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BLANK CANVAS: Nelson actor-singer Pat Henman

Sydney Black interviews a local theatre legend
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Pat Henman has a decades-long history in theatre and music across the country.

Hello arts lovers!

This month’s article focuses on Pat Henman, who is an artistic force locally both on stage and behind the scenes. Pat has been a huge part of the theatre and music community locally since 2000 and I am one of many humans who have been deeply impacted by her presence in the region. Read on to see what inspires her to continue creating in Nelson.

What’s your background/training/story as an artist?

As a child I sang in the church choir, talent shows with my siblings, did all the music festivals and school musicals. We sang a lot in my house, a traditional Maritime family where guitars and fiddles were plentiful and harmonies filled the air in our kitchen! As a young teen I dreamt of being a singer – with the hair brush in front of my TV, singing every word of Jesus Christ Superstar and Barbra Streisand’s A Star is Born. I loved pop music so I joined a band, and sang at weddings on weekends.

I became serious about performing as an actor when I was 18 and it was time to attend post-secondary school. My dad was a wounded Second World War vet. At that time veteran's children had their post-secondary paid for. I was not an academic so performing and training at Dalhousie Theatre Department just seemed logical to me. I also studied voice at the Halifax Voice Conservatory and studied Classical Shakespeare and Voice at Boston's Shakespeare and Company.

Why did you end up in Nelson?

My professional life took me all over Canada as a working actor. I have worked in regional theatres and festivals across the nation. In 1989 I was invited to perform at the Palace Grand Theatre in Dawson City, Yukon. I was 32 years old. I met my husband, had a family, continued to work in vaudeville for nine years. We decided to move when our children were in elementary. We had heard Nelson was a unique small city where the arts flourished and the education system was exemplary. We also liked the idea of the bohemian lifestyle it offered and the recreational opportunities, so in 2000 we moved our family of five to Nelson.

What keeps you here?

A lot of the same reasons that brought me to Nelson keep me here. The arts still flourish although there is very little paid theatre so most of us create our own work, write grants so we can afford to produce and maybe pay ourselves. Many of us in the arts have become proficient in grant writing. Grants help us survive as rural artists. I also stay because of community. I have a choir community, a theatre community, and a friend community. My skills as a producer have crossed over to professional fund raising and event co-ordination. I worked in this capacity at Selkirk College for many years while doing theatre on the side.

How did you score your biggest professional gig?

Well, my biggest gig is hard to wrap my head around. I am not sure how to interpret that. I have had long gigs that paid the bills, memorable one-night gigs, short gigs with some of the most amazing artists. I guess there is the one that got away — the Broadway producers of SUDS, the Musical, offered me the understudy  for the Toronto run and I had already been contracted to play Peppermint Patty at the Globe Theatre in Regina. My agent at the time thought I should take the SUDS, a step towards Broadway but I felt an allegiance to the Globe. We will never know where that path would have led.

My husband and I became the producers for the Vaudeville and Casino shows in Dawson City for many years. An amazing learning experience. Some other fabulous experiences — the world premiere of Death the Musical at Neptune Theatre with Bette MacDonald and James Kall, literally working face to face with Jessica Biel on The Tall Man film (that was an experience), travelling this country, working with the great British actor John Neville in Endgame. Opening for Blue Rodeo in Dawson City. Recording an album of original songs with my nine siblings and performing with them is another highlight. I can't pick one.

Any hot tips for people who want to live rurally but be a professional artist?

The only tips I can give is be true to yourself, make the art you have a passion for, and never stop learning! Someone always knows more than you no matter where you live. As an elder artist living in the Nelson area, I find great pride and satisfaction mentoring emerging artists. A professional artist can take advantage of a mentor also. Don't be afraid to ask. Live where you feel creative. It is not always easy. You may have to make things happen for yourself but that is part of the challenge and the rewards are sometimes bigger.

Can you give us any details on new projects that you have in the works?

I will be in a mentoring position as a director for emerging director and producer Madeline Setzer's spring play, The Effect. I am very excited to work with this talented and committed young artist. I am working with Madeline as part of the WeBC one-on-one mentoring program. A complex, full-length drama will allow local actors to dig deep and challenge themselves as artists. The play will be performed in April.

Sydney Black is executive director of the Nelson and District Arts Council. Blank Canvas appears monthly.