The Touring Company
The Cast
(in alphabetical order)
(in alphabetical order)
(In alphabetical order)
Asivak, son of Aklak, descendent from the Cree, Inuit and Scottish peoples, is an up-and-coming talented artist. He spent three years of his early adulthood living the life of a vagabond out of his backpack, hitch-hiking through North and Central America. He is an adventurer, a passionate storyteller, actor and a thoughtful community leader with a wide range of artistic experiences and skills. In his career life he had a leading role in AskiBoyz – a television show broadcast nationwide that follows Asivak and his brother in their adventure through Canada and their meetings with First Nations elders who teach them traditional skills and the ways of the land. Since moving to Vancouver, Asivak has created and performed his own clown show at the Talking Stick Festival and worked at Bard on the Beach - a world renowned Shakespeare Festival as a pre-show presenter and assistant youth educator. He now lives a healthy and fun lifestyle in a vibrant, communal home where he enjoys being a big kid, not taking life too seriously, casually engaging in sword-play, archery, playing jazz piano and cooking elegant meals. Mentally, Asivak analyzes and challenges social norms and people’s life philosophies. He is inquisitively minded and does not fear walking an untraveled path. His life’s dream and aspiration is to become a philosopher-king. He is the eldest of four brothers and continues taking a leadership role in his community. He intentionally engages with his indigenous roots through his lifestyle and through ceremony.
Joey is thrilled to return to Theatre for Living previously known as Headlines Theatre where in 1994 he performed in Mamu, directed by David Diamond and Kevin Finnan. Joey is a bilingual actor, established in Vancouver for 30 years and has performed across Canada. He’s been nominated four times by the Jessie Richardson Awards. In 2015 he was the recipient for Best Lead Actor for À Toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou, Théâtre La Seizième. Other credits includes The Hunger Room, Staircase Theatre. Bonjour là, bonjour, Théâtre La Seizième. The Snow Queen, Globe Theatre, Regina and many, many more. Joey also likes to crack people up doing stand up, his new passion.
Joey is a graduate of Studio 58.
Madeline Terbasket is a Syilx, Ho-Cak, Anishnabe artist that explores themes of cultural identity and mental health in her art. She was in the Acting for Stage and Screen program at Capilano University where she discovered a passion for clowning and stand-up comedy. Through work with the PHSA program Ask Auntie and with IndigenEYEZ, Madeline has been a host for online video content, podcasts, and co-facilitated film workshops for youth in communities across BC. She loves working with NDN youth because despite all of the hardships they face, they continue to fight to rebuild their communities and reconnect to culture. Now she performs an elder character that shares traditional Okanagan legends with a modern perspective. She is actively reconciling with her comedy, healing our colonial history through play and laughter. It’s one thing to intellectualize it and another to physically experience it in one’s body.
To Madeline, Reconciliation means repairing the relationship between indigenous and settler peoples by dreaming a decolonized future together. If we truly want to reconcile our relationship we must discuss land. The Syilx never believed in land ownership, they understood that they are the caretakers of Mother Earth. Reconciliation isn’t possible if the land, water, plants and animals are endangered by pipelines, mines, and dams. We do not own this earth, it is our job to protect it for the future generations.
I am so grateful to be part of šxʷʔam̓ət (home), learning from Renae, David, cast members and workshop participants. As a settler, my ancestors came from England, Wales, Sweden and Norway. I grew up in Saskatoon, completing a B.A. (Drama, University of Saskatchewan). A long time ago at Persephone Theatre, I acted in Amadeus, Same Time Next Year, Hamlet, and Guys and Dolls (and stage managed other shows). More recently, using my training with David in Theatre for Living techniques, I facilitate workshops for communities exploring issues they struggle with, so participants can access the underlying causes, develop strategies to address these causes, and integrate their learning into their work, organization, and lives.
