‘Theatre made me feel something amazing’

For University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate Jonathon Pickrell (BFA’18), being cast in season 41 of the annual Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan festival feels “like a dream.”

“It’s surreal performing on a stage alongside so many amazing artists that I’ve looked up to for so long,” said Pickrell. “The cast and crew this year is a real who’s who of Saskatchewan talent, and many of them have been on my ‘boy, I hope I get to act with them someday’ list for a long time.

“It’s been wonderful to see, work with, and learn from them every day,” he added.

Pickrell is a Saskatchewan-raised actor, dancer, voice artist, and writer who earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts (honours) degree in drama at USask’s College of Arts and Science in 2018. Since graduating from USask, he’s performed across Canada and the United States. He also won the title of Judges’ Choice winner during the 2022 Swinging with the Stars gala for the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation, and he has served as the MC of the Spring Stars and 306 Block Party dance competitions in Saskatoon.

Earlier this year, Pickrell was part of the cast of the play The Boat, which was written by Todd Devonshire (BSKI’01, BEd’01) and produced by Highway 55 Productions during Live Five Independent Theatre’s most recent season. Some of Pickrell’s other acting credits include: The Woman In Black (Persephone Theatre); Midsummer Night’s Dream/The Tragedy of Richard II (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan); Macbeth (Canadian Opera Company); Measure For Measure (The Coterie); Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play (Theatre Howl/Buttered Ghost); and Zastrozzi: The Master of Discipline (Eisenschmetterlinge Collective).

This summer marks the second time that Pickrell has worked with the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan festival. USask graduate Skye Brandon (BFA’00, MFA’19) is the artistic director of the annual festival, which runs until Aug. 23, 2026. Throughout July and August, on stage at the festival’s site alongside the South Saskatchewan River, attendees will see Pickrell playing Brutus in Julius Caesar (directed by Joshua Beaudry) and Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing (directed by Anita Smith).

The Green&White recently asked Pickrell about these iconic roles, as well as what inspired him to study drama, and his advice for current students and new alumni.

Green&White: You earned your Bachelor of Fine Arts (honours) degree in drama at USask in 2018. What inspired you to study drama?

Pickrell: It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment I knew I wanted to be an actor. Really, as far back as I can remember, it’s always been something I knew I would pursue someday. Theatre made me feel something amazing, something new and exciting—different every time. Being a part of it in some way was always on my mind growing up.

Green&White: What are some of your fondest memories of studying drama at USask?

Pickrell: For me, the fun of theatre has always come from the people I get to do it with. You tend to form a really close attachment with your classmates, spending so much time together and experiencing every emotion under the sun together. It’s hard to not form a close camaraderie with them. Some I still see regularly both on stage and off, but no matter what directions we all took in life I still look back on the time we all got to spend together fondly.

Green&White: What have you been doing since earning your degree?

Pickrell: Living the artist life as best I can! I worked in radio for a while, but the pandemic got me into writing during my free time, and it all helped me realize that theatre and acting were what I wanted to do. Since then, it’s been a lot of auditioning, taking classes, trying to continue bettering myself and my craft, and emceeing in the springs. It’s a hard juggling act for sure, but the joy I feel for it all has only grown.

Green&White: This summer, you are taking on the role of Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing and the role of Brutus in Julius Caesar. What excites you about these roles?

Pickrell: Interestingly, two of my first-ever Shakespeare audition pieces were a Claudio piece and a Brutus piece, but 10 years later it’s been a real fun full-circle moment to now be playing both of them onstage—in the same season no less!

The two of them tie directly into this season’s theme. Love and tyranny exist in both men. Both have such a flurry of conflicted emotions within them and deal with it in their own way. Love-struck Claudio is more than comfortable to air his grievances to the world (to his and everyone else’s detriment), while Brutus is more reserved and purposeful, a careful man who understands the influence he wields and wants nothing more than to use it to protect those he loves. It’s been a very fulfilling challenge to bring it all to life.

Green&White: This is your second time working with Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan. What is the best part of being involved in the festival?

Pickrell: Just like my time at USask, for me theatre has always been about the people I get to do it with. Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan brings in so many incredible actors, musicians, directors, choreographers, and designers, and so many other artists and administrators that work tirelessly to make theatre happen. So much passion in one room is infectious! Just watching them all work makes me feel so grateful that I get to do this as my job.

Green&White: After the festival wraps up, what’s next for you?

Pickrell: Back to the audition trail! I’m also hoping to get back to dancing more regularly. I’m also looking forward to continuing writing and developing a play I’ve got in the works.

Green&White: What is your advice for current drama students and new alumni who may want to follow in your footsteps and build their careers as theatre artists?

Pickrell: Get involved where you can! Follow as many theatres and festivals as you can on social media, keep up to date with what they’re all doing, and see as much theatre as you can. It helps you learn, meet new people, and get involved in the community. Lots of places do pay-what-you-can nights or volunteer opportunities, which were super helpful when I was starting out.

Other than that, always be kind to the people around you, never stop learning from your peers, and don’t get discouraged. I auditioned for Shakespeare for almost 10 years before I was cast. There will always be a lot of no’s in acting. Don’t let them make you feel unworthy of calling yourself an artist. You are! Keep at it and be yourself. Opportunities tend to come from where you least expect.