Rick Miller will alternate with Damien Atkins as Oscar Wilde in Soulpepper Theatre’s November remount of De Profondis. The shared role brings Miller into a production that explores Wilde’s imprisonment and his search for forgiveness, love and acceptance.
Atkins, who originated the role, will perform six shows a week, with Miller scheduled for two and also serving as his standby.
The engagement comes amid several projects for Miller, whose work includes touring theatre with Kidoons and fronting Trainwreck, a ten-piece party band. His current projects are listed on his website.
Miller says his commitments tend to cluster in October, February, and March. Although he would prefer a more evenly distributed schedule, he describes the demands as a reminder that a career rarely follows an ideal pattern.
Miller and his creative partner, Craig Francis, are touring the United States with Frankenstein. Miller says he trusts Francis to lead the work on the road when he cannot be there. He describes adaptability and the ability to take on different responsibilities as central to Kidoons’ touring approach. In January 2027, Miller will stage-manage part of the Jungle Book tour while Francis is unavailable.
Joining De Profondis offered Miller an opportunity to work with other artists in Toronto alongside those touring commitments.
The arrangement began with a conversation about future collaborations.
Miller met with Soulpepper Artistic Director Paolo Santalucia to discuss possible projects. He told Santalucia:
“Look, I don’t just do solo shows on my own. I really do like working with other people in the Toronto community, and if there is ever a project that you think would be a good fit for me, let me know.”
Miller later received a call about serving as an alternate in the remount of De Profondis. He had not seen the production and requested a video. After watching it and reading the script, he felt the project matched the kind of collaboration he had discussed with Santalucia.
Further conversations followed with Santalucia and Gregory Prest, the production’s director and one of its co-creators. Miller agreed to join, and the team worked through scheduling adjustments to accommodate the Frankenstein tour.
Miller speaks highly of Atkins’ interpretation of Wilde, a role created for Atkins. According to Miller, the production’s demands led Atkins to seek an alternative to performing all eight shows each week. On two-show days, each actor will perform once. Miller will also step in if Atkins is unable to perform on any given date.
The shared-role arrangement is new to both actors and the rehearsal-room team. Rather than reproducing a single interpretation, they are developing versions that reflect each performer’s strengths:
“It’s been very exciting…Damien comes at the role with so many strengths, and I come at it with strengths. Together we’re creating this experience that’s almost two different performances, at least for the energy and approach at this dense and difficult text.”
Preparing for the role has led Miller to examine Wilde’s life and writing, particularly De Profondis, the letter Wilde wrote in prison to his lover, known as Bosie. Miller contrasts the extensive attention paid to Wilde with the relatively limited number of works he published.
Miller’s research has also prompted him to consider the traits he shares with Wilde, including aspects of his own personality he views critically:
“[The two of us] have a real self-importance and sense of sometimes moral superiority. I like to look at life as a work of art that one can design.”
Miller also jokes about wanting to feel special, drawing a parallel with his understanding of Wilde’s childhood and his mother’s attention.
For Miller, the role is a study in humility, forgiveness and love. He describes Wilde’s journey in the production as a movement from indignation, anger, frustration and a desire for revenge towards acceptance. He says that emotional progression was central to his decision to take on the role.
Produced by Soulpepper Theatre, De Profondis opens November 3 and runs to November 29 in the Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane.
Damien Atkins and Rick Miller will share the role of Oscar Wilde.
Check here: https://soulpepper.ca/whats-on/de-profundis-oscar-wilde-in-jail/ for performance dates and times.
Check here: https://my.soulpepper.ca/overview/15983/ for ticket sales.
