#430 – Liz Buchanan

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About This Episode: This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby is joined by Liz Buchanan, a Hamilton-based actor, writer, and director who is also the artistic director of 9M Theatre. Liz shares her journey as a playwright and performer, focusing on her two Hamilton Fringe shows Gnomes A Traumatic Comedy (2023) and Liz A Traumatic Comedy (2024). She discusses her long-standing fascination with gnomes, how she uses humour and absurdity to explore personal trauma on stage, and more.

This episode explores:

The creative process behind Liz's two fringe shows, which use comedy to explore themes of trauma and healing.
The personal and surprising history of her fascination with gnomes, stemming from her childhood and the show Fraggle Rock.
The decision to transition from a multi-cast show (Gnomes) to a solo performance (Liz) to tell a more personal story.
The unique pressures and catharsis of performing a solo show, especially when the material is autobiographical.
The founding of her theatre company 9M Theatre, and its focus on a mix of original work and small-scale, intimate productions of Shakespeare

Guest: 🎭 Liz Buchanan Liz is an actor, writer and director in Hamilton who runs a small independent company: 9M Theatre, which puts on a mix of original and modern work in between small, intimate productions of Shakespeare classics.

She has written 3 plays that she has produced at the Hamilton Fringe Festival: 2018's "The Director's Cut", 2023's critical hit "Gnomes: a Traumatic Comedy" and her 2025 follow-up "Liz, a Traumatic Comedy". When she isn't on stage or behind the scenes Liz works part time as a teacher and part time as a Standardized Patient at McMaster University.

Connect with Liz 📸 Instagram: @9mtheatrecompany | @9mtheatre | @gnomeiswheretheartis

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