Having grown up in the United Church of Canada, as a young adult I found my spiritual home in the Unitarian movement: having common values, each person draws on sources that inspire them (spiritual experience, world religions, philosophy, science, earth-based practices, and the arts). Being interdependent on this earth, we work towards justice. An M.A. (Religious Studies, University of British Columbia) and my Unitarian training at Vancouver School of Theology happened in the 1990s (when Christian communities were facing their responsibilities in the Residential School system). I continue to learn about colonization’s ongoing devastating impacts on Indigenous communities, between Indigenous and settler people, and the learning still needed in settler communities. Reconciliation includes truth and justice (including returning land and self-governance to Indigenous peoples). Together, we work to heal the land and our communities for the sake of our children and generations to come.
Mutya Macatumpag (moo-cha maca-toom-pag) is a queer Pinoy of Spanish and Malayan descent made in the Philippines and born a settler on the Unceded Coast Salish Territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō, and Tsleil-Waututh traditional peoples.
Mutya is an interdisciplinary artist who interweaves music, movement, theatre and visual arts within her professional practice as a creator, performer, facilitator and event producer. She is enlivened by opportunities to explore authentic exchange, leadership, social justice, and people empowerment. Mutya has worked with a variety of intergenerational, intercultural and youth focused organizations across BC, Quebec and the US and hopes to continue on this path of collaborating, teaching, studying and performing on an International scale.
Mutya is currently a creative facilitator and performer with PYE Global, IndigenEyez, Reel Youth & VQFF – “Trouble Makers”, Oxygen Arts Centre – “Summoning”, and is enthusiastic to work and collaborate with the cast and crew of šxʷʔam̓ət (home).
Mutya is grateful to be a part of a thought provoking production that encourages us to think and re-evaluate the power structures that have held us in stagnancy and oppression as well as incredible resilience, solidarity and strength. She believes that every being on planet earth deserves love, peace, respect and empathy and she hopes that humanity will collectively and individually expand their knowledge and understanding of the Indigenous struggles and issues so that they may unlearn what has kept society from fully grounding in the realms of indigenous sovereignty, cultural revitalization, mental and physical wellness and healing.
Nayden began acting in a high school theatre program called the QE Warehouse (‘95, ‘96). From there he went into music becoming a singer, songwriter and guitarist, before returning to acting in 2010 to study film acting at New Image College in Vancouver.
Since graduating with honors from New Image, some of Nayden’s film and theatre credits include: LA Beat (film 2013), BFM: Alarming (film 2011), Dear Life (Vancouver Fringe Festival 2013), Salome (theatre 2012) and most recently Judgment Day (short 2017) and šxʷʔam̓ət (home) (theatre 2017).
‘Reconciliation requires both sides to create harmony between opposing forces.’
Sam's ancestral name is Nekwimetstn. He belongs to 2 rich cultures, Snuneymuxw and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh. He grew up in Eslha7an, in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh territory and attended St Paul's Indian Day School. While there he got his first acting opportunity, a CBC film called Sister Balonika.
Seward excelled in lacrosse and basketball, but was active in all sports. Now Sam coaches lacrosse in schools and various community teams, at Provincial and National levels.
Sam has always been culturally connected and is recently studying the Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm language under the guidance of dear Tseil - waututh relatives. He plans to learn Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Snichim in the near future. Living the culture is important to Sam. Other cultural activities he practices are food fishing and Coast Salish wool weaving. Sam's most recent work included a web commercial for Health Canada. Before that an APTN series titled Warrior Games / lacrosse episode. Seward was spotlighted in a CTV news segment focussing on lacrosse. Sam is honoured to work with the cast and crew of šxʷʔam̓ət (home). Huy chexw a , Hay čx ʷq̓ə.
