Meet The Discover GFT Participants!

June 2025

This summer, we will be following along with attendees from who are attending a production at Guild Festival Theatre - or possibly any theatre - for the very first time! Through a series of Q&As, Blog Posts, Vlogs, and social media features, GFT audiences will get to experience the Greek Theatre through fresh eyes, and get to know these individuals: who they are, what they love, and why on earth they’ve never been to GFT before! 

To start, get to know our participants: Claire Browne, Sanjana Kapuria, and Prajeet Pra!

I am a visual artist, mural artist, and work in arts administration. I don't have much background with theatre. I am new to what theatre has to offer and eager to know more about the theatre offerings in Scarborough.

When you hear the words “outdoor theatre”, what comes to mind?

I think of being in highschool and seeing Shakespeare in the park. I imagine lots of trees, beautifully costumed actors and an air of the romantic! Taking theatre, which can seem a little stuffy or rigid to someone not in the know, and putting it outside makes me think a playful or transformative act is taking place.

Why do you think theatre hasn’t been a big part of your life?

It's not something I typically do mainly because I'm not super knowledgable about where theatre is happening in the city. Especially theatre that is in my home area. Another reason is sometimes cost associated can feel like a barrier to try something new.

Outside of work, what do you like to do?

I like reading, going on walks in nature, going to art galleries.

Check back soon for Claire’s review of The 39 Steps after her first visit to GFT! In the meantime, you can keep up to date on her artwork at @clairebrowneart on Instagram.

So, you’ve never been to GFT before- but you’ve seen some theatre in the city?

I have attended 1-2 Stratford theatre shows with my class during highschool but, since then, have not had the opportunity to attend more. However, more recently, I attended a show in Stratford and also watched an open-air show in Athens during my vacation, with Acropolis as the backdrop!

We can’t wait for you to experience Guildwood’s own Greek Theatre! So, why is theatre-going not one of your regular activities?

While theatre interests me, I haven't had the opportunity to attend more plays mostly because I don't have anyone else who shares this interest with me and is willing to attend them with me. Most people my age and in my circle don't enjoy theatre as much, and if they do, are often limited by cost (and so am I!).

What do you get up to when not at school?

Tennis, Running, and Travelling!!!

In July, Sanjana will visit her old stomping grounds and venture behind The Guild Inn to the Greek Theatre! We can’t wait to hear what she has to say about The 39 Steps, and the professional theatre in her own backyard.

I remember the first day, I entered by basement room and the second day, I found out about Thompson Memorial park. From then, I started exploring the different parks and trails of Scarborough both walking and on my bike. Actually, Scarborough is my second home. Honestly, this city had taught me a lot of lessons about myself. The natural beauty of Scarborough had helped me a lot to through the ups and downs inside me every time.

Wow! I can only hope GFT gets as glowing a review from you as Scarborough does. What are some of your favourite things to do in the city?

I enjoy experiencing nature—whether it’s hiking, sightseeing, bird-watching, or meditating. I’m also passionate about exploring automobiles, especially cars and bikes. Lately, I’ve been excited about growing plants and learning more about them.

You told us that back home, you used to go to theatre shows. Why do you think that hasn’t been a significant part of your time in Canada (yet!)?

One of the reasons is priorities and finding like-minded people. I don’t place theatre shows high on my list of things to do during my leisure time. Additionally, I find very few people who are interested in going to the theatre compared to other activities.

We hope that Prajeet’s love of Scarborough’s nature and desire to find like-minded people will make experiencing the magic of our outdoor theatre a highlight of the summer! To see what else Prajeet is up to, check out his youtube channel, where he documents explorations of locations around Scarborough and Toronto!