Written by Derek:
"I started acting in 1960 with a small British community theatre group and, in fact, appeared with four groups in the UK before coming to Canada in 1968. I commenced directing during this period and, I believe, directed four plays during the 1960s. We spent a year in Quebec where my wife appeared with a group in Hudson and then came to Ontario. We joined Georgetown Little Theatre in the winter of 69/70 and my first play with them was "Lysistrata". I remained with Georgetown until until 1984 appearing in many productions including "Move over Mrs Markham","Delicate Balance","Present Laughter", "Death Trap" "How the Other Half Loves", "Lion in Winter" and directing such shows as "The Importance of Being Ernest", "Bedroom Farce" and "Plaza Suite". I was fortunate in being nominated as best director for "Plaza Suite" in the Association of Community Theatres festival.

     I moved to Fort Erie in 1984 and, after a single show with Welland Little Theatre, helped to found Garrison Little Theatre. After a hiatus between 1993 and 2001, when we lived near North Bay, we returned to Fort Erie and to theatre.   During the years with Garrison Little Theatre I have repeated "Lion in Winter" and played in "On Golden Pond" amongst many others. Directing credits include "Waiting for the Parade", "Fourth Wall" and "The Hollow". In 2006, I won best supporting actor in the W.O.D.L pre-festival for Major Metcalf in "The Mousetrap" and, in 2009, was nominated for best actor in a leading role for Jack in "Opening Night".   Last summer I appeared in "A Bench in the Sun" for Showboat Festival Theatre and, this summer, I will be repeating the role with the Port Stanley Festival Theatre.

     My wife Pat and I are very lucky as we have always shared a love of theatre and have appeared together many times. Long may this continue."

Derek Joynes, one of the founding fathers of Garrison Little Theatre, has received a nomination for "An outstanding achievement by an actor in a major role" in the Western OntarioDrama League Festival 2009, for his portrayal of
Jack in Opening Night by Norm Foster.

www.wodl.on.ca

Bryan: What got you interested in acting and the theatre?
Derek: Originally just the pleasure of making people laugh

Bryan: Tell me about one of your most memorable stage moments - both for yourself as an actor, and as an audience member.
Derek: As an actor playing the king in Lion in Winter.   As an audience member watching a performance of "Home"in New York with Sir Ralph Richardson

Bryan: What are you reading / writing / watching at the moment?
Derek: Learning lines for Garrison Little Theatre's production of "The Perils of Persephone" by Dan Needles coming up at the end of April.

Bryan: Who are some of your biggest influences?
Derek: I love to watch fine acting or directing, whoever it is. 

Bryan: If you were hired to mount a production with an unlimited budget... what would the show be and who would you act with?
Derek: The Caretaker by Harold Pinter with Michael Gambon

Bryan: Thanks for being a good sport! Congratulations again.

Derek Joynes in Garrison Little Theatre's OPENING NIGHT Pictures submitted by Zdenka Cole