(In alphabetical order)
For almost 30 years Vancouver-based Alan Brodie has worked for regional and independent theatre, opera and dance producers at home and abroad. Recent design credits include Emergence (Ballett Zürich), A Christmas Carol (Belfry), Plot Point (Pacific Northwest Ballet), Sea of Stories (Peninsula Productions), and Dracula (Shaw Festival). He has been recognized with 10 Jessie Richardson Awards for Lighting Design. Alan recently completed an MFA in directing at UVic and the extension of his practice into directing includes the recent Studio 58 production of 2BR02B and the upcoming staged reading of The Father for Peninsula Productions. He resides in Vancouver with his wife Michele and their boxer Ellie. Alan is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada. [www.alanbrodie.ca]
Bracken Hanuse Corlett is an interdisciplinary artist hailing from the Wuikinuxv and Klahoose Nations. He began working in the theatre and performance 16 years ago, before transitioning towards a practice that fuses painting and drawing with digital-media, audio-visual performance, animation and narrative. His work combines traditional Indigenous Northwest Coast iconography and history with new media and concepts existing cyclical space. He is a graduate of the En’owkin Centre of Indigenous Art and went to Emily Carr University of Art and Design for a B.F.A. in Visual Arts. He has also studied Northwest Coast art, carving and design from acclaimed Heiltsuk artists Bradley Hunt and his sons Shawn and Dean Hunt. He was a recipient of the 2014 BC Creative Achievement Award for Aboriginal Art and has received public art commissions from the City of Vancouver.
Some of his notable exhibitions, performances and screenings include the Grunt Gallery, Museum of Anthropology, Unit PITT Projects, Vancouver International Film Festival (Vancouver), Three Walls Gallery (Chicago), Ottawa International Animation Festival, SAW Gallery (Ottawa), Royal BC Museum, Open Space (Victoria), Winnipeg Art Gallery, Urban Shaman (Winnipeg), Sâkêwêwak Artists’ Collective, Mackenzie Art Gallery (Regina), Atlantic Film Festival, Tidal Force – Independent Media Arts Alliance (Halifax), Art Mur, Sommets du Cinéma D’animation (Montreal), ImagineNative, Toronto International Film Festival, Music Gallery (Toronto).
Originally from Mexico City, Carmen earned her MFA degree in Theatre Design at UBC and has worked as a theatre designer in Vancouver since 2006. Some of her recent design credits include: The Winter’s Tale, Pericles (Bard on the Beach), A Christmas Carol (Gateway Theatre), Bittergirl: The Musical (Arts Club Theatre Co). Carmen is the recipient of three Jessie Richardson Theatre awards. You can see more of her work at: [www.carmenalatorre.com]
The Production Team... continued
Carolyn is a set designer, based in Vancouver, BC. She is thrilled to have worked with Theatre for Living! Recent designs include Cornwalls All-Inclusive Cancun Christmas (Chemainus Theatre Festival), Girls Like That (Shameless Hussy), The Spitfire Grill (Rosebud Theatre), Outside Mullingar (Pacific Theatre), and Circle Game (Firehall Arts Centre). She has received multiple Jessie and Ovation award nominations and a design ensemble Jessie award for her work in Jack and the Bean (Presentation House). You can see her work at: [www.carolynrapanos.ca]
Chris Bouris’ media work has an emphasis on civic education. Chris’ media goals are to broaden community understanding of contemporary social issues and facilitate greater community participation through online technologies. He has a Cooperative Education, BFA (Film) degree from Simon Fraser University.
Cindy is Tsilhqot’in, Secwepemc, and Norwegian from the Interior of BC, and has been residing on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh since 2014. She teaches active dreaming, creative writing, and creative facilitation, incorporating dreams, story, and ceremony in everything she does. She is excited to support outreach for šxʷʔam̓ət (home) as this interactive play offers an opportunity to engage with reconciliation using creative expression.
“For me, reconciliation begins with being at peace with my own ancestry and determining what I have to offer. I believe it is a responsibility to utilize my gifts in ways that contribute to repairing the relationships which have been damaged.” - Cindy M Charleyboy
Clayton is Tsilhqot’in (Chilcotin), and is a music producer, audio engineer, and musician. Since graduating with a Diploma for Audio Engineering and Music Production from Harbourside Institute of Technology in 2016, he's enjoyed working with artists in a wide variety of musical genres. This was his first time contributing sound for a play.
