Venetia Lawless: OLT’s Volunteer Extraordinaire

By: Venetia Lawless and Albert Lightstone

Many of you will surely recognize Venetia from the multitude of roles she has played throughout the years: Lorna in Dead Accounts, Mollie Ralston in The Mousetrap and of course Rita in Norm Foster’s Halfway There currently onstage at the OLT. She is also a fixture at the theatre alongside her dog Joe and her husband. Instantly recognizable by her dynamic personality and streak of white hair reminiscent of a younger uber Dragon’s Den investor Arlene Dickinson, she is the quintessential volunteer at the theatre leading its committee representing over 300 dedicated and hard-working folk each season. We have reached out to her to share with us her experiences at her beloved theatre along with what we can expect to see at her Spotlight Gallery exhibit located in the Janigan Studio.

How long have you been active with the OLT? 
My first memories of OLT go back to when I was nine and I was tagging along with my mum who was rehearsing for Boeing, Boeing. I was used to hanging around theatres as I grew up in the Kanata Theatre family where my mum and dad were actively involved (acting and set design). It didn’t take me long to start volunteering at OLT – stepping in at the last minute to replace an actress on dress rehearsal night for Who’s Who. I turned 15 during the run of that show – and I was hooked from that point on. Other than a hiatus when I was living abroad and then in Toronto, the OLT has been my second home. The most important relationships of my life were seeded here and have grown into the incredible friendships and partnership they are today.

What was the first job/task here at the OLT and what drew you here?
I started as a substitute actress (one line at that first play), then had some non-speaking roles and walk-on roles before graduating to larger roles. Those were really formative years and I learned so much about the production process and acting just from watching everything happening around me. While completing my English Lit degree at Ottawa U, I worked part time in the box office and bartended, and I managed the subscription renewal for three years. I loved interacting with our patrons, and our front of house team was so much fun to work with.

How many acting roles have you had? What was your first role?
Since 1985 I have performed in 24 shows at OLT, directed eight and been involved backstage or in another support capacity in 16 other OLT productions. My first “lead” role at OLT was in Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca. It was an incredible experience, working under the direction of Peter Cochrane, sharing the stage with Joel Oliver and working with such a classic script. I lived and breathed that show and cried as the curtain fell on closing night, I was so sad to see it end.

Outside of OLT I have performed in shows at Kanata Theatre, Linden House and Phoenix Players in Ottawa, the Aurora Dinner Theatre, the Curtain Club in Richmond Hill, and in Bermuda where I lived for a bit. I also performed in hundreds of murder mysteries between Ottawa and Toronto, upstate New York, and Bermuda. But I always come back to OLT. It’s where my heart is.

What was your most memorable role (why)? What was your most challenging role (why)?
Every role is unique and special in its own way – whether it is the people you work with on the production or the character, or the time in your life when you are playing it. I think the most memorable and challenging role was the Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons. It is such an iconic and powerful role – a real actor’s challenge. The cast and design team were brilliant. But what made it most challenging and memorable was it all happened through a period of personal hardship. Through the three months that it took to bring the production from audition to closing night, my husband who was directing the show, was diagnosed with cancer requiring major surgery during the run of the show. I would spend time with him in the hospital, then head to the theatre to get ready for the show, perform and then often head back to the hospital to see him at night and share with him how the show went. It may seem crazy but that role and that production were my life line keeping me grounded through an incredibly stressful time. It was as if crossing the threshold at OLT put me into a safe space where I could lose myself in another world – one where I knew the ending, compared to the outside world where the ending was uncertain. The role and the theatre became a place where I could park the fear and stress for a few hours and literally become someone else. I will never forget the intensity of that show, and I will forever be grateful for the experience.

What would be the dream role that would come up for you here at the theatre?
That is surprisingly a very difficult question to answer. There are some roles that are obvious dream roles – like the Marquise, but sometimes I don’t realize how lovely a role is until I am well into it. There is a big difference between the role you first read on the page and the performance of that role on opening night. The rehearsal period is a journey during which I discover the character – their voice, the way they move their body, how they interact and engage with other characters. And through that process I discover depth to the character that I didn’t see at first. For example, the role of Brooke in Other Desert Cities seemed sort of self-involved and selfish when I first read the play. But through the rehearsal process I came to see and understand her motives better and began to really rally for her. 

This past fall I played Rosemary in Linden House’s production of Outside Mullingar. I didn’t realize what a dream she was until we were into performance. What a gift that role is for an actress – her spirit, her heart, her humour! 

So clearly I can’t answer the question as I don’t realize half the time how brilliantly crafted the script is until I see it or am in it!

Tell me something about your photo display currently in the Janigan Studio. 
This is the third season of the Spotlight Gallery. As the curator I am always looking for artists. When putting the season together this year I didn’t have someone to fill the April slot so I needed to hustle to pull my own photos together for an exhibit. I am the reluctant exhibitor

What equipment do you use? Where do you develop the photos?
I use a Canon EOS Rebel Ti5 – I upgraded and bought some good lenses for our trip to Africa in 2014. 

Like most of us – all my photos sit on my computer in massive files that I never look at. This exhibit was a great exercise for me to sort through them. Photos were developed through Costco (Shutterfly) and mounting, canvas prints and custom framing done through various companies, but locally Michael’s was a great resource.

What do you try to strive for in your photography? What are your favourite types of shots? 
I am usually toting my camera or iPhone on daily dog walks with Joe (and Tarot before him). We are in Andrew Haydon Park or along the Ottawa River daily and I never get tired of the sunsets and views and animal life we see there. I love nature and capturing moments that take my breath away. My favourite types of shots are the ones I feel lucky to have grabbed – when I was at the right place at the right time.

How has the hobby changed for you over the years?
I used to be far more diligent in bringing my camera out with me; now I tend to rely on my iPhone more to capture spontaneous moments. I am sad about that but at the same time grateful for the convenience!

Are your works available for sale?
Sure, though I feel a bit foolish putting a price on any of these photos. Part of me thinks “why would anyone want to purchase a photo I took of a squirrel in mid-flight, or my dog running joyfully through water?” These things give me joy, but I don’t assume others find them as charming as I do. 

What is the most special of your photos on display? What is the story behind it?
I like dramatic photos so the photo of my spouse and the Maasai warrior overlooking the Serengeti at sunset is one of my faves. But images of Joe running in the Ottawa River make me smile – his joy is contagious.