Collective Rage: A Play In Five Betties
by Jen Silverman

Betty is rich; Betty is lonely; Betty’s busy working on her truck; Betty wants to talk about love, but Betty needs to hit something. And Betty keeps using a small hand mirror to stare into parts of herself she’s never examined. Five different women named Betty collide at the intersection of anger, sex, and the “Thea-Tah.”

THE DTP

Four Guelph theatre artists decided to extend their craft outside of the traditional theatrical experiences and into The Making-Box, a small but spectacular comedy and improv club on Cork Street in downtown Guelph. Trevor Smith Diggins, Tim Clarke and husband and wife duo Jen and Paul Barson make up The Downtown Theatre Project, a multi-talented team of actors, directors, producers, writers, musicians and art-lovers. 

TREVOR

Actor, director, producer, writer, workshop leader - Trevor has been a local theatrical force for decades. And with his accreditation from Theatre Ontario Talent Bank, he now plies his craft all over the place. Former artistic director for Downstage Productions and ForthWall Productions. Seven best actor awards. Directing credits include Noises Off, Shirley Valentine, Calendar Girls, Misery, The House of Blue Leaves. Happy to be part of the journey downtown.

TIM

Tim Clarke is an actor, director, playwright and educator from Guelph. Past directing credits include 'The Drowsy Chaperone' (Guelph Little Theatre), 'Fiddler on the Roof' (River Run Centre), 'Cabaret' (War Memorial Hall) and 'The Short Tree and the Bird That Could Not Sing' (George Luscombe Theatre). Tim is the founder of Fledgling Theatre for Young People, a drama education program for children ages 8-13.

JEN

Jen's passion for theatre was born in high school where she first performed as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. It laid dormant until 10 years ago where she reignited this passion and hasn't looked back since. Founder of the Guelph Film Office, Jen is also an award-winning actor and producer. Although many roles were special to Jen, her highlight role as the lead in Shirley Valentine, the one-woman show, tops the list.

PAUL

Paul has been in the Guelph theatre scene for nearly 10 years now, starting as an actor and more recently moving into Producing and Directing. Paul and Jen host the Sip Club trivia night every Wednesday. Paul is also the front man for Burlington country-rock outfit, The Vanishers. Paul's highlight performance was when he played John McCrae in the City of Guelph's production of "A Night In Flanders".