 A Brief Biography
David has turned a lifelong passion for art, drama and history
into a invaluable means of bringing various personalities from history to life - typically
in a classroom setting.
David's dramatic skills prospered during his years at Wexford Collegiate in
Scarborough, where he performed the lead in such plays as "A Christmas Carol"
and "Arsenic and Old Lace". Following graduation, he continued to perform
dramatic monologues and participate in various plays in several North American cities, and
also enjoyed some local community theatre work.
Always a keen student of Canadian history, David was invited, in 1985, to perform a
dramatic monologue based on the life of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A.
Macdonald. This was performed at St. Andrew's Public School, in Scarborough. The
enthusiastic response from both teachers and students convinced David of the educational
value of this type of performance. Over the next two years, he would add four more
characters to his repertoire - Tecumseh, William Lyon Mackenzie, Robert Land, and Samuel
de Champlain - as he began performing on a part-time basis in several schools throughout
Southern Ontario.
By 1987, this was quickly becoming a full-time job as David began adding more
characters from Canada's past to his repertoire. One of his most popular (and demanding)
characters is that of a World War I soldier, based on the reminiscences of a ninety-two
year old veteran, and giving special emphasis to the Battle of Vimy Ridge. By carefully
researching primary historical documents, photographs and sketches, period clothing, and
contemporary events, David tries to present each personality within the context of his
times while being faithful to his strengths and frailties.
Amongst his more recent cast of characters is Archibald Belaney, better known
as Grey Owl. However, not to be confined to Canadian history, David also performs several well-known Biblical
characters. Who knows what character David will bring out of the past tomorrow?
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