ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — “Struggling to achieve their goals,” is how an ArtsNL news release describes recipients of the Rhonda Payne Theatre Award.
At first, Deidre Gillard-Rowlings, the 2020 recipient of the award, didn’t see “struggling” as applying to her.
In fact, in her acceptance video, she says she was taken aback when she first read the description.
“I’m not struggling. Do I look like I’m struggling?” she thought before telling herself to “cool your jets” as she considered the concept and began to see it in a different way.
“Right now, yes, everybody in this province is struggling. Everybody in this country. Everybody on this globe is struggling to find a new normal. To find some way to feed themselves,” she said recently from her home in St. John’s, where she lives with her partner, actor Darryl Hopkins.
And she admits every time she does a piece of theatre, she struggles.
“That’s the whole reason why we do it. Because it’s a puzzle that you’ve got to figure out. You want to know if you can figure it out. If you can put the best story forward.”
Gillard-Rowlings said she’s always up to her elbows in struggle and that’s why she does what she does.
“Because I want to come out the other end and say, yes I did it. I need that gratification. I need that sense of accomplishment.
“I’m happy to admit I’m struggling,” she said.
"Storytellers will always struggle. And may we never stop.”
Gillard-Rowlings said theatre brought her into the world of telling stories.
“And now I’m just trying to find my feet in all the different facets of it.”
That included starting a theatre company, Bare Boards, with some fellow Grenfell graduates; roles on the stage, including 10 years as Nurse Myra Bennett in Theatre NL’s “Tempting Providence” and four years with the Stratford Festival; roles off stage in film and TV; working as a casting director; screenwriting; participating in Perchance Theatre’s The Power of One project; working on audiobooks; photography and trying her hand at puppetry.
"I want to come out the other end and say, yes I did it. I need that gratification. I need that sense of accomplishment. I’m happy to admit I’m struggling." — Deidre Gillard-Rowlings
The Rhonda Payne Theatre Award is managed by ArtsNL and is open to women in the theatre community who have applied to the organization’s Professional Project Grants Program.
The qualifying grant Gillard-Rowlings received was for travel to Prague to study wooden puppet-making. She’s just waiting for clearance to be able to travel. Then it’s off to Prague to do some work on a puppet, a replica of Cyrano de Bergerac, she made 23 years ago.
“He’s going to be the star of my puppet theatre at some point.”
While opportunities have been a bit less during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gillard-Rowlings believes in adapting. An example she offers is performing for audiobooks, something that’s been a godsend for many actors.
“In a way, performers and people in the theatre are a little bit better equipped to deal with it because we never know where our next job is coming from.”
Gillard-Rowlings never knew Payne. but feels like she did.
The Rhonda Payne Theatre Award
Rhonda Payne established the award by dedicating royalties from the production and publication of her works to a fund to assist women working in the Newfoundland and Labrador theatre community. After her death in 2002, Rhonda’s father, Rod Payne, established the Rhonda Payne Memorial Fund. Donations to the fund can be made at TD Canada Trust, St. John’s Place, 140 Water Street, St. John’s This year’s award is sponsored by Helen Peters and Henry Tremblay. The Rhonda Payne Theatre Award is managed by ArtsNL. All female applicants to the Professional Project Grants Program in the theatre category are considered for the annual award. The winner is chosen by the peer assessment committee for theatre during the fall granting session. — Source: ArtsNL
“I always felt a kinship to her, just because I admired what she did and it’s just so interesting to give people a voice. All you need is the interest in order to give people a voice.”
Previous winners of the award are Renée Hackett, Monica Walsh, Sharon King-Campbell, Mary-Lynn Bernard, Willow Kean, Berni Stapleton, Megan Coles, Tara Manual, Lois Brown, Wendi Smallwood, Darka Erdelji, Nicole Rousseau, Michelle Rex Bailey, Sara Tilley, Ruth Lawrence, Sherry White and Joan Sullivan.
Gillard-Rowlings is honoured to be included in that group.
“I feel part of a greater team,” she said. “I’m really, really proud to be counted as one of them.”
20 Questions
1. What is your full name?
Deidre Christina Gillard-Rowlings.
2. Where and when were you born?
St. Anthony in 1972.
3. Where do you live today?
In the ecclesiastical district of downtown St. John’s.
4. What’s your favourite place in the world?
Bali and Australia, specifically Tasmania.
5. Who do you follow on social media?
Mostly friends and colleagues.
6. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I am a nervous public speaker.
7. What’s been your favourite year and why?
Not sure I’d call it favourite, but my most fortunate, 1996 to ’98. I had a thrilling adventure to Asia; tested my survival skills, taught English, came home, (and) met my future partner, along with a group of colleagues who became lifelong friends while performing at TNL’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival in Cow Head. My connection with TNL would provide me the opportunity to tour the world for 10 years.
8. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
Confront a man who was following my friend and me while we were shopping in an outdoor market in Hong Kong.
9. Can you describe one experience that changed your life?
Attending theatre school at MUN’s Grenfell Campus (or) spending six weeks on the cliffside in Italy.
10. What’s your greatest indulgence?
Home-made butter chicken.
11. What is your favourite movie or book?
Book: Tom Robbins’ “Jitterbug Perfume.” Movie: Wes Anderson’s “The Darjeeling Limited.”
12. How do you like to relax?
I enjoy a good sauna and a cold plunge. Repeat.
13. What are you reading or watching right now?
I am watching old episodes of “The Muppets.” Just finished reading “All the Light You Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr.
14. What is your greatest fear?
F…ing spiders. Not saying the right thing.
15. If you were singing Karaoke what would be your song?
“You’re So Vain,” Carly Simon. I have a deep voice.
16. What do you treasure the most?
The family ring willed to me by my grandmother, Christina Gillard.
17. What physical or personality trait are you most grateful to a parent for?
Thankful to Mom for the ability to be analytical and problem-solve. Thankful to Father for the ability to spin a decent tale.
18. What three people would join you for your dream dinner party?
Myra Bennett, Amelia Earhart and Nina Simone.
19. What is your best quality, and what is your worst quality?
Best quality, hmmm, I feel someone else should be the judge of that. Worst quality, paralyzing myself with self-judgment.
20. If you didn’t take this career path, what would have chosen?
I think I would have gone into some sort of scientific field research.
Diane Crocker is a reporter covering the west coast of Newfoundland.
diane.crocker@thewesternstar.com
Twitter: @WS_DianeCrocker