He is happy to have worked on šxʷʔam̓ət (home) and strives to work on bigger and bigger projects in the future.
Dafne Blanco is thrilled to continue working for Theatre for Living now in this new capacity. Dafne was the Outreach Coordinator from 2004 to 2010 and from April 2012 to May 2013. She has been involved with several grassroots organizations and art groups since she arrived in Vancouver from Mexico in 1996, working on the areas of the Zapatista solidarity, Human Rights, Racism, Globalization, and other social issues. She also worked as an advocate for agriculture migrant rights, while freelancing as a web designer.
Dafne has completed a degree in Graphic Design in the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She is currently working on her Expressive Arts Therapy Masters Degree.
Painting and ceramics creation has been a great passion of Dafne’s and she is hoping to focus on her artistic creation as well if she is able to garner the blessings of the Visual Arts deities. [www.dafneblancovisualart.com]
David is a founding member and Artistic Director of Vancouver’s Theatre for
Living, formerly known as Headlines Theatre.
David has directed almost 600+ community specific theatre projects and trainings throughout Canada, the US and Europe, as well as in Namibia, Rwanda, Australia, New Zealand, Palestine, India and Singapore. Subjects range from violence in all its forms to addiction, intergenerational conflict, mental health, language reclamation, the legacy of Canadian Native Residential Schools, homelessness, climate change, globalization, and species and habitat protection, to name just some. He has pioneered the development of live, interactive Forum television and web casting.
As well as being the recipient of numerous arts and human rights awards, David is visiting Faculty at the Master of Arts Program in Peace, Development, Security and International Conflict Transformation at the UNESCO Chair for Peace Studies, University of Innsbruck, Austria, and Visiting Theatre Director at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta. He has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Fraser Valley.
His book, Theatre for Living: the art and science of community-based dialogue was honoured with the American Alliance of Theatre and Education 2008 Distinguished Book Award. The book came out in German under the title Theater Zum Leben in 2012 and is currently being translated into Spanish.
David is a queer feminist social justice advocate who has been actively involved in grassroots campaigning since he was 11 years old. He has since co-founded and worked on numerous campaigns and projects including youth sexual health initiatives, feminist anti-violence campaigns, anti racist projects, and other forms of fun, radical, anti-oppression work. Some of the projects he has worked on have included co-creating marketing and media for the book Picturing Transformation: Nexw-áyantsut - a book about a solidarity project between First Nations and non-First Nations communities, as well as film editing for the Circles of Understanding residential school story project. He is also the co-founder of the queer feminist media arts project [www.LoveIntersections.com]
David holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Criminology from Simon Fraser University, a BSoSc (honours) and a Masters of Social Sciences from the African Gender Institute at University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Dorothy has stage managed shows for many different theatre companies which has taken her across Canada several times. She has taken part in five previous projects with Theatre for Living and is delighted to be working on šxʷʔam̓ət (home).
Harriet Prince, spiritual name, Mikinaak, which translates to Turtle, is Anishinaabe from Sagkeeng, Manitoba, from the Caribou Clan. Visitor in the Unceded Territories of the Coast Salish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations since 1985, Harriet is a survivor of Indian Residential School (IRS) of 13 years. She retired in 1995 and became involved with many Elders groups. Harriet enjoys travelling the powwow trail across Turtle Island in the summer months, and has done many Ceremonies. Attending cultural ceremonies has saved her from trauma of IRS among other unhealthy happenings in her past.
Harriet is a talented seamstress who creates beautiful jingle dresses, ribbon shirts and skirts. She also makes regalia and other unique crafts. She is very active in her community, where she loves to share her knowledge and talents. Harriet is the mother of 3 children, grandmother of 6 and great grandmother of 8.
