Slings and Arrows

Geoffrey Tennant

Ellen Fanshaw (18 episodes, 2003-2006)

Oliver Welles

Anna Conroy (18 episodes, 2003-2006)

Darren Nichols

Richard Smith-Jones

Jerry (18 episodes, 2003-2006)

Cyril

Frank (17 episodes, 2003-2006)

Maria (17 episodes, 2003-2006)

Brian

Nahum (11 episodes, 2003-2006)

Basil

Sloan (8 episodes, 2003-2005)

Oliver's final instructions regarding what is to happen to his skull after his death are a reference to a story about Chicago actor and improv instructor Del Close, who requested that after his death, his skull was to be donated to the Goodman Theatre for use as Yorick in its subsequent productions of Hamlet. After his death, Close's executor did indeed donate a human skull to the Goodman, and she claimed that it was Close's; but several years later, she admitted to The New Yorker that although she tried to carry out Close's wishes, the morgue wouldn't allow her to remove Close's head, so she instead bought a skull from a medical supply house and passed it off as Close's.

The character of Jack Crew may have been inspired by Keanu Reeves. Like Reeves, Jack is portrayed as an action film star with dark, handsome good looks but a reputation for being wooden on-screen. In 1995 Reeves portrayed the title role of Hamlet in Canadian theater and won rave reviews.

The fictional town of New Burbage as well as their primarily Shakespeare-based theatre festival is based on the Stratford Festival, located in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

Richard Smith-Jones: I can't comfort you right now - I'm on hold.

Richard Smith-Jones: Darren, everyone cries when they're stabbed. There's no shame in that!

Anna Conroy: [holding Oliver's skull] It's not that heavy at all!