ABOUT US
Dark Matter Theatre produces shows that illuminate the unlikely in the every day. We focus on modern and often new works by women and under represented artists. We are storytellers and advocates and our goal is to create accessible theatre that speaks to today's audiences and perhaps, an audience yet to discover the magic of theatre.
Dark Matter Theatre was formed in 2015 by Brianna Wiens. Brianna had formerly run a small theatre company in Vancouver with her childhood friend Maddison Popov called point b theatre and the pair were now embarking on a new kind of show with new roles: Brianna as producer, writer and actor and Maddison as director.
Leftovers, a one act play with music, was Dark Matter's first production, appearing in the 2015 Vancouver Fringe Festival.
This was a collaborative memory play that explored sibling relationship, death and childhood fame.. all with a large dose of comedy. From this production, Dark Matter's slogan was born: the unlikely in the every day.
Brianna Wiens
(Founder, Kayleen/GPI)
Brianna is an actor, producer, writer, and director originally from Cobble Hill. A graduate of the Bachelor of Performing Arts program at Capilano University, Brianna has spent the last decade working in theatre and film in Vancouver and in 2017 made the move back to the island.
Recent TV & film credits include iZombie and Girls vs. The City. Recent theatre credits include Marianne in Constellations (hapax), Teresa in Between the Sheets (Western Edge), Last Wife in Calling Home (SNAFU Dance), Carly in Reasons to be Pretty (Western Edge), Narrator in Hipstory (Spec), Sam Sawyer in Leftovers (Dark Matter) and Female Actor in This is a Play (Ode Movements).
An advocate for women’s voices in comedy, Brianna is co-producer and co-writer of the series Girls vs. The City, currently in its second season. You can watch the series on YouTube, as well as Season 2 on Telus Optik TV.
In the spring of 2020, she will be directing 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog for Western Edge Theatre.
Jonathan Hamilton
(Producer, Set, Doug/GPI)
Jonathan Hamilton is a Nanaimo local who is happiest when climbing up a rock wall, crushing local trails on his mountain bike or with a surfboard on his hip. When he’s not making the most of living on the wild west coast, he can be found with a script in hand.
Jonathan has appeared recently in Dead Metaphor (Western Edge Theatre), Be A Man (Kismet Theatre Collective), Reasons to be Pretty (Western Edge Theatre), Lone Star (Kismet Theatre Collective) and Making Tracks (Western Edge Theatre)
Jonathan’s amazingly magical kids, Isaac and Annika, have been his biggest supporters throughout this process and he will continue to take notes from them on how to be a good actor and also, how to best enjoy life.
Tamara McCarthy
(Director/GPI)
Though a fierce fighter on the elementary school playground, Tamara did not incur many gruesome injuries.
A multiple Jessie Richardson Award nominated director and actor, recent directing credits include Julius Caesar (Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival); the world premiere of A Brief History of Human Extinction (The Cultch/ upintheair); Into the Woods (Vancouver Island University); The Out Vigil (Theatre Newfoundland Labrador); The Double Axe Murders (Rusticate/ Presentation House); The Sea; A Doll’s House (Slamming Door Collective); Between the Sheets; Reasons to be Pretty (Western Edge); James and the Giant Peach (Chemainus Theatre Festival); The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and A Beautiful View (Naked Goddess).
Most recent appearances as an actor include two world premieres, as Kay Carson in With Glowing Hearts (TheatreOne) and Renata in HELLO (Theatre Terrific/ Firehall). Upcoming Directing: La Bohème (Opera Nanaimo); TDAM remount tour (Gateway/ Evergreen).
Sam Wharram
(SM, Props/GPI)
Sam is a jack of all trades in theatre, with skills ranging from stage management, lighting design, and props, to acting, writing, and improv.
They are currently in their second year at Vancouver Island University in the Theatre program, with hopes to work on stage and screen. Their last production was Between the Sheets with Western Edge, Hand to God with Schmooze Productions, and Into the Woods with Vancouver Island University.
They are also in their 10th year of improvising, both on stage as a student and as a volunteer and instructor with the Canadian Improv Games, and most recently, performing in the Next Act Festival in Guelph, Ontario. Currently, they are running a drop-in improv club at VIU, with co-coach Castor Angus.
An advocate for accessible theatre, Sam is always trying to find ways to make theatre open to all, and available anywhere. They believe in low-cost, low-waste productions, as well as being as green and eco-friendly as possible, so theatre can continue to be created on our great earth!
Carl Keys
(Sound Design/GPI)
Carl graduated from the University of Victoria with a BFA in Theatre, specializing in set, lighting and costume design.
His sound designs have evolved to incorporate found and sampled sounds in evocative soundscapes and contemplative pieces of music that support actors through space and minimalism; they’ve been featured in a number of plays including a full album of compositions written and produced for The Wyrd Sisters, winner of Best Dance piece of the Victoria Fringe in 2015.
Much of Carl’s inspiration for theatrical sound designs comes from his work as a DJ and facilitator of unique events that fuse theatrical approaches with dance music. You can find his musical stylings under his alias Tarantist.