production. Without access to the costume department, students had to improvise and bring in their own clothes to design their characters’ looks.
“During the beginning of our production, we didn’t have our costume crew they were on strike,” one cast member explained. “We needed to bring stuff from home and just find what we could in the costume bags without altering anything, which was pretty hard.” Selby said.
Even with those setbacks, the students found creative ways to make it work.
“It was an interesting experience to actually think about what your character can look like,” another performer shared. “Usually you’re just dressed and measured, but this time we had to decide what felt right for our roles.” Ekaterina Podlesnaia said.
After weeks of intense rehearsals and a successful dress rehearsal last Tuesday, the students brought Orlando to the stage the following week, with performances running until November 15. Their ability to adapt, collaborate, and bring Woolf’s world to life despite all odds was a true testament to their dedication.
Seeing the production in person made the experience even more enjoyable. It was clear that the students had taken the time to perfect every detail, pushing through every challenge with creativity and heart.
