From the Fresh Meat Archives:
Forever 27
A Black Otter Designs production
Written and Directed by Nick Gray
Performed by Harley Wegner, Nick Gray, Shawn Mason, Syd Coombs
A chance encounter with a stranger alters the trajectory of a grieving bluesman's life and legacy. One choice unwittingly sets the stage for generations of torment among a hallowed faction of artists.
Genesis of the Show:
On the heels of the success of "GOREgeous" at the 2021 Fresh Meat Festival, the idea at the core of "Forever 27" sprung to life at two o'clock in the morning on Halloween last year and has been stewing ever since. While art is widely recognized as a therapeutic outlet, artists are far from embraced as healers. Forever 27 questions the ways in which society consumes art... and sometimes the artists, invisible and undervalued, right along with it.
Nick Gray (he/him)
… is a Cappie Award winner, Ottawa-based actor, director, and playwright. Currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Arts at uOttawa, Nick is a graduate of Algonquin College’s Scriptwriting and Performing Arts programs. He is best known for his work with the Algonquin College Theatre Company, the Youth Infringement Festival, and the Fresh Meat Festival. Nick was honoured to be recognized with the Creative Activism Award at the 2022 Soulful Expressions Gala and will humbly accept the Arts and Culture Award at RBC and Youth Ottawa’s 25th Annual Spirit of The Capital Awards later this fall. He will next be featured in Rebecca Benson’s upcoming staging of “The Arsonists” by Max Frisch & Alistair Beaton.
Harley Wegner (they/them)
… is a non-binary emerging actor and writer creating on unceded Algonquin territory. They have performed in The Youth Infringement Festival, Fresh Meat and Ottawa Fringe. Their most recent project was "Stevie Nicks is my Girlfriend" for the Ottawa Fringe Festival in which they played the titular character. As a writer they wrote the critically-acclaimed play "So, You’re Stuck in an Underground Bunker" for the Youth Infringement Festival. When they aren’t creating art, they can be found enjoying time with friends, laughing, watching Batman & Robin (1997), and asking the question, 'how can I single-handedly take down capitalism'?
Shawn Mason (he/him)
… is a 23 year old Canadian actor from Newmarket, Ontario. Shawn has been part of over a handful of plays in his career, mostly through taking the performing arts program at Algonquin College. He has also written and directed a few plays himself including “The New Yeehaw” and “Anywhere But Here." Shawn remains involved in the entertainment industry but has moved his talents to TV, although he very much enjoys performing in front of a live audience.
Syd Coombs (she/her)
… was born and raised in Barrie, Ontario, and is a trained vocalist who’s always had a passion for the fine arts. Trained at the Spalding School of Music, under Damian Spalding, Syd began teaching vocal lessons at the age of 15. Becoming known as a powerful voice in Barrie, Syd moved on to Ottawa to study at Algonquin College. There, she was able to hone her craft and starred in her first college play, titled “The Morning After,” by Nick Gray. Having graduated on the Honour Roll and Dean’s List from the Performing Arts program, followed by completion of the Music, Media and Film Foundations program, Syd is moving on to pursue and advance her career in the arts. Syd feels confident that her first return to the stage since graduation will be with the first director she worked with in Ottawa. Having recently pulled through some health issues, Syd is making her comeback to the performance community with a show, and director, she truly believes in. Syd is a bright, bubbly spirit who looks forward to sharing her talents in this brave new venture. Syd’s music page can be found on Instagram @sydskymusic.