Darwin Lyons

About

Hi! My name is Darwin Lyons. I’m an actor, director, creator, educator and producer in theatre and film. My pronouns are she/her. I make art in the hopes that audiences will be transported to a different world, and then be left with questions about what it means to be human. My favourite things are funny things, kind things, and interesting things.

Download my actor resume or my full artist CV

Past Projects

"Darwin Lyons’ butcher resonates with authenticity ... Her nuanced performance has the audience leaning in, wanting more."

- Josee Young, The Theatre Reader, Review of Dead Roads

a picture of Darwin Lyons playing a butcher — Darwin playing The Butcher in Dead Roads, photocred Jessica Rose

"Darwin Lyons as the butcher was brash and biting. Her delivery was excellent and seemed to make the audience smile with indulgence... Lyons easily transitioned from snarky to vulnerable."

- Dana Ewachow, Mooney on Theatre, Review of Dead Roads

a picture of Darwin Lyons — Calvin Thomas

a picture of Darwin Lyons playing a Juliet — Darwin playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at Hart House, photocred Daniel DiMarco

"But the real standouts—thankfully—are Paolo Santalucia as Romeo and Darwin Lyons as Juliet. Lyons seems to be playing Juliet as if she were 14, full of pop-song sentimentality and unable to cope with the realities—and dangers—of love in the real world. "

-Mike Anderson, Mooney on Theatre Review of Romeo and Juliet

a picture of Darwin Lyons playing a witch in Macbeth — Darwin playing a witch in Macbeth at Theatre by the Bay

a picture of Darwin Lyons on a film set — Darwin in Idle Spies, photocred Patricia Allison

a picture of the play Well Born — Well Born, Co Directed by Michelle Alexander and Darwin Lyons, Photocred Darren Goldstein

a picture of the play Paradise Comics — Paradise Comics, Directed Darwin Lyons, Photocred Zach Parkhurst

“ Written by Caitie Graham, Paradise Comics shows us what it’s actually like to pursue heroism as humans, and all the pain and struggling that come with it…the cast creates a healthy balance between intense and comedic moments.”

-Milica Markovic, The Theatre Reader, Review of Paradise Comics

a picture of the play Paradise Compics — Paradise Comics, Directed Darwin Lyons, Photocred Zach Parkhurst

“Director Darwin Lyons makes every relationship valid & alive.”

-Leslie Barcza, Barcza Blog, Review of Paradise Comics

“The cast works well together…Director Darwin Lyons has made good use of [the] narrow space…Desperately Seeking Something was a very satisfying show. Good script, appealing characters, a strong cast, tight direction. Definitely worth seeing.”

- Sam Mooney, Mooney on Theatre, Review of Desperately Seeking Something

a picture of the play Animal Farm — Animal Farm, at Soulpepper Theatre directed by Ravi Jain and assistant directed by Darwin Lyons

a picture of the play Mary Poppins — Mary Poppins, at Young People's Theatre directed by Thom Allison and assistant directed by Darwin Lyons

She Spreads (titled Dead Roads in the workshop phase) is a play created by Neema Bickersteth, Darwin Lyons, Clare Preuss, and Zoe Sweet. We won the Ontario Arts Council Phase 1 & 2 development grants and three creator’s reserve grants. A workshop of this show was part of the 2016 RISER Project and was then developed with The National Arts Center’s October Oasis and Factory Theatre’s Residency Program. Check back for full production information

"With moments of stillness alternating with passionate speeches of desire, these Dead Roads are far from lifeless."

-Jon Kaplan, NOW, Review of Dead Roads

Shakespeare In The Ruff, Younth Coordinator

A picture of Darwin Teaching — Young Ruffian rehearsal, photocred Dahlia Katz

For the 2019/2020 season I was the Youth Development & Outreach Coordinator for the Young Ruffian Apprenticeship Program, a 5-week free of charge summer theatre training program for youth ages 13-19. Click here to find out more.

The Banff Citadel Training Program

I worked with Ravi Jain as the Associate Director of the Banff Citadel Training program. Ravi and his company, Why Not Theatre, curated the 2018/19 program. The Program participants stared in a reimagining of Shakespeare's The Tempest, directed by Josette Bushell-Mingo, former Artistic Director of Tyst Teater, Sweden’s National Deaf Theatre. The Program offers an advanced creative development program to enrich the performance skills of established theatre professionals. The 2019 program featured Deaf and Hearing actors.

RAE, Young People's Theatre

I was a Resident Artist Educator for Young People's Theatre for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons. The Resident Artist Educator program at YPT furthers the theatre’s leadership in the field of arts education. As both artists and educators, each participant creates, teaches and learns during their residency thereby embodying the company’s dual identity as a professional theatre and centre for arts education.

The Paprika Festival, Artistic Producer

Three people, Darwin including, accepting a NOW magazine award — Michelle Yagi, Jijo Quayson and Darwin Lyons accepting the NOW Reader's Choice for Best Youth Organization

From 2015-2017 I worked for the Paprika Festival as the Artistic Producer. Paprika is a year-round theatre training program and festival for youth. While there I was part of the creation of the first-ever strategic plan. I created a new program, The Director’s Lab. While there Paprika won the NOW Magazine Reader’s Choice award for best youth organization.

Connect With Me!

I love working with new people on new projects, so send me a message!

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Darwin Lyons

Yes my name really is , surprisingly, I am not very evolved!

Darwin Lyons

I make things in theatre, film and on the internet.

I like funny things, but not mean funny things.

About

Past Projects

Shakespeare In The Ruff, Younth Coordinator

The Banff Citadel Training Program

RAE, Young People's Theatre

The Paprika Festival, Artistic Producer

Connect With Me!

Wanna do a bit more stalking before you connect?