Dion Johnstone as Macduff.

Staying Power

By Pamella Bailey

Dion Johnstone’s introduction to Shakespeare came at an early age. They met on the pages of a Classics Illustrated comic book, found at a local flea market. With stories like Macbeth and Julius Caesar, the comic book inspired the young Johnstone.

Now in his sixth season at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, North America’s largest classic repertory theatre, the 34-year-old Johnstone continues to pursue his passion for Shakespeare. He takes on the roles of Caliban in The Tempest and Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. “In the span of a season, I will often play characters with very different polarities,” says Johnstone, whose past roles include Macduff and Octavius Caesar.

“When I am playing Caliban — half man, half creature — I am being stretched, physically. While that is complex, Caliban’s language is very simple. So, trying to channel the simplicity of the language while my body is contorted in the shape of a man-lizard is quite a challenge. It’s very different from playing Valentine, a romantic lover.” As Caliban, Johnstone  shares the stage with Christopher Plummer, a celebrated veteran of both film and stage.

Dion Johnstone as Oberon and Tom Rooney as Puck

It’s the opportunity to work with artists at the top of their craft that attracts Johnstone to the festival. “Acting is a craft you can’t learn in a book,” he says. “It’s one of those crafts you learn by osmosis, through repetition and being in the same space with other great actors. It raises your own bar.”

While Johnstone’s recent work has been onstage, he has landed several onscreen appearances in the past, including roles in The Guard, Sea Wolf (miniseries), Ice Twisters (TV movie), The Core, The Twilight Zone, and Stargate SG-1. Johnstone appreciates the honesty of the camera, but says the stage is his first love: “There is nothing like the electricity of having a live audience breathing with you onstage.”

Drama is not new to Johnstone, whose own life journey is one for the storybooks. Born in Montreal, his mother lost custody of Johnstone and his twin brothers when he was five years old. He was placed in a group home and his younger brothers were placed in a foster home. It would take another four years before the brothers were reunited in Edmonton and adopted together.

Dion Johstone as King Lear

Johnstone later found his birthmother when he left Edmonton to pursue acting in Vancouver. At the time, he was playing the role of Mark Antony in a production of Julius Caesar. After being interviewed by a local journalist about the play, his story was published in the newspaper.

By chance, a close friend of his mother recognized Johnstone’s childhood story and contacted her. The actor had his first glimpse of his birth mother when he made his onstage entrance as Mark Antony. “There weren’t a lot of Black people attending theatre, at that time, in Vancouver,” says Johnstone. “As I walked onto the stage, I could feel her presence. I thought, ‘Wow, this is cool.’”

Today, the actor continues to study his craft and is driven to develop a career with staying power. Johnstone credits his success to establishing a solid foundation as an actor with formal training. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from the University of Alberta and studied at the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. “You don’t want to be a flash in the pan,” says Johnstone. “A solid foundation in acting training is very important. I try to do everything to keep learning my craft. The technique is what takes you through.”

Dion Johnstone as MacDuff

The Tempest runs to Sept. 12. The Two Gentlemen of Verona runs from July 30 to Sept. 19. For more information, visit stratfordfestival.ca