Latest news with #Othello
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Stratford Festival mourns the loss of veteran actor Michael Blake
Michael Blake as Don John in the 2023 production of "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Stratford Festival. (Courtesy: Stratford Festival) Michael Blake, a Canadian actor best known for his work with the Stratford Festival, has passed away. He spent 10 seasons with the theatre company, performing in a total of 25 productions between 2011 and 2023. 'Mr. Blake was one of the most gifted actors of his generation,' a press release from the Stratford Festival said. 'He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare.' Michael Blake Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake as Othello in the 2019 production of "Othello" at the Stratford Festival. (Courtesy: Chris Young/Stratford Festival) Blake shined in both starring and supporting roles, including the titular Othello, Macduff in Macbeth, Master Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, Cominius in Coriolanus, Duke of Clarence in Richard III, Albany in King Lear, Errico in Napoli Milionaria!, Mr. Balance in The School for Scandal, George Deever in All My Sons, Edmund in King Lear, Dumaine in All's Well That Ends Well, Cleante in Tartuff, and Sebastian in Twelfth Night. Michael Blake Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake as Macduff in the 2016 production of 'Macbeth' at the Stratford Festival. (Courtesy: David Hou/Stratford Festival) The Stratford Festival said it was a consolation to know that his performances on stage will be preserved on film. 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' Antoni Cimolino, the festival's artistic director, explained in the release. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality. We will all remember him both for his art and his person. He was a member of our artistic family, and he will be deeply missed. We send our condolences to Michael's family and to his many friends and colleagues facing this difficult loss.' Michael Blake Stratford Festival Michael Blake as Macduff in the 2016 production of 'Macbeth' at the Stratford Festival. (Courtesy: David Hou/Stratford Festival) Blake was born in Toronto and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada. He also played Adult Simba in The Lion King at the Princess of Wales Theatre, as well as various other theatre productions across Canada. The Stratford Festival said they will honour his legacy by dedicating a production to Blake in their upcoming 2026 season.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Beloved Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake dies at 53
Toronto actor Michael Blake, who spent 10 seasons at the Stratford Festival, has died. In a news release, the festival called Blake, 53, 'one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare.' Blake was well known at Stratford for his Shakespearean roles, which included Macduff in 'Macbeth,' Master Page in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' Don John in 'Much Ado About Nothing,' Cominius in 'Coriolanus,' the Duke of Clarence in 'Richard III,' Albany in 'King Lear' and Dumaine in 'All's Well That Ends Well.' In 2019, he played the lead in the festival's 'Othello.' In her review for the Star , Karen Fricker praised Blake's performance. 'Blake's Othello is beautifully spoken, poised and feline: in all ways attuned to the world around him,' she wrote. 'He's succeeded by contradicting in practice the low expectations that society has of him. Which is not to say he's crafty; he's savvy and principled.' Blake performed in 25 Stratford productions between 2011 and 2023, including 'Napoli Milionaria!' 'The School for Scandal,' 'All My Sons' and 'Tartuff.' The festival noted that Blake also appeared at theatres across Canada, and in film and television, including 'Due South,' 'The Expanse,' 'The Lost Symbol' and 'Murdoch Mysteries.' According to his biography, Blake was born in Toronto and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. He played the adult Simba in the original Toronto run of the musical 'The Lion King'; was an inaugural member of the English acting company of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and was a member of the first graduating class of the Soulpepper Academy in Toronto. 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' artistic director Antoni Cimolino said in the news release. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality. 'We will all remember him both for his art and his person. He was a member of our artistic family and he will be deeply missed.' Funeral details have yet to be announced. The festival said it will dedicate a production to Blake's memory in 2026. This story has been edited from an earlier version that gave an incorrect age for Michael Blake.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Beloved Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake dies at 54
Toronto actor Michael Blake, who spent 10 seasons at the Stratford Festival, has died. In a news release, the festival called Blake, 54, 'one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare.' Blake was well known at Stratford for his Shakespearean roles, which included Macduff in 'Macbeth,' Master Page in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' Don John in 'Much Ado About Nothing,' Cominius in 'Coriolanus,' the Duke of Clarence in 'Richard III,' Albany in 'King Lear' and Dumaine in 'All's Well That Ends Well.' In 2019, he played the lead in the festival's 'Othello.' In her review for the Star , Karen Fricker praised Blake's performance. 'Blake's Othello is beautifully spoken, poised and feline: in all ways attuned to the world around him,' she wrote. 'He's succeeded by contradicting in practice the low expectations that society has of him. Which is not to say he's crafty; he's savvy and principled.' Blake performed in 25 Stratford productions between 2011 and 2023, including 'Napoli Milionaria!' 'The School for Scandal,' 'All My Sons' and 'Tartuff.' The festival noted that Blake also appeared at theatres across Canada, and in film and television, including 'Due South,' 'The Expanse,' 'The Lost Symbol' and 'Murdoch Mysteries.' According to his biography, Blake was born in Toronto and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. He played the adult Simba in the original Toronto run of the musical 'The Lion King'; was an inaugural member of the English acting company of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and was a member of the first graduating class of the Soulpepper Academy in Toronto. 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' artistic director Antoni Cimolino said in the news release. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality. 'We will all remember him both for his art and his person. He was a member of our artistic family and he will be deeply missed.' Funeral details have yet to be announced. The festival said it will dedicate a production to Blake's memory in 2026.
