Meet the puddle
A delightfully talented creative team
Did you know that a group of Platypuses is called a puddle? Some discredit this saying there is no such thing because platypuses are solitary creatures and don’t live in groups. While we feel bad for those wild, lonely platypuses, at Platypus Theatre we’re going to hang out together in our puddle. Hop in!
Peter Duschenes
Artistic Director, Writer and Actor
Samantha Bitonti
Actor, puppeteer, clown
Graham Ross
Illustrator "Charlotte and the Music-Maker"
Alain Trudel
Composer "Charlotte and the Music-Maker"
Wendy Rockburn
Stage Manager
“Listen, just listen, to the music abounding In every small thing of our daily surroundings.”
–Peter as the Wizard in How the Gimquat Found Her Song
Peter is the poppa of this platypus puddle. Thousands of young classical music fans have Peter to thank for introducing them to symphonic music. He co-founded the Platypus Theatre touring company in 1989 to make orchestral music accessible for youth, and more than half a million concert-goers have benefitted from his creativity. As an award-winning playwright, Peter’s writing credits include – among others – all eight Platypus productions, the television adaptation of How the Gimquat Found Her Song which won Best Children's Program at the prestigious Banff World Television Festival in 2008. In addition to his roles in Platypus shows, he has also acted and directed with companies across Canada and the United States. He and his partner Sarah have two grown platy-pups, Magda and Theo, but they’re off at university so Sarah and Peter like to hang out in the backyard with their dog Moby and their chickens Edith, Gertie and Frannie.
“Music that's grand and chock full of beans!”
–Samantha in the role of the Gimquat
Samantha is thrilled to be joining the Platypus team for the 2022-2023 season! Combining her love of clown, puppetry, music, and Theatre for Young Audiences, Samantha is eager to bring to life your favourite characters from How the Gimquat Found her Song, Presto, Mambo! and Rhythm in your Rubbish. Samantha calls Montréal home, and loves to spend her days playing Shakespeare with Repercussion Theatre, and cultivating creativity for kids aged 4 to 99 as a drama teacher with Geordie Theatre School. It’s no wonder bringing something classical to the hearts and minds of young people is right up her alley! Asking questions and getting to the heart of a story is what she’s all about: believing firmly that curiosity and connection lead to joy and abundance. Samantha loves acting, singing in the car, her friends and family, her cat Tilly, and ice cream. See you at the theatre!
“Mumbledee, bumbledee, quiver and quake, Candies and ice cream and cho-co-late cake.”
–from "Charlotte and the Music-Maker"
Look! Look what I’ve done!! These were the words of an eight-year-old as he held up the drawing of a vibrant red fire engine. Oh Graham, that’s wonderful. Really? Oh, this is good. You draw a picture and you get a reaction. I could get into this! And so, it began. A graduate of the illustration program at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada, Graham began his career as a book designer for the respected Canadian publisher McClelland & Stewart. Graham thought he would stick around the big city and in addition to his work as a book designer, he would cultivate his Flock of Seagulls hair style and work on his dance floor moves. But alas, soon follicles receded and shoulder pads deflated, so Graham moved back to his hometown of Ottawa, Canada to contemplate his next career move. It was in Ottawa, that Graham began his freelance illustration and graphic design career. A career that has resulted in illustrations for such publishers as Orca Book Publishers, Scholastic Canada, and Meadowside Books of the United Kingdom, as well as numerous Canadian government agencies and private design firms and now… Platypus Theatre! Grham lives in Merrickville, Ontario in a little log cabin nestled in the woods with his wife Jenn. Together they tootle around in a 1972 VW bus.
“Dap doobee-doo dap, dap do-dap”
–from "Charlotte and the Music-Maker"
Montreal native Alain Trudel has distinguished himself as a conductor and soloist, but has also used his creative genius as a composer and arranger. Many of his works have been performed by orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the Americas and in Europe and Japan, In 1997, the CBC commissioned the work “Passage”, a small ensemble piece written for trombone, trumpet, accordion and piano. This piece has been played more than fifty times, including at the Winnipeg New Music Festival and in the United States, and rebroadcast nationally on Radio Canada and the CBC. In 1992 he composed “Vision” which was broadcast on the radio and performed more than fifteen times across Canada. Alain has also written many times for his instrument, the trombone, including “Grand Louis”, which was premiered at the International Trombone Congress of 1991 and two pieces for trombone and tape: “Yo” and “Vital” which premiered at the Festival de Strasbourg in 1993 and 1995 respectively. “Charlotte and the Music-Maker” is not Alain’s first collaboration with a theatre company. He recently composed the music for a musical puppet play created by Productions Felix Mirbt. As an arranger, Alain Trudel has adapted an almost incalculable number of works for both choir and orchestra. Of special interest is his fifteen year engagement with the CBC radio and television sing-in for which he arranged Christmas pieces from all genres and eras. Alain Trudel is recipient of the Virginia Parker Prize, The Prix du Président de la République of the Académie du disque Charles Cros (France), an Opus Prize and a Juno Award.
“Standby light cue number 4… light cue number 4… go!”
–Wendy in the role of Stage Manager
Want to know who and what goes where and when and how? Wendy’s the one who has it well under control. Since 2005, Wendy has expertly juggled all of the details for Platypus Theatre productions, from monster’s heads to lighting cues. Not only does she manage the Platypus touring company’s stage, but she also works with theatres all over Eastern and Central Canada. And as often as possible, she jets off to far places to photograph the world, most recently in the far reaches of Mongolia. Wendy has also been known to skydive over the desert in Namibia or outrace a gaucho in Argentina. Her favorite part about Platypus shows is watching the kids follow every turn in the story in rapt attention. And the climax of the Gimquat still makes her cry, even after all of these years. No wonder we’re wild about Wendy!