The Watch List
By Rachel Aberle
Directed by Ming Hudson
February 4th – 14th, 2026 at The BackStage Stage
ON STAGE
VOLUNTEER
MERCH SHOP
PAST SHOWS
Social politics. Generational divides. A birthday celebration gone awry.
When Michelle and Todd Milne (and Todd’s outspoken mother Irene) welcome their son Cyrus and his girlfriend Amy for a visit, the revelations that unfold could tear the family apart. In turns hilarious and heartbreaking, The Watch List is a gripping look at what happens when idealism crashes into real life.
“The Watch List is a play that should be done now. It’s highly engaging, and presents its topical subject matter with humour and heart. At the Banff Centre, it was one of the top choices to be invited to do a residency and the reading presented while here was funny and sad and demanded discussion.”
– Amiel Gladstone, Director of Theatre Arts – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Commissioned by The Belfry Theatre, Victoria BC.
Developed with the support of the Banff Centre for the Arts Slaight Theatre Creation Residency.
Running Time: Approx 100 minutes
In partnership with the Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre, and the USSU Women’s Centre.
content and support
Please be aware that this show features strong language and discusses sexual assault, consent in romantic relationships, and social and racial politics. Viewer discretion is advised.
For more information on specific content, please contact us at info@25thstreettheatre.org
Recommended viewer rating – 14A
If anything in The Watchlist is triggering or upsetting for you, please know that the Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre exists to support you. They provide free, confidential crisis and therapeutic services to survivors of sexualized violence throughout the lifespan, as well as their loved ones, and anyone who has been vicariously impacted by sexualized violence.
Main Office: 306-244-2294 24-Hour Crisis Line :306-244-2224
Cast
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Lisa Bayliss - Michelle
Lisa Bayliss is honored to be performing for the first time with 25 th Street Theatre. Lisa began her theatre career in Vancouver and returned to her prairie roots 13 years ago. In BC, Lisa has appeared in numerous productions for Bard on the Beach, the Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, Firehall Theatre, Belfry Theatre, Western Canada Theatre, Theatre Northwest, and the Richmond Gateway Theatre. In Saskatoon, Lisa has been a company member with Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan for five seasons (Hamlet, Done/Undone, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, Richard III, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s Will). This past year, she appeared in the World Premiere of 18 Jews Order Chinese Food (Persephone Theatre), The Unplugging (Burnt Thicket) and recently played a whirlwind of comedic characters in Michael Healey’s The Master Plan for Globe Theatre in Regina. Other favourites include Cottagers and Indians, Pride and Prejudice, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Between the Sheets, Sexy Laundry (Persephone Theatre); The Wolves (Live Five).
Upcoming: Blithe Spirit, Persephone Theatre; Julius Caesar/Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan.
Braden Butler - Cyrus
Braden Butler (he/she) is an actor and theatre artist originally from misâskwatôminihk (Saskatoon, SK) in Treaty 6 Territory and a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program. Recent hometown acting credits include The Tragedy of Richard II, A Midsummer Night’s Dream: 1985 (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan); Mustard (25th Street Theatre); The Maids, Final Notice (Whirligig Theatre); and The Gay Card (Live Five). Elsewhere in Canada, Braden’s credits include The Immaculate Perfection of F***ing and Bleeding in the Gender-Neutral Bathroom of an Upper-Middle Class High School (High Performance Rodeo 2024, World Premiere 2023), the WorkPlays Alberta school tour, and leading roles in East of Berlin, RED, Shakespeare’s Dog, Richard III, and two additional productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Mark Claxton - Todd
Based primarily on Treaty Four and Six lands, Mark has worked as a theatre artist and screen actor for roughly 18 years, his most recent stage appearance being with SaskExpress in the musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Mark has directed numerous productions, with the University of Regina’s theatre department and for Souris Valley Theatre in Estevan, and most recently Channel Theatre’s Stag and Doe at the Rosthern Station Arts Centre. He makes his home in Regina, where he fills the gaps between gigs with freelance writing, occasional stints as a sessional university instructor, and enjoying the company of his son, Logan, and his one-in-a-million partner, Jodi. Mark is delighted to be working with 25th Street Theatre for the first time.
Jen Fong - Amy
Jen Fong (she/her) is thrilled to be back home in Saskatchewan, performing with 25th Street Theatre for the first time! Originally from Regina and currently based in Toronto, Jen’s a proud prairie girl at heart. She’s a graduate from Randolph College for the Performing Arts and holds her BA in Visual Art from the University of Regina. Select theatre: Bad Hats Theatre’s Peter Pan, The Masterplan (Globe Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Drayton Entertainment), Mamma Mia (Thousand Islands Playhouse), The Little Mermaid (Persephone Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Western Canada Theatre), Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Cymbeline (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan). She comes from a mixed-race family, and she’s dedicating this one to her parents and sister who’ve taught her you can be anything you want to be while being proudly who you are.
Upcoming: Come From Away (Thousand Islands Playhouse)
Michelle Fisk - Irene
Having been a nomadic member of Canada’s theatrical community for the past fifty years, Michelle has performed and resided in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, London, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, Charlottetown and Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Her most permanent domicile was in Stratford where, for ten years, she was a member of the Festival Company. Having been a frequent visitor to Saskatoon, (her sister, Jennifer lives here) Michelle has now performed twice in the city: THE SOUND OF MUSIC and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, both at Persephone. She is so pleased to be part of the premiere of THE WATCH LIST and to be working with these wonderful artists.
