Jeremy Smith

We recently asked Jeremy Smith, Theatre Creator, Storyteller, and Artistic Director of Driftwood Theatre, to let us in on his recent and upcoming projects and sources of inspiration. Jeremy and the entire Driftwood Theatre crew have had a busy 2023 season, wrapping up their Bard’s Bus Tour this past summer bringing Living With Shakespeare to audiences throughout southern Ontario.

Closing out the 2023 season at The Regent Theatre this month is William Shakespeare’s A Christmas Carol by Ian Doescher, directed by Jeremy and starring Tom McCamus as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Tell us about any artistic projects you have going on this upcoming month that you’d like people to know about:

Right around the corner, on December 9, Driftwood Theatre has a reading of William Shakespeare’s A Christmas Carol at The Regent Theatre. It’s a Dickens’ classic of Shakespearean proportions by Ian Doescher (who also penned the equally amazing William Shakespeare’s Star Wars) featuring Stratford great Tom McCamus as Scrooge. There will be audience participation, carolling, and live music by mother-daughter fiddle duet The Rosy Ramblers. Oh, and Santa will be there for selfies. It’s going to be a fabulous holiday event for the whole family, and I highly recommend you join us.

What have you worked on recently that has you excited, either personally or professionally?

Driftwood Theatre, a company I founded a long (long) time ago, just wrapped up nearly 30 years of touring outdoor summer theatre with a production of Living With Shakespeare, which I co-created with playwright Steven Gallagher. It was a deeply personal, challenging, and perfect way to bid a fond farewell to a major chapter of my professional life. And I was so excited to be able to partner with County Stage to open the show here in Prince Edward County. Driftwood is evolving into something new, which is equally exciting, and I’m looking forward to sharing even more theatre experiences with the community very soon.

Where in the County do you find the most creative inspiration? 

My mom’s family is from the County, and I spent my summers here at our cottage at Outlet. I’ve always loved the water, so making the walk from the cottage to Sandbanks Beach has always been a deeply evocative experience for me. I’m especially fond of being there in the fall after the crowds have gone. Listening to the waves lap against the shore, the mix of colours as the leaves begin to change. Looking out across the lake as it blends in with the sky. It’s a gorgeous and inspiring place.

Name a piece of media (music, movie, podcast, book, etc.) you’ve been loving lately:

Most of the media I’m consuming these days is whatever my kids are devouring. But once in a while I get some time to settle in with some Snarky Puppy and their funky blend of jazz-fusion. It’s just the ticket.