Big Smoke About Us

BIG SMOKE PRODUCTIONS

RUSSELL BENNETT - Writer, Performer

Originally from Toronto, actor, writer, documentary filmmaker and former lawyer Russell Bennett began acting at the age of eleven as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. After earning two degrees and becoming a lawyer, Russell became an actor, breaking his parents' hearts. After training with Jacqueline McClintock in her Working Class of Toronto Russell trained for two years at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where he met Gillian Bennett (formerly Stevens-Guille).

Russell's first solo show was The Black Cat, which he adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's short story. Russell has acted in several plays including All My Sons (Toronto Village Playhouse), Killing Time at the Crossroads of the World (Toronto Fringe Festival), Cash on Delivery (Theatre Etobicoke), Envy (Toronto Fringe Festival), Coaching Matters (Toronto Fringe Festival), and A Late Summer's Dream (Soho 20, NYC).

Among his work in film, Russell has been the lead of three short films: Memory Waters, which premiered at the Virginia Film Festival; The School, which screened at Sundance and won the Volkswagon Audience Award at the Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival; and The Last Bang, which screened at film festivals in Toronto, Los Angeles, Houston (where it won a Gold Remi for Best Original Comedy), Dallas, Venice and Barcelona.

Russell also produced and directed the documentary STONED: Hemp Nation on Trial, which premiered on CBC Newsworld, and was nominated for Best Political Documentary at the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival.

Russell co-wrote and performed in the award-winning and cult hit solo show The Reefer Man. Russell performed his second solo show, Rocket Man, touring the western Canadian Fringe circuit, which critics both loved and loathed. Russell co-wrote and directed the Fringe Festival hit, Self-Storage, starring Gillian Bennett. Russell teaches the Meisner technique of acting in Vancouver under his workshop, Foundation.

Crude Love marks Russell's third Fringe Festival tour.

GILLIAN BENNETT - Writer, Performer

Gillian Bennett (formerly Stevens-Guille) met Russell Bennett when training for two years at The Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC. At the time, he thought she was a snob and she thought he was arrogant. Little did they know that they would eventually fall in love while collaborating on a show and that they would end up married. It was the happiest accident of her life.

This is Gillian's 3rd Canadian Fringe Festival tour. She co-wrote and directed her future husband, Russell Bennett, in the multiple award-winning solo play The Reefer Man in 2004. Gillian co-wrote her first solo play, Self-Storage with Russell who also directed. Self-Storage toured eight cities in the 2005 Fringe Festival circuit to great critical acclaim, winning the Critic's Pick of the Fringe in Toronto & Saskatoon, and was selected as an early favorite of the festival by critics in Edmonton and Vancouver. Gillian was nominated for Best Actress and for Best Solo Play at the Victoria Fringe Festival.

Gillian has appeared in plays in New York, Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal and Vancouver. She performed and wrote as a member of the acclaimed Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City. Gillian won the Gordon Armstrong Rent Award in 2007 for a play she is currently developing. Gillian recently appeared in the MOW Vipers, playing the Mother to a son who is attacked by a really, really mad, genetically-engineered snake.

EMELIA SYMINGTON FEDY - Dramaturge and Director

Emelia is an actor, writer and co-artistic director of The Chop Theatre Society, company in residence with Rumble Productions. Most recently Emelia has teamed up with Radix to create the multiple Jessie Award winning play Assembly. Emelia has worked with The Arts Club Theatre, Rumble Productions, Sunshine Theatre, Caravan Farm Theatre, Green Thumb Theatre and Axis.

Emelia is most proud of writing and performing in the highly successful Patti Fedy Trilogy. Emelia favours physically devising theatre using boufoon and clown training as her inspiration. Emelia is a graduate of Studio 58 and has furthered her training with John Turner (Mump and Smoot) and Karen Hines (Pochsy). Emelia has just finished an internship with CBC radio, and is now adding freelancer and sound designer to her resume. Most recently Emelia directed The Chop's new play, Townsville for Magnetic North. Emelia is proud to be directing Crude Love.