Creative
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Rachel Aberle - Playwright
Rachel is an author, dramaturge, and award-winning playwright. With a background in theatre performance, Rachel’s writing is known for its sharp dialogue, strong characterization, and exploration of life’s uncomfortable grey areas.
Her plays for teen audiences, Still•Falling and The Code are published as a duo by Talonbooks and have toured across North America with Vancouver’s Green Thumb Theatre. They have also been recognized with the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award for Significant Artistic Achievement and the Sydney J. Risk Prize for Outstanding Original Play by an Emerging Playwright respectively. As The Watch List premieres at 25th Street, her newest TYA play, Caged is premiering with Green Thumb.
Rachel lives on the traditional territory of the Lhtako Dene People in Quesnel BC with her husband Kyle, daughter Elliot, and two ridiculous chihuahuas. Rachel is currently working on her first novel.
Ming Hudson - Director
Ming is a Vancouver based artist who pays rent on the lands stolen from the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. For over 20 years, she has worked as a freelance performer, devised theatre creator, collaborative director, independent producer, and teaching artist on the west coast, across Canada, and abroad. Her specializations are in physical theatre and the creation of new work as a collective ensemble. A graduate of the Advanced Devising Practice program at LISPA (now arthaus.berlin), she also holds a MA in Ensemble Theatre (Rose Bruford), and a BFA in Acting (UVic). Select directing credits include: Studio 58, UBC, Two Planks and a Passion, Chemainus Theatre, and Green Thumb Theatre. Upcoming, she will be working as a director for: Zee Zee Theatre and Bard on the Beach. www.minghudson.com
Jeff Chief - Costume Designer
Jeff Chief (he/him) is Cree from Onion Lake First Nation on Treaty 6 territory in Saskatchewan. Jeff’s recent design credits include: Awowakii, Honour Beat (Theatre Calgary), Women of the Fur Trade (Magnus Theatre), Pow wow, Leave it to Weavers (GTNT), Women of the Fur Trade, Café Daughter, Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion (Globe Theatre), The Diviners, Women of the Fur Trade (Stratford Festival), Lear (GTNT/La Troupe du Jour), The Fiancée (Persephone Theatre), Iago Speaks (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan), The Rez Sisters (Royal MTC), Flush, Life After Hockey (La Troupe du Jour), Yaga, Ministry of Grace (Belfry Theatre).
Sam Fairweather - Stage Manager
Sam (she/her) is an actor, stage manager, educator, and dedicated dog mom who was born and raised on Treaty 6 territory. She is thrilled to be back with 25th Street Theatre and to be a part of The Watch List’s world premiere- congratulations Rachel!! Outside the theatre, you can find Sam at the dog park, snuggled up watching movies, or discovering the best dessert places in Saskatoon- recommendations are always welcome!
Lauren Griffin - Asst. Stage Manager
Lauren Griffin (she/her) is a writer, actor and stage manager from Treaty Six Territory. Lauren graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a BFA in Drama and minors in Psychology and English. Lauren’s recent credits include acting in Paper Wheat, stage managing The Art of French Cooking and assistant stage managing Men Express Their Feelings at 25th Street Theatre and apprentice stage managing for Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Story at Persephone Theatre. Lauren’s publications include “Frost” (1st place Hybrid Grain Contest, Grain Vol.51.3) and “Excavation” (Guild Prize winner, Freelance Vol.53 No.4). Her play The Mooneaters was awarded Best Local Show at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival in 2025.
Carla Orosz - Set/Props Designer
Carla is grateful to live and work on Treaty 6 territory. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan School for the Arts (Drama). Her design work and mentorship can be seen at Greystone Theatre, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, Persephone Theatre, Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre, 25th Street Theatre, La troupe du jour and various independent theatre collectives. She is a proud member of ADC 659, CITT, and IATSE Local 300. Special thanks to Lou, Reilly and Ryan for always understanding why she spends all her time in the theatre – what a joy to truly love what you do.
Amanda Trapp - Audio Designer
Amanda Trapp (she/they) is a Cree and Saulteaux (member of White Bear First Nations)/settler actor & composer based in Saskatoon, SK. Previous sound/ composition credits: Oblong and Oboe Stir the Pot (O&O Collective/Live Five); Cafe Daughter (Globe Theatre); Romeo & Juliet, As You Like It, Shakespeare’s Will (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan); Paradise Lost (CCPA, Victoria BC); The Other Side of the River (Sum Theatre); The Penelopiad (Ferre Play Theatre). “I’m grateful to Ming and Anita for coaxing me out of sound design retirement for this important play. Thanks to everyone at 25th Street Theatre for having me, and to my fellow designers and production team for their skill and collaboration.”
Stephen Wade - Lighting Designer
Over the years his designs have been seen at the Greystone Theatre, UofS, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, Persephone Theatre and now back at 25th Street Theatre where he started his professional theatre career. Recent credits include, Set Design for Million Dollar Quartet, Lighting for The Birds and the Bees, Set and Lighting Design for Butcher and Lighting Designs for Aliens and WROL at Persephone Theatre, Lighting Design for Twelfth Night at Never Never Shakespeare and Set Design for Men Express Their Feelings at 25th Street Theatre. He is pleased to be back as Lighting Designer for The Watch List. Stephen is a member of Associated Designers of Canada (IATSE ADC 659).
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