Meet Arghavan Jenati and Nathan Kay 

With sold-out houses every night, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] and The Dark Lady by Jessica B. Hill have been taking audiences by storm! 

To learn more about what it’s been like to take on these two very different approaches to Shakespeare, we chat with Arghavan (Arggy) Jenati and Nathan Kay, who play themselves in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] and Emilia Bassano and William Shakespeare in The Dark Lady by Jessica B. Hill.

Read more about how they got their start in theatre, what it’s been like to dive into their roles as Emilia and Will this Season, and some of their favourite moments from the summer! 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into theatre?
Arghavan Jenati: I have always wanted to be an actor, but I wasn’t introduced to theatre until I was 18. I was living in London and saw some incredible performances and thought, okay, I want to learn how to do that! 

Nathan Kay: I grew up mostly dancing actually, I loved it, BUT I was just okay at it. In high school I took a drama class, and it was everything I was missing with dance. Been acting in theatre ever since! 

What has it been like to dive into your roles as Emilia Bassano and William Shakespeare in The Dark Lady?
A: I was surprised how little I knew about Emilia and how little information there is to be found. It has been fascinating putting the pieces together and seeing where her work and life story lines up with Shakespeare’s, and I am totally convinced that they were in each other’s worlds. Her story is remarkable and I’m happy audiences are finally getting to hear it. Our brilliant director Moya O’Connell helped me find Emilia and get very specific about the text while trusting my impulses. I’ve really loved the whole process. 

N: The playwright, Jessica B. Hill, did a remarkable job writing two very relatable characters. The script is so accessible and the relationship is so clear that to adorn the character on the page with the trappings of a Shakespeare that we might usually see didn’t quite feel right. To dive into Will felt like diving into the most ambitious and passionate parts of myself. 

Arghavan Jenati as Emilia Bassano and Nathan Kay as William Shakespeare in The Dark Lady (2025) | Directed by Moya O’Connell | Costume Design by Alaia Hamer | Lighting Design by Jeff Harrison | Set Design by Ryan Cormack | Photo by Tim Matheson

The Dark Lady follows Emilia and Will over the course of thirty years, and no matter how fraught their relationship becomes, it seems like they can never quite leave each other’s orbit. What do you think it is about each other that keeps them coming back?
A: For Emilia, Shakespeare is the first person in a very long time that wants to know about her mind. He acknowledges her work. Not only does he see her, but he sees her as a writer, and that connection between two artists is the tether. 

N: I think Emilia Bassano was a very singular figure in her time, and I think Shakespeare recognizes that. They were both exceptional artists, and I feel in many ways, mostly peerless. So, when they meet another person who operates on their wavelength, I think it’s quite impossible for them to deny each other. 

Sound Designer Anju Singh has talked about the music in The Dark Lady as a way to move across time by following threads, the same way memory works and moves. How did you approach the music and its role in this production?
A: Music is the third character. It’s in Emilia’s lineage, it’s a part of her soul, and it’s how she communicates with the people she loves. It’s through music that she gets the signs of her father, and later in the play, it’s through music that she connects with Will. As long as there is music, the Bassano memory and spirit exists. 

Arghavan Jenati as Emilia Bassano in The Dark Lady (2025) | Directed by Moya O’Connell | Costume Design by Alaia Hamer | Lighting Design by Jeff Harrison | Set Design by Ryan Cormack | Photo by Tim Matheson.

The Dark Lady is a two-hander, and the two of you are on stage for the entirety of the play’s 90-minute runtime. What possibilities or challenges does that offer you as an actor?
A: It’s exhilarating. You don’t get a break or a moment to step out of the world, so you have to trust and freefall into the unknown. I know people say this all the time, but truly with this show, every single night is totally new and electric. The show requires a high level of focus and sometimes we’ve been in the thick of an emotional scene and I’ll hear geese squawking in the background. Then I’ll zero in on Nathan and we have a shared moment, and I just know no matter what, we’ve got each other’s back. Collectively we are in this story together. It’s the magic of theatre. 

N: I love the marathon of not getting a break in the show. Getting to hop on the train at the beginning of the show and not get off until the very end is such a thrill. It really allows the world to disappear for the time we’re on stage together. And to Arggy’s point, having someone on stage to share it with is amazing. Especially someone who has brought the care to this show that Arggy has. If ever it’s feeling too much, she’s right there with me. 

Arghavan Jenati as Emilia Bassano and Nathan Kay as William Shakespeare in The Dark Lady (2025) | Directed by Moya O’Connell | Costume Design by Alaia Hamer | Lighting Design by Jeff Harrison | Set Design by Ryan Cormack | Photo by Tim Matheson.

