{"result":"update_story","description":"<p>Maika Toporowski continues to make waves in the theatre world.<\/p> <p><meta charset=\"utf-8\" \/><\/p> <p>Last summer, the Penticton-raised actor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kelownanow.com\/watercooler\/news\/news\/Penticton\/A_dream_come_true_Penticton_actor_makes_London_stage_debut_with_lead_role\/\">made her London stage debut<\/a> playing the lead role of Rachel Watson in <em>The Girl On The Train<\/em> at the South London Theatre.<\/p> <p><img alt=\"&lt;who&gt;Photo Credit: Kim Hardy&lt;\/who&gt;Maika Toporowski\" src=\"\/files\/files\/images\/westend3.JPG\" style=\"margin: 5px;\" \/><\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">While a major milestone in itself, her run with that production was a stepping stone to another what most would consider the major leagues of theatre in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1515615292703-0\" class=\"dfp-ad dfp-in-content\" style=\"margin-bottom:15px;\">\n\t\t<script>\n\t\t\tgoogletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(\"div-gpt-ad-1515615292703-0\"); });\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t <p dir=\"ltr\">Toporowski just completed 12 weeks on London&rsquo;s West End performing alongside Kit Harington, who played Jon Snow in <em>Game of Thrones<\/em>, in the production of <em>Slave Play<\/em>.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">The West End is the UK equivalent of Broadway and the <em>Slave Play<\/em> cast included plenty of Tony Award nominees and Broadway stars who made the trip across the pond.<\/p> <p><img alt=\"&lt;who&gt;Photo Credit: Annabelle S&lt;\/who&gt;The No\u00ebl Coward Theatre in London's West End\" src=\"\/files\/files\/images\/westend.jpg\" style=\"margin: 5px;\" \/><\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">While the Penticton Secondary School grad was pegged to be the understudy for a pair of featured roles, Toporowski was thrust into action 10 times throughout the run.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">She said she feels &ldquo;incredibly lucky&rdquo; to have had the chance to perform so many times throughout the production&rsquo;s run.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">&quot;It was surreal sharing the stage with such a fiercely talented cast, some of whom I&rsquo;ve admired their work for years,&rdquo; Toporowski said. <\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\"><img alt=\"&lt;who&gt;Photo Credit: Helen Murray&lt;\/who&gt;(L to R) Maika Toporowski, Dimitri Gripari, and Kit Harington.\" src=\"\/files\/files\/images\/westend2.jpg\" style=\"margin: 5px;\" \/><\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">&ldquo;Everyone in the company was exceptional,&quot; she added. &quot;I felt I was in great hands at all times, on and off the stage. It&rsquo;ll take a while for it to all sink in.&rdquo;<\/p> <p><em>Slave Play<\/em>, which was written by Jeremy O&rsquo;Harris, follows three interracial couples as they navigate the spoken and unspoken dynamics that race plays in their relationships.<\/p> <p dir=\"ltr\">Its 12-week run at the No&euml;l Coward Theatre wrapped up on Saturday, Sept. 21.<\/p>","title":"Okanagan-raised actor makes London West End debut alongside Game of Thrones star"}