			RUSSELL BENNETT - Writer, Performer Originally from Toronto, actor, writer, documentary filmmaker and former lawyer Russell Bennett began acting at the age of eleven as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. After earning two degrees and becoming a lawyer, Russell became an actor, breaking his parents' hearts. After training with Jacqueline McClintock in her Working Class of Toronto Russell trained for two years at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where he met Gillian Bennett (formerly Stevens-Guille). Russell's first solo show was The Black Cat, which he adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's short story. Russell has acted in several plays including All My Sons (Toronto Village Playhouse), Killing Time at the Crossroads of the World (Toronto Fringe Festival), Cash on Delivery (Theatre Etobicoke), Envy (Toronto Fringe Festival), Coaching Matters (Toronto Fringe Festival), and A Late Summer's Dream (Soho 20, NYC). Among his work in film, Russell has been the lead of three short films: Memory Waters, which premiered at the Virginia Film Festival; The School, which screened at Sundance and won the Volkswagon Audience Award at the Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival; and The Last Bang, which screened at film festivals in Toronto, Los Angeles, Houston (where it won a Gold Remi for Best Original Comedy), Dallas, Venice and Barcelona. Russell also produced and directed the documentary STONED: Hemp Nation on Trial, which premiered on CBC Newsworld, and was nominated for Best Political Documentary at the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival. Russell co-wrote and performed in the award-winning and cult hit solo show The Reefer Man. Russell performed his second solo show, Rocket Man, touring the western Canadian Fringe circuit, which critics both loved and loathed. Russell co-wrote and directed the Fringe Festival hit, Self-Storage, starring Gillian Bennett. Russell teaches the Meisner technique of acting in Vancouver under his workshop, Foundation. Crude Love marks Russell's third Fringe Festival tour.

			GILLIAN BENNETT - Writer, Performer Gillian Bennett (formerly Stevens-Guille) met Russell Bennett when training for two years at The Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC. At the time, he thought she was a snob and she thought he was arrogant. Little did they know that they would eventually fall in love while collaborating on a show and that they would end up married. It was the happiest accident of her life. This is Gillian's 3rd Canadian Fringe Festival tour. She co-wrote and directed her future husband, Russell Bennett, in the multiple award-winning solo play The Reefer Man in 2004. Gillian co-wrote her first solo play, Self-Storage with Russell who also directed. Self-Storage toured eight cities in the 2005 Fringe Festival circuit to great critical acclaim, winning the Critic's Pick of the Fringe in Toronto & Saskatoon, and was selected as an early favorite of the festival by critics in Edmonton and Vancouver. Gillian was nominated for Best Actress and for Best Solo Play at the Victoria Fringe Festival. Gillian has appeared in plays in New York, Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal and Vancouver. She performed and wrote as a member of the acclaimed Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City. Gillian won the Gordon Armstrong Rent Award in 2007 for a play she is currently developing. Gillian recently appeared in the MOW Vipers, playing the Mother to a son who is attacked by a really, really mad, genetically-engineered snake.
			EMELIA SYMINGTON FEDY - Dramaturge and Director Emelia is an actor, writer and co-artistic director of The Chop Theatre Society, company in residence with Rumble Productions. Most recently Emelia has teamed up with Radix to create the multiple Jessie Award winning play Assembly. Emelia has worked with The Arts Club Theatre, Rumble Productions, Sunshine Theatre, Caravan Farm Theatre, Green Thumb Theatre and Axis. Emelia is most proud of writing and performing in the highly successful Patti Fedy Trilogy. Emelia favours physically devising theatre using boufoon and clown training as her inspiration. Emelia is a graduate of Studio 58 and has furthered her training with John Turner (Mump and Smoot) and Karen Hines (Pochsy). Emelia has just finished an internship with CBC radio, and is now adding freelancer and sound designer to her resume. Most recently Emelia directed The Chop's new play, Townsville for Magnetic North. Emelia is proud to be directing Crude Love.