Thunder Bay (January 18, 2023) - Magnus Theatre is excited to kick off the New Year with the World Premiere of comedy-thriller, DOCK SPIDER by Bonnie Green.  

Ken and Chuck find themselves alone on a dock, on an island, in a remote part of a large lake. Chuck is a cagey, local lake guy with a chip truck and a rifle. Ken is an urban, high-flying hedge-fund manager facing a life-changing deadline. Why are they on this dock together, and why the smouldering mistrust? The stakes for both are very, very high. The carp would agree.  Written by Bonnie Green and directed by Krista Jackson, DOCK SPIDER will leave the audience laughing and wondering to themselves, just who is the dock spider? 

The cast of DOCK SPIDER features a pair of Canada’s busiest and most distinguished actors.   

Cliff Saunders is making his Magnus Theatre debut. Saunders’ career has included several stints on Broadway, including as Thérnardier in the 2014 revival of LES MISERABLES and the US Premiere production of THE 39 STEPS.  In addition to multiple seasons at the Stratford Festival, Saunders’ career has taken him to theatres across the continent, including Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Chicago), The Citadel Theatre (Edmonton), The Grand Theatre (London), Canadian Stage Company, Crow’s Theatre, Mirvish Productions, Soulpepper Theatre Company, Tarragon Theatre, Video Cabaret, and Young Peoples Theatre (Toronto). 

Michael Spencer-Davis returns to the Magnus stage, having last appeared in Thunder Bay in 1990 in THE THIRD ASCENT.  Spencer-Davis has acted in theatres across Canada, including The Blyth Festival Theatre (Blyth), The Citadel Theatre (Edmonton), The Globe Theatre (Regina), The Grand Theatre (London), The National Arts Centre (Ottawa), Neptune Theatre (Halifax), Prairie Theatre Exchange (Winnipeg), Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton), Theatre Calgary (Calgary), and Western Canada Theatre (Kamloops).  After DOCK SPIDER, Spender-Davis will be returning for his 11th season at the Stratford Festival, where he will be performing in RICHARD II and LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST. 

Rounding out the cast is Janine Desmoulin, making her Magnus Theatre debut. Not unfamiliar with the stage, Desmoulin has had the opportunity to perform as a Comedian and Master of Ceremonies in Thunder Bay and surrounding area since 2015. A self-proclaimed Animated Storyteller who brings humour forward in all she does, she is a proud Ojibwe, originally from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Pic River First Nation), who works and resides in Thunder Bay and is passionate about working with people in areas of wellness and empowerment. 

DOCK SPIDER is directed by Krista Jackson. An award-winning director, Jackson is the current Artistic and Executive Director at Imago Theatre in Montreal. Her directing career has taken her across Canada, working in theatres such as The Blyth Festival Theatre (Blyth), The Grand Theatre (London), Mirvish Productions (Toronto), The National Theatre School (Montreal), Prairie Theatre Exchange, The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre (Winnipeg), Shakespeare by the Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), The Shaw Festival (Niagara On The Lake) and Thousand Islands Playhouse (Gananoque).  

DOCK SPIDER runs from January 26th until February 11th with evening performances starting at 7:30pm. Saturday and Sunday matinees start at 2:00pm and Wednesday matinees at 12:00pm. There will be a Pay What You Can matinee performance on Sunday, January 29th. Tickets are available on Magnus Theatre’s website at magnustheatre.com or through the Box Office by phone at 807.345.5552.  

Magnus Theatre will host a Meet the Playwright event at 4:00pm following the matinee performance on Saturday, January 28th. Playwright Bonnie Green will be joining the audience for an interactive question and answer session. Admission is free to attend! 

Photo of 
Cliff Saunders and Michael Spencer-Davis in the rehearsal hall.
Photo by Thom Currie.

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