Meet Karthik Kadam

Our 2025 Season is in full swing! Our BMO Mainstage is headlined by Johnna Wright’s lush and romantic staging of Much Ado About Nothing, and patrons are calling “full of magic and mayhem—just the way it should be!”

Setting some of the play’s mayhem into motion is Don Pedro’s disgraced half-brother, Don John, played this Season by Karthik Kadam. After receiving the Edmund Kean Sword in 2022—his first Season at Bard—with Genevieve Fleming and Ashley O’Connell for their work in understudying A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Karthik has returned to Bard every summer since, shining in his roles in Henry V, The Comedy of Errors, and Measure for Measure. We’re delighted to have Karthik back for his fourth Season at Bard this summer to take on this iconic (and infamous) character! 

 In our newest Bard Blog interview, we had the chance to chat with Karthik about how he first fell in love with theatre, his journey with Bard on the Beach, and what he’s most excited for audiences to experience this Season. Read on for all this and more! 

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what first drew you to theatre?
Hi, I’m Karthik Kadam. I’m originally from Bangalore, India, and I’m an actor and storyteller based in Vancouver. I graduated from UBC’s BFA Acting program in 2020, right as the pandemic hit. It was a strange and uncertain time to step into the industry, but in a way, it pushed me to think deeply about why I do this work.

What first drew me to theatre was the feeling of being completely present—in the moment, with other people, creating something that only exists for that one time and place. Growing up, I loved making people laugh and was always fascinated by characters and stories, but it wasn’t until I started training and collaborating that I realized how powerful theatre could be—not just as entertainment, but as connection. It’s a space where people can see themselves, challenge themselves, and feel something real. That’s what keeps me coming back.

 In Much Ado About Nothing, you play Don John, who is a complicated character, to say the least! What has it been like for you to dive into a role like this?
Don John has been an absolute joy to craft—a true agent of chaos, driven by his hatred for his brother, the prince, and the men who crushed his rebellion. And yet, it’s a comedy! So Shakespeare makes him not just villainous, but wickedly enjoyable to play.

From my earliest conversations with our director, Johnna [Wright], we were completely aligned on who Don John needed to be for this production—not just in terms of the story we were telling, but in how he fit into the unique world and perspective of our adaptation. I was especially invested in his relationship with his brother, played with such grace by Matthew Ip Shaw. In the end, we found they are more alike than either would care to admit.

I came across Natasha L. Richter’s essay on Don John. She observes that “every character in the play deceives or intends to harm at least one other character … Yet Don John’s deception induces the harshest punishment. Indeed, the treatment of Hero after the supposed scandal comes to light echoes the treatment of Don John from his birth.”

That unlocked a lot for me—Don John isn’t really “complicated” at all. He’s clear, honest even, about how he feels. He knows he’s been treated unfairly, and he wants the world to see him, even if it’s as a villain. As Richter puts it, “Don John makes a name for himself and forces society to recognize him as a person, even a wicked one.”

Johnna was also deeply invested in Don John’s dynamic with his two co-conspirators: the fiercely intelligent Conrad, played by Kristi Hansen, and the cunning sword that is Borachio, brought to life by Tanner Zerr. Working with them has truly been one of the great joys of this production. Together, we’ve formed what Johnna now calls the “axis of evil.” Come join in our villainy!

Kristi Hansen as Conrad and Karthik Kadam as Don John in Much Ado About Nothing (2025) | Directed by Johnna Wright | Costume Design by Mara Gottler | Set Design by Pam Johnson | Lighting Design by Sophie Tang | Photo by Tim Matheson

What are you most excited for audiences to experience this Season?
I am most excited for audiences to experience the magic of Much Ado About Nothing. It’s truly one of my favourite Shakespeare plays. Every time I see it—or better yet, get the chance to be part of it—I find myself completely caught up in the charm, the wit, and especially in rooting for Beatrice and Benedick. Their dynamic is so sharp, so funny, and so deeply human. You can’t help but want them to find their way back to each other.

This year, Johnna has given us the gift of telling this story in full period dress, and that choice brings a whole new layer of richness to the world we’re creating onstage. The costumes, the setting, the language—it all weaves together so well.

I remember years ago, before I was part of the company, coming to see a Bard production and being completely awestruck. The stage felt like nothing I’d ever seen before, with the beautiful mountains in the background and the sun setting behind the actors. It’s so romantic and so classically Vancouver. I was especially captivated by performers like Jen Lines and Scott Bellis—actors I admire oh so much—moving with such confidence in these stunning, intricately detailed costumes. Now, to share the stage with them is an incredible gift.

That’s what I’m excited for audiences to experience this Season with Much Ado About Nothing: a bit of that vintage Bard magic that first made us all fall in love with this place.

Karthik Kadam as Don John, Matthew Ip Shaw as Don Pedro, and Angus Yam as Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing (2025) | Directed by Johnna Wright | Costume Design by Mara Gottler | Set Design by Pam Johnson | Lighting Design by Sophie Tang | Photo by Tim Matheson

Is there a moment that stands out to you from this year or past Seasons at Bard?
One of the most vivid memories I have of Bard on the Beach is the first show I ever saw under the tents. It was 2017, not long after I’d moved here, and I was in the audience for Scott Bellis’ production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona. I remember feeling frustrated—furious, even—at the choices the men were making on stage. How selfish and reckless they were. How casually they tossed aside loyalty, friendship, and especially love. And how cruelly they treated the women around them.

And then, just when I thought the play would tie itself up in a neat and unsatisfying bow, came a moment that completely shifted my experience. The outlaws revealed themselves to be women! Silvia and Julia, rather than simply forgiving the men and going back to life as usual, were instead pulled into something radical: a decision to leave that world behind and join a different kind of community.

It gave me goosebumps!

The brilliance of it was in its simplicity. No words were changed, no big speeches inserted. Just a quiet shift in bodies and intentions—and suddenly the story belonged to the women. It was a powerful reminder that it doesn’t always take much to bring these old plays hurtling into present day sensibilities.

Now, eight years later, to be in The Two Gentlemen of Verona myself at Bard feels very full circle and SPOILER ALERT: in Dean’s wild, neon-soaked, 80s-inspired version of the show, we carry that same spirit forward. Every night, I get to watch Agnes Tong as Silvia and Tess Degenstein as Julia make that same powerful choice—and it’s beautiful!

Agnes Tong as Silvia and Tess Degenstein as Julia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (2025) | Directed by Dean Paul Gibson | Set Design by Pam Johnson | Costume Design by Carmen Alatorre | Lighting Design by Gerald King | Photo by Tim Matheson

This summer will mark your fourth Season with Bard! What has that journey been like for you, and what has it been like to make your return to the BMO Mainstage this year?
The last time I stood beneath the BMO Mainstage tent, I was a performing understudy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, navigating my first Season with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Now, four years later, the tent feels entirely different, and what was once unfamiliar has become home. The people I once looked up to with awe and reverence are now colleagues, mentors, and dear friends. This company has shaped me, challenged me, and helped me grow not only as an artist, but as a person.

And finally, when you aren’t in rehearsal or performing, how do you like to spend your time?
Sleep. So much of it.

Thank you so much for chatting with us, Karthik! 

Be sure to see Karthik and the rest of our Mainstage Acting Company in Much Ado About Nothing and The Two Gentlemen of Verona, running until September 20 in Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park. Get your tickets now by visiting our Season Schedule!