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Beloved Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake dies at 54
Michael Blake as Othello at the Stratford Festival with Amelia Sargisson as Desdemona. David Hou/Stratford Festival
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Nawazuddin Siddiqui's three-storey mansion ‘Nawab' recreates his home in the village – has a personal gym, theatre, and a wall of fame. Watch
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who used to share a room with 4-5 people in Mumbai's Goregaon during his initial phase of career, built his dream bungalow five years ago. The plush mansion, named 'Nawab' after his late father Nawabuddin Siddiqui, is located at Yari Road, Versova. It is a recreation of his childhood home back in his village Budhana, Uttar Pradesh. In a recent video, the actor gave a house tour of his three-storey luxury bungalow, which he designed himself. He then started the tour with the living area that mostly had walls and furniture with muted colours like beige, white, and brown. When asked about the vibe he had in mind, he said, 'This was always the plan to keep it vintage. When we used to see houses in the olden times, during the colonial period, I wanted something like that. Whenever someone gifts a painting, I am not able to hang it on the wall because it doesn't match the colour family. Hence, I buy paintings according to the colour theme.' The only colourful element in the space was his bright red pool table. 'When there's free time, I play. More than me, my guests play here,' the actor added. ALSO READ | Nawazuddin Siddiqui builds a mansion, names it after his father. See photos The walls in the hall had many posters of scenes from famous plays and characters such as Hamlet, Romeo and Othello, which Nawazuddin has played during his theatre time at the National School Of Drama. 'All these posters are from plays, mostly Shakespeare (Macbeth, Merchant Of Venice, Hamlet). Meri chaahat thi ki main jab ghar mein ghusu toh NSD theatre ke time wala time yaad rahe. I should feel I am new, still learning. There aren't any film posters in my house,' he shared. The 51-year-old said that his mansion has three floors – the first floor has a hall and theatre, the second floor has his makeup room, and on the third floor, there are some more rooms. The personal theatre room had beautiful brown sofas with a huge screen to watch films. The room also opened to a balcony, with lush greenery around. 'I have a hobby of flowers of different colours. The idea behind it was to have flowers and plants around,' he said. He also revealed that the balcony was designed keeping Romeo and Juliet's balcony in mind as an inspiration. Nawazuddin Siddiqui also has his own makeup room, with wooden detailing in the floor, walls, and furniture. It looks like a green room, with bright lights all around the big mirror. Whenever he has to go for a shoot or any professional commitment, he ensures to get ready there. In the house-walk, he also flaunted his small home gym. He admitted, 'Main zyada gym waala hu nahi par bana diya maine bas yeh.' The hall area also had his daughter's London acting workshop distinction hanging on one of the walls. 'Paagal hai vo acting ke lie,' said the proud father. The entire house' flooring, pillars, arches, and railings were like an old-school home, similar to his childhood property. The last area to showcase was the staircase which had a 'wall of fame' of his achievements – with all his awards and trophies in display. However, Nawazuddin mentioned that he doesn't believe in awards, but feels grateful to receive them.
