Maika Toporowski continues to make waves in the theatre world.
Last summer, the Penticton-raised actor made her London stage debut playing the lead role of Rachel Watson in The Girl On The Train at the South London Theatre.
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.
Toporowski just completed 12 weeks on London’s West End performing alongside Kit Harington, who played Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, in the production of Slave Play.
The West End is the UK equivalent of Broadway and the Slave Play cast included plenty of Tony Award nominees and Broadway stars who made the trip across the pond.
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.
She said she feels “incredibly lucky” to have had the chance to perform so many times throughout the production’s run.
"It was surreal sharing the stage with such a fiercely talented cast, some of whom I’ve admired their work for years,” Toporowski said.
“Everyone in the company was exceptional," she added. "I felt I was in great hands at all times, on and off the stage. It’ll take a while for it to all sink in.”
Slave Play, which was written by Jeremy O’Harris, follows three interracial couples as they navigate the spoken and unspoken dynamics that race plays in their relationships.
Its 12-week run at the Noël Coward Theatre wrapped up on Saturday, Sept. 21.