Harriet played Granma in 2 films: River of Silence and The Shifter, both produced and directed by Petie Chalifloux and Michael Auger. She is very pleased to have joined the šxʷʔam̓ət (home) team as Support Person and Ceremony Consultant.
Jessica Oostergo is a Set, Costume, and Props Designer from Vancouver, BC. She is an artist with skills ranging from design to scenic painting, puppetry, woodworking, producing, hat and mask building, creative collaboration, and much more. This fall she has been working on “The Magicians” (NBC) as a costume cutter and builder. Jessica is the Assistant Head of Wardrobe for Bard on the Beach, and a graduate of Studio 58. Visit jessicaoostergo.com for more.
Lauren is happy to make her Theatre for Living debut! She’s a graduate of the Capilano University’s Technical Theatre Diploma program and is currently finishing off her BFA in Theatre Production at UBC. She is a venue technician for the Surrey Civic Theatres working in the Surreys Arts Centre Main Stage and Studio and the Centre Stage theatre at Surrey City Hall. Lauren is also a member at I.A.T.S.E Local 118. Previous credits include Concord Floral (PuSh Festival), Komagata Maru (Theatre at UBC), The Illusion (Trinity Western University). Enjoy the show!
Michael started working in film and television at a very young age. Over the past 42 years Michael has produced and directed magazine shows, sports events, dance performances, live interactive TV dramas, and many other formats and has produced well over 5000 broadcast hours.
Michael also enjoys training community volunteers in all aspects of TV production camera, lighting, sound, editing, reporting and interviewing. He has worked with and trained youth from the inner city of Vancouver, First Nations in Hartley Bay and other projects. As part of his sound career he lectures on sound design for various schools and colleges throughout the lower mainland. Michael has also been a 29-year supporter of Theatre for Living by producing and directing their television coverage. Through his company TraxStars Entertainment Inc. he has worked on over fifty TV series including King of the Hill, Highlander and The New Addams Family and hundreds of movies such as Grandma’s Boy produced by Adam Sandler, Into the Sun, produced and starring Steven Seagal and documentary features including The Corporation. Michael has won a Gemini Award for Ice Pilots NWT, six Leo Awards and has been nominated for two Prix Genie Awards and four Gemini Awards for his sound work.
Renae has worked since the early 80’s in the arts (music, theatre, film & television) in Canada and most recently internationally with her singing group, M’Girl. She has received cultural teachings through social and ceremonial songs and stories with the Secwepemc, Okanagan, Nlaka’pamux, Cree, Saulteaux and Anishnaabe peoples.
Today, between professional and community engaged artistic creations, Renae works to cultivate social justice, inclusiveness and community building through the power of theatre, film, voice and song.
Robyn Volk has been working in Vancouver’s theatre world for the last 15 years and is happy to continue to do so. She currently makes props full time at the Arts Club Theatre and occasionally works with Radix theatre as an Artistic Associate. Even more occasionally, she works with Theatre for Living while on tour, driving the truck and setting up the stage and set. She lives in Vancouver where she enjoys commuting to work by bike, rain or not rain.
Susan Shank has extensive financial and administrative experience in the arts. She is very excited to be moving to the position of General Manager of The Firehall Arts Centre - but her favorite job will always be the mom of her two children!
Susan has a BA from SFU with a concentration in Theatre. Over the years she has had experience as an actor, writer, teacher, programmer and producer. Susan is delighted to be working with Theatre for Living.
Tim has been working in theatre in Vancouver for 28 years. He toured with Theatre for Living’s productions, Out of the Silence in 1992, METH in 2006 and Shattering in 2008 and the BC & Alberta tour of maladjusted in 2015. He is really pleased to be working with Theatre for Living for šxʷʔam̓ət (home). When not plying his trade, Tim can be found watching hockey games, cheering for the Canucks.
*Appear through the generous support of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.
