Character Matters Miramichi / Shawn McCarthy and Thomas Daley
Established in 2023, Character Matters Miramichi is a new theatrical troupe dedicated to heritage interpretation in Miramichi. We specialize in taking history from off the page to up on stage. As co-founders, a trained professional film and television actor and a History PhD graduate, we combine a love of performance with an excitement over history’s narrative quality to create entertainment that is unique and memorable.
Shawn McCarthy is a doctoral graduate in history from Western University, and specializes in experiential heritage offerings, utilizing on-site and character-based re-enactment. During his more than twenty years of experience at the Boishébert / Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Sites of Canada, he has worn many hats, both figuratively and literally. He is a self-published author and has lectured for the University of New Brunswick.
Thomas Daley began acting in New Brunswick in 2004, doing everything from local community theatre, to character tours at various historic sites, to appearing on a Canadian TV series. In 2009 he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia and attended the Vancouver Film School. He graduated from Acting Essentials and the intensive Acting for Film and Television programs. He worked in the film industry, as well as in the competitive Vancouver tourism industry as a Character Guide for Taste Vancouver Food Tours and as an emcee at a popular Irish Pub, where he met his future wife. He spent considerable time in Europe and even appeared in a commercial for a major Swedish telecommunications company.
What led you to theatre?
We’re both storytellers at heart–we like to hear a good story, and to tell one as well. As a result, we both took to character work and theatrical presentation very quickly–acting is simply telling a story through voice and movement. Our first collaboration was on the Dare the Dark Headless Nun Tour in 2004, a local experience we now operate ourselves 20 years later.
How did your training and experience help you to create and innovate in your artistic practice?
We understand that history is an art in itself–not only in the field of academics, but also of chroniclers and raconteurs. The word itself recalls an early author–his story–we specialize in taking history from off the page to up on stage.
What stimulates you most about your practice?
It’s always very moving to tell a story that people haven’t heard before and even more so to revive stories that have been forgotten with the passage of time. In a time where we are often presented with re-imaginings of popular narratives, or continuations of stories begun in times past, it’s been very rewarding to contribute to the work being done by adding new stories about local people and set in local communities.
How has living and working in New Brunswick helped and/or inspired you on your journey?
While New Brunswick is often presented as being challenging to an artistic community, we have certainly found that there are positive assets. As mentioned, there is a wealth of stories that are too often overlooked. Moreover, we have found it to be very rewarding to collaborate with other artists from around the province, and to be welcomed by friends of the theatre from Grand-Anse to Albert County, and many points between.
What motivates your creativity?
We are driven by a desire to build a brand that we can take pride in, and one that will afford emerging talent an opportunity to showcase their work in front of local audiences and visitors to our community. We are encouraged by engaged audiences who have, on any number of occasions, offered praise and assistance to further our efforts.
How does your creative process unfold as you create or play a character?
The connection to the character, the wedding ring,is very important in the creation of a unique personality–one that can leave an impression upon audiences as strong as that which the living person left upon the history of the region. No matter how small, that connection is vital, and is equally applicable when considering the creation of an overall script–the events are historical, but the central themes are best presented as reaching through time.
Why do you think it's important to create and pursue an artistic career?
When we achieve what we set out to do, our work makes people feel things in a world that very often desensitizes. And, it offers freedom to laugh and to cry at things that might not always be addressed in the traditional historical narrative.
What have you learned about yourself and New Brunswick's artistic community through your work?
From our experience, the artistic community in this province is much larger than most assume. Our work has brought us into contact with incredibly talented people seeking a chance to show their talent, and we look forward to meeting many more as our operations grow and advance.
What do you think is the impact of artists' work on communities?
For us, it is the celebration of our community and its enduring character through time. People today are craving regional entertainment that features places and personalities they recognize and stories that engage and delight.
Describe what you are most proud of in your career.
This has been a long time coming for us, and we’re proud that our story is continuing to progress in the way it is. From entering this community over 20 years ago, brainstorming a business six years ago, facing down obstacles in 2020, and continuing to revise and realize our our vision and goals, Character Matters Miramichi keeps growing.
What advice would you give to people who want to go into theatre?
Don’t wait–stay grounded and understand that time and effort will bring reward. Find joy in what you do–not simply in the act of performance, but even more in the progress you make and in achieving the goals you set for yourself.
