Ryan Cunningham is a co-founder of Alberta Aboriginal Arts, which will be staging Almighty Voice and His Wife by Daniel David Moses at L’Uni Theatre (8527-91 St.) Oct. 19-24.
Q: You were born, raised and trained as an actor in Edmonton. What brought you back home after living in Toronto and Vancouver for 10 years?
A: I moved back to work as an actor in film, TV and the incredible theatre scene we have here, and also to co-found an aboriginal theatre company called Alberta Aboriginal Arts with my business partner, Christine Sokaymoh Frederick.
Q: What’s so important about this production?
A: In 2009, Native Earth Performing Arts in Toronto (Canada’s oldest and largest aboriginal Theatre Company) remounted this new production about the legendary Almighty Voice at Theatre Passe Muraille (Toronto). Following the Toronto performances, Almighty Voice and His Wife toured to the Origins Festival in London, England. Alberta Aboriginal Arts is honoured to be bringing this acclaimed production to audiences in Edmonton.
Q: You were cast in a local TV series this summer. How was that?
A: It was a great experience. I’m in three episodes of Blackstone airing in the new year on APTN and Showcase. I play a young lawyer who ends up defending the wrong crowd.
It was an awesome role and Ron E. Scott was great to work with. He’s a real actors’ director who knows how to give you just the right suggestions to step your performance up to the next level.
