About this episode

Tanner Zerr discusses his approach to acting, the importance of vulnerability, and his role in Shrek the Musical.

Tanner Zerr is a Vancouver based actor mostly working in theatre. In this episode we get into what he focuses on when he’s preparing for a show, finding humanity in every role, if actors should connect to their characters to be able to portray them well on stage, how vulnerable acting is and Tanner's feeling responsibility towards the audience. We also get into performing Shakespeare, being present on stage, the feeling of being perceived and how you should respect yourself enough to trust yourself that what you bring to the room is enough. Tanner also explores Shrek's philosophy of 'trust your gut' and how he uses it to portray Shrek on stage. Watch Shrek the Musical April 17th to May 3rd at the Massey Theatre in New Westminister. Intro: Hazy by OddFish

People in this episode

Host: Serra Uncu

Guest: Tanner Zerr

Topics covered

• theatre preparation
• vulnerability in acting
• character connection
• performing Shakespeare
• self-trust in performance
• Shrek's philosophy

Keywords

• acting
• theatre
• vulnerability
• Shakespeare
• character portrayal
• self-trust
• Shrek

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Massey Theatre

Books & works: Shrek the Musical

Places: Vancouver, New Westminster

More episodes of Talking in the Rain

• Do You Speak the Language?｜Ralph Escamillan · June 17, 2026 · 30 min
• Question the 'Why?'｜Keilani Elizabeth Rose · April 21, 2026 · 33 min
• Obscure Operas｜Roan Shankaruk · April 3, 2026 · 44 min
• Are We Pretentious?｜Isak Enquist · March 14, 2026 · 47 min
• Fingerprints in Each Shot｜Chris Lavis · February 28, 2026 · 29 min
• Performing is My Game｜Terrell Edwards · October 20, 2025 · 37 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Talking in the Rain podcast page.