The second play in Festival Antigonish’s jam-packed 20th anniversary season is Skylight, by British writer David Hare, and it is set to ignite the stage on Friday July 13th. Skylight joins the musical comedy No Way To Treat A Lady in repertory on the MainStage.

The production is also noteworthy for it’s casting: Artistic Producer Ed Thomason’s own FAST debut as an actor. Thomason find’s taking the role a challenge but "mostly it's exciting and exhilarating."

"Of course, many moons ago I started as an actor," he explains. "My first job was playing a spoof superhero. More recently, I've been doing bits and pieces, here and there. I've been building up to Skylight with Love Letters and just this year, Harold Pinter's The Lover. So, this is only my debut in the summer Festival."

Thomason is joined on stage by FAST fan-favorite Genevieve Steele, who is delighted to be back in Antigonish. Thomason is enthusiastic about his co-star. "She is amazing and delightful, the consummate professional." Making his FAST debut with the pair is DAL theatre student Craig Gillis.

The director/actor explains how he ended up on stage this Season. "The part I play in Skylight is the only role in the line-up for a middle-aged/older man. It wouldn't make sense to bring in an actor for just one play, so I thought right I'll do it myself."

"The important thing, though, was that the director, Jean Morpurgo thought it was a good idea too. Jean and I know each other well enough to be totally candid with each other. If Jean had thought it was a bad idea she'd have told me and I wouldn't have done it."

David Hare‘s passionate play is a fascinating head-on collision of social values and romantic desires.

The story unfolds in the present, in a flat in one of London's less desirable districts. Tom (played by Ed Thomason) is a successful restaurateur. Kyra (Genevieve Steele) is his former mistress, (not to mention business associate, baby sitter and family friend), now teaching under-privileged youngsters.

Their bond has been severed for three years when Tom, now a widower, explodes back into her life. The sparks that ignite are not just their still viable passion but the long-standing differences. The result is a constant dance of moving toward each other and bursting apart on tide of bristly, prickly dialogue.

Originally produced at London’s Royal National Theatre, Skylight won the Guardian’s coveted Best New Play award in 1995. Thomason thinks audiences will lap up the drama of Skylight. "It rings true. It's a wonderfully authentic portrayal of a passionate relationship and how two people who love each other can also tear each other apart. Our audiences appreciate something in the mix with a little more grit. It's strong stuff and very satisfying."