By: Sarah Sobanski
Paul Braunstein, Tim Walker, Ryan Hollyman, and Robert Winslow are The Bad Luck Bank Robbers. Photo: Wayne Eardley / Brookside Studios
Peterborough’s Tim Walker is glad to be home for the 4th Line Theatre’s The Bad Luck Bank Robbers, opening tonight (July 2).
The now Toronto-based actor, nicknamed the ‘King of the Indie Theatre Scene’, got his start at the 4th Line in 1999.
“It’s been five years since I did a 4th Line show,” says Walker. The Bad Luck Bank Robbers will be show number 12 for him. “It’s like coming home for me, super comfortable and fun, I get to stay at my mom’s house.”
Walker will play Yvon Lalonde, a member of The Red Hood Gang who robbed Havelock’s Toronto Dominion Bank in 1961. He calls his character the ‘ballast’ of the group.
“He’s the calming factor,” says Walker. “They get in ridiculous fights, but he recognizes the gravity of the situation.”
‘Ridiculous’ describes the comedic camaraderie between the gang members and their doomed escape across the local landscapes. The first act of the play will detail the robbery, escape and capture, while the second act will feature their trial.
“It’s like watching Law and Order play out before your eyes,” says Walker. “We’re going to ‘wow’ with this cast and play.”
Walker says he is ‘very proud’ to have ‘cut his teeth professionally’ at 4th Line.
“There’s something so poetic about telling Canadian stories while standing firmly on Canadian earth,” says Walker. “This theatre could stand toe to toe with any summer theatre in Canada.”
Over the years, Walker has gained a lot oftraction as an artist. He’s been nominated for Toronto theatre Dora awards, listed as an artist to watch by Now Magazine, and acts in an online comedy series coming out this fall.
Walker says the passion artists have in Peterborough is huge and shared some advice for his fellow actors of humble roots.
“People tend to take advantage of artists because they need to do what they do, and in Peterborough, people do it happily, the money isn’t there so they do it anyways,” says Walker.
“Don’t get caught up in the it’s-Peterborough-what-opportunities-are-there,” says Walker. “There are tons.”
Will Walker keep coming back to 4th Line as he takes the theatre universe by storm?
“You can’t be too big for the 4th Line,” says Walker. He says he’ll keep coming back. “You always come home, that’s important.”
