‘A drive to create and share work’

Three recent University of Saskatchewan (USask) drama graduates are collaborating this summer on a new play that is set to debut at the annual Saskatoon Fringe Festival.

Under the banner of Two Good Shoes Theatre, USask alumni Cody Brayshaw (BFA’24), Lauren Griffin (BFA’23), and John Reaney (BFA’24) are presenting The Mooneaters, which is described by the theatre collective as “a poignant tale of connection inside an alien holding cell.”

Brayshaw, Griffin, and Reaney all studied drama in USask’s College of Arts and Science, earning Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees with high honours. Brayshaw received the Walter Mills Scholarship in Drama in 2024 while Griffin was awarded the University Medal in the Fine Arts in 2023. Since graduating, all three alumni have worked for various theatre companies in and around Saskatoon.

Griffin, an award-winning poet, wrote The Mooneaters. She stars in the 45-minute show alongside Reaney, who also focuses on the production’s sound design and composition. With production design by Brayshaw, The Mooneaters will premiere as one of the 23 shows at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival and will be performed on select dates from July 31 to Aug. 9, 2025, at The Broadway Theatre.

The Green&White recently asked Brayshaw, Griffin, and Reaney all about the new show, why they wanted to take part in this year’s Fringe Festival, and their reflections on studying drama at USask. 

 

You earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with high honours in drama. What have you been doing since you graduated from USask?

Brayshaw: Since earning my degree, I have been working as a freelance contract theatre artist for many of Saskatoon's theatres, such as 25th Street Theatre as the set construction lead for Mustard, Persephone Theatre as an apprentice set designer for 18 Jews Order Chinese Food, La Troupe du Jour as lighting designer for Souffler la veilleuse, and Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre as set designer for Leave it to Weavers. In March of this past year, I was given the opportunity to move to Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario to work on contract as a design assistant for the Shaw Festival. I returned from my stint at the Shaw Festival in the first week of July and am now very excited to put The Mooneaters on stage for our local Fringe audience.

Griffin: Since graduating, I have been working as a theatre artist in Saskatoon. I've worked at 25th Street Theatre, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, Persephone Theatre, and Dancing Sky Theatre. Most recently, I acted in Paper Wheat at Dancing Sky Theatre and operated the revolve for Annette is a Bimbo (at Persephone Theatre). I have also been writing and started working on the script for The Mooneaters last winter.

Reaney: Since I graduated, I've been involving myself in Saskatoon theatre in whatever professional capacity I can. This has been as an actor and as a sound designer/composer. My acting credits include Theatre in the Park 2024’s The Reel Whirled, NeverNeverShakespeare’s production of Twelfth Night, or What You Will, and Theatre in the Park 2025’s Breathe. As for sound design, I worked on The Coterie’s Measure for Measure in 2023 and now I am doing sound design and composition for both this show (The Mooneaters) and an upcoming production of The Glass Menagerie in autumn of this year. Between theatre gigs, I’ve also been doing work on the RIBUS 7 audiobook series. The first book just became available on Audible, and the second is on the way.

 

What was the best part of studying drama at USask?

Brayshaw: The best parts of studying drama at USask were the amazing faculty members, especially my mentors Carla Orosz and Ken MacKenzie; the opportunity to explore and make mistakes in a low-risk theatre environment (which is so valuable for young theatre students and artists); and that the only barrier to working on a production or learning something new was asking how to get involved. My time there allowed me to explore my place in the theatre without judgement and with more support than a student could ever ask for. 

Griffin: The best part of studying drama at USask is the connections it creates. Because you are in classes with a small group of people who share your passions and interests, it creates the opportunity for lifelong friendships to form. I still rely on the friendships I made in university to support me in my professional career. John Reaney, the other actor in The Mooneaters, was one of my classmates, and our history of working together was a huge boon to the rehearsal process. The professors I had in the drama department have also continued to support me after I graduated, including recommending me for opportunities. Connections and support like that are invaluable assets to starting a career in theatre. 

