Michael Bowden has been a teacher for 26 years. A longtime theatre enthusiast, he has performed on many stages and in many plays, developing a keen interest in playwriting along the way. Largely self-taught, he has written a variety of plays for students at the schools where he has taught, both for competitions and simply to share the joy of being on stage with young people. He has also taken part in two collective creations, one of which brought him to Ottawa for Zones Théâtrales in 2025. On the subject of teenagers, he says: “After 26 years of teaching, it’s about time I saw things from the students’ point of view.” He hopes he has succeeded, particularly in tackling such a complex topic. He also adds: “When I grow up, I want to be a writer.”