Created and Performed By
Cliff Cardinal
Directed and DramaturgeD By
Karin Randoja
Originally Produced by
Eric Epstein and Imaginary Force
lighting design and Stage Managed by
Andrew Dollar
William Fallon
Sound Designer
Sage Paul
Costume Designer
Cliff Cardinal
Cliff Cardinal is a polarizing writer and exceptional performer. His solo theatre productions STITCH, HUFF, CLIFF CARDINAL’S CBC SPECIAL, THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or AS YOU LIKE IT and (EVERYONE I LOVE HAS A TERRIBLE FATE BEFALL THEM) have earned a reputation on the scene for his black humour and compassionate poeticism. As Video Cabaret writer in residence, Cardinal’s first multi-character play, TOO GOod TO BE TRUE, opened Video Cabaret’s 2019 season at The Busy Street Theatre in Toronto with Cardinal himself directing. In 2023, A TERRIBLE FATE opened the newly re-named Deanne Taylor Theatre. CLIFF CARDINAL’S CBC SPECIAL, toured festivals in Ottawa, Calgary, St. Catharines and Toronto, through Canada’s North starting in Yellowknife as well as in Guanajuato, Mexico. CLIFF CARDINAL & THE SKY-LARKS have produced three albums and toured Ontario and Eastern Canada. The Single, Suicidal Valentine, the title track from the 2022 album released on Merilainen Music, reached #6 on the Indigenous Music Countdown. The song Y2K enjoyed consistent play on satellite radio. The song Christmas in Kingston has been performed by Corin Raymond and Hawksley Workman- who CliFFPerformed with at the Danforth Music Hall. He lives in Toronto where he is developing a Television show and writing his first noveL.
Karin Randoja
Karin Randoja (Director and Dramaturge) is a director, actor, teacher and singer/composer. For over 35 years she has directed mainly original performances, including: (Everyone I Love Has) A Terrible Fate (Befall Them); This is the Point; Gertrude and Alice; Jacinto; huff; Brotherhood: The Hiphopera; My Nightmares Wear White; Breakfast and Clean Irene and Dirty Maxine. Karin was a founding member of Primus Theatre and The Independent Aunties. Her work has received numerous Canadian and International awards and has been seen in Australia, Denmark, England, India, Italy, France, Japan, Mozambique, Scotland and across Canada and the U.S. She has taught and directed at Humber College, The Centre for Indigenous Theatre, The International Theatre Institute and The National Theatre School, of which she is also a graduate.
Eric Epstein
Eric has worked in theatre professionally for over fifty years, as an actor, director, producer, stage manager and sound designer. He studied theatre at UBC and East 15 Acting School in the UK, and continued his studies at the National Voice Intensive and with Gob Squad Theatre from Berlin. He was a founding member of Touchstone Theatre and founding artistic director of the Vancouver Shakespeare Festival (precursor to Bard on the Beach). He served as Artistic Director of the Guild Hall in Whitehorse for nearly a decade. He has also worked as a performing arts curator, first with the Frostbite Music Festival and then as Artistic Director of the Yukon Arts Centre, presenting theatre, dance, music, circus, clown, and more from across Canada and beyond. He remains active as an actor, musician and storyteller having recently studied storytelling practice under the mentorship of New York monologuist Mike Daisey. He is producer of the award-winning theatre piece, Cliff Cardinal’s CBC Special.
Andrew Dollar
Andrew has been a longstanding member of VideoCabaret. Andrew’s recent Stage Management credits include: FAOC's Beige Christmas with VideoCabaret, Dissonant Species with Theatre Gargantua, Every Brilliant Thing with the Orillia Opera House, Unwritten – The improv Show with Yonge People’s Theatre, Metamorphose With Theatre Smith Gilmore at Crows Theatre, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, and 15 Dogs with Crows Theatre.
William Fallon
William Fallon is a Toronto, Canada base multidisciplinary production professional with a history of projects from coast to coast. Over the last two decades, William has enjoyed working with independent theatre artists, regional theatres, touring companies, commercial producers, and large institutions. While primarily known for his work as a sound designer and production sound engineer with credits including the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Stratford Festival, Mirvish Productions, Musical Stage Co., The Grand Theatre, 2b Theatre, and more; Fallon has been working as a production electrician for the National Ballet of Canada since 2019. William is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada and is a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 58 and the Associate Designers of Canada.
Sage Paul
Sage Paul is an urban Denesuliné woman based in Toronto and a member of English River First Nation. Her ethos centres family, sovereignty and resistance for balance. Sage is the Executive & Artistic Director of Indigenous Fashion Arts, which she also co-founded. She has been instrumental in establishing and leading projects for Indigenous artists working in fashion, craft and textiles through several projects with Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, Inland, Ikea Canada, the International Fashion Showcase during London Fashion Week, Setsuné Indigenous Fashion Incubator, the Canadian Trade Commissions in South Africa and London, Artscape Launchpad and Canadian department store Simon’s. Sage has contributed to InStudio Magazine (Banff Centre for the Arts), Walker Reader (Walker Arts Centre) and TEDx Toronto and has provided consultation for Ryerson University, Urbani_T, Canadian Art and Fashion Awards, Harbourfront Centre and several others, including artists in the art and fashion sectors. Sage teaches the Contemporary Indigenous Fashion and Jewellery program at George Brown College, which she also developed. In 2019, Sage was nominated for the Premier’s Award in Creative Art and Design and was recognized as “… leading Canada’s Indigenous Fashion Movement” (En Route Magazine).
Please consider making a donation to support VideoCabaret as we approach our 50th anniversary milestone season in 2026.Your donation will ensure that our theatre continues to remain accessible for all and to help emerging Canadian artists and playwrights reach their true potential. No donation is too small and will ensure a place for you in Canadian theatre history.
VideoCabaret thanks our government funding partners below for their ongoing support as well as our loyal donors and sponsors from over the years.