Reaney: The best part of studying at USask was definitely the people that I came to know, both in terms of my classmates and the faculty I got to work with. Our year's education was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and our small class became really great friends in spite of it, so it was a treat to get to see them every day. One of the unique things about our education was that our professors were often working professionals in Saskatoon theatre, and I’ve had the fortune of working with many of them outside of an academic context. It was really enlightening, and honestly relieving, to see familiar faces in the professional theatre world.

 

Why did you want to be a part of the Saskatoon Fringe Festival this year?

Brayshaw: I have worked with the amazing folks at 25th Street Theatre, who organize the Fringe, since July of 2023, and have thoroughly enjoyed the festival as an employee and patron since then. Something I learned at USask was that creating your own work is just as valuable and important as finding work, so I wanted to create an opportunity for myself and a few other emerging theatre artists to present our own creation. The Fringe is a relatively low-cost way of producing a show locally, as the festival takes care of the venue and technicians, show scheduling, ticket sales, and a whole lot more. Plus, the Fringe already has a dedicated audience base, which helps us sell tickets. So as a young emerging artist with a drive to create and share work, and a stellar team of staff at 25th Street Theatre running most of the hard things, the Fringe Festival is the perfect place to produce.

Griffin: I have always known I wanted to perform at the Fringe. I have been watching Fringe shows every summer as long as I can remember. When I was in high school, I even convinced my boyfriend at the time to volunteer with me so we could see more shows. A couple of years ago I got to take part in my first Fringe as an artist in The Unforgettables, produced by Fight or Flight Theatre. I knew that I wanted to perform a script that I had written at the Fringe, but I was held back by self-doubt. That's where Cody Brayshaw comes in. Cody secured a Fringe slot and reached out to me to see if I would be interested in writing and performing a show. It was the vote of confidence I needed to finally make it happen.

Reaney: I wanted to be a part of it because of my friends. Cody and Lauren approached me to be a part of their project, and I know both of them well, and have worked alongside them, so I knew that this show was going to be special. The Fringe is also a great opportunity to bring life to new, invigorating stories, which I really wanted to be a part of.

 

How would you describe The Mooneaters?

Brayshaw: The Mooneaters is a beautiful, moving story about language, friendship, and humanity in a classic science-fiction setting. Lauren has crafted this beautiful tale that speaks to humanity in times of crisis and peril in the hold of an alien ship. It’s funny, it’s emotional, and it's deeply moving. It’s been such a treat to work with such talented artists who have this amazing drive to create the best piece they can.

Griffin: The Mooneaters is about a woman named Ladybug who is held captive by language-eating aliens. Alone and faced with her impending doom, she uses a pile of clothes and her imagination to bring back one of the other captives so they can spend her final day together. The Mooneaters is about connection, regret, and joy despite all odds. Ladybug and her imagined friend Trevor (John Reaney) are forced to face hard questions: what makes life worth living, what makes us human, and how can we forgive each other? Trevor and Ladybug play games, dance, fly, and face their fears.

Reaney: I’d describe The Mooneaters as a story about never losing hope. It's a long journey about horrific circumstances and overcoming endless obstacles with seemingly no chance of avoiding incoming doom. It follows Ladybug’s story of rebellion against her fate, which is rarely an easy one, but she keeps trying and holding onto hope.

 

What’s next for you after this show is over?

Brayshaw: In September, I will be attending the University of Alberta to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre design and will continue to develop my skills as a theatre artist and begin a journey of teaching and mentorship to other young artists. I hope to continue working with the fantastic theatre community here in Saskatoon and keep bringing high-quality shows to this city.

Griffin: After the Fringe is over, I’ll be taking part in a production of The Glass Menagerie directed by Skye Brandon (BFA’00, MFA’19). I’m also working on my stage management apprenticeship credits and will be apprenticing for A Christmas Story and Blithe Spirit at Persephone Theatre.

Reaney: After this show, I'll be moving onto sound design and composition for The Glass Menagerie in the fall, directed by Skye Brandon. We'll be at The Avenue Room on Second Avenue around Halloween; come check us out! After that, I'll be wrapping up the second audiobook for the RIBUS 7 series, and most likely beginning the third.