In contrast to The Dark Lady, you both also have (sometimes multiple) tracks in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]. What is the experience of being in repertory for these two very different productions and switching between the demands of comedy vs. drama?
A: I’ve never been fitter! One night I’m falling in love and the next night I’m trying to not get turned into cider. It’s a wild and magical Season. I’m really enjoying working in rep because it keeps you on your toes and you stay curious about the work, especially during a long run. I have a small little ritual before The Dark Lady, and for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again], I’m drinking tons of electrolytes because I know I’ll be SWEATING. That’s really the only difference prep-wise.  

N: I think this is the second year in a row where I have gotten to live the dream of a rep season doing two such different pieces. I find myself envious at the end of one show of what I get to do the next night. It’s a treat. Though the switch can be a little jarring! 

Craig Erickson, Arghavan Jenati, and Nathan Kay in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] (2025) | Directed by Mark Chavez | Costume Design by Alaia Hamer | Lighting Design by Jeff Harrison | Set Design by Ryan Cormack | Photo by Tim Matheson.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] has a rotating cast with four actors sharing three different tracks. What was that collaborative process like, and how much room was there to play within these established tracks?
A: The process was VERY collaborative. Essentially, the best joke won. We just tried to make each other laugh and that was the basis on what stayed and what got cut. There are sections that are “loose” and we’re open to improvise, and sections where we have to stick to the text. The show has SO many cues that our amazing stage manager Rebecca [Mulvihill] calls. But during rehearsal and Previews, things were changing until the very last minute.  

N: Our director Mark Chavez gave us a lot of room to play with the script. I share a track with Tess Degenstein that we built together, and we had so much fun workshopping jokes together and then getting to watch the other make it sing in rehearsal. The demands of learning multiple tracks was a very unique challenge, but I think it has given an interesting twist to the show if you come on any given night. 

Nathan Kay, Arghavan Jenati, and Craig Erickson in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] (2025) | Directed by Mark Chavez | Costume Design by Alaia Hamer | Lighting Design by Jeff Harrison | Set Design by Ryan Cormack | Photo by Tim Matheson.

Has this Season and your experience of being in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] and The Dark Lady changed the way you approach Shakespeare and your relationship to his works?
A: Because I didn’t grow up seeing Shakespeare, I was always quite intimidated and didn’t feel like it was “for me.” This experience has made Shakespeare more accessible. I don’t see it as this sacred text and sacred human that I’ll never know enough about or that I don’t belong. I see the bigger picture now: the vastness of the canon and the many characters, genres, themes, and worlds he’s created. I’m excited to approach his works with this new perspective and curiosity. 

N: It has not! Hahaha. 

Arggy, you’ve worked with Bard in the past, but this is your first summer under the tents! How has the Season been for you so far?
A: My season has been pure magic. A dream come true. I remember being seven years old and dreaming of days like this. I’m so grateful.  

Arghavan Jenati in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] (2025) | Directed by Mark Chavez | Costume Design by Alaia Hamer | Lighting Design by Jeff Harrison | Set Design by Ryan Cormack | Photo by Tim Matheson.

Nathan, you’re coming off a Season on our BMO Mainstage, where you played Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night and Laertes in Hamlet. How has it been to be back and to now be playing in the Douglas Campbell Theatre?
N: Working in the Douglas Campbell Theatre provided a new challenge vocally. Performing outdoors to 250 people unmic-ed every night—and very much under duress in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]—was hard on the voice! But the intimacy the space provides compared to the BMO Mainstage offered a lot of new gifts as well. 

Nathan Kay, Jessica B. Hill, and Arghavan Jenati.

Is there a moment that stands out to you from your Bard experience this Season?
A: Meeting Jessica B. Hill, the playwright of The Dark Lady. This show has been a gift and this story has meant so much to me, so it was surreal to meet her. A very special moment.  

N: Watching The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] on a day off, being monumentally proud of my friends and coworkers on stage. 

When you aren’t in rehearsal or performing, how do you like to spend your time?
A: I love spending time with my mom and family and friends, watching movies and reality TV. I’ve also gotten pretty good at making an excellent roast chicken.  

N: With my dog! Midge Kay, the light of my life! 

A huge thank you to Arggy and Nathan for taking the time to catch up with us! 

You have until September 20, 2025 to catch Arggy and Nathan in our Douglas Campbell Theatre! Tickets for our regular performances of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] and The Dark Lady are sold out, but there are still limited seats available for our 1pm Student Matinees. Get your tickets now before it’s too late!