The inaugural Write Here Immersive Playwright’s Unit is supporting the development of three new immersive theatre plays by Edmonton playwrights. We believe immersive theatre has the power to highlight communities, locations, and landmarks. Our hope is that these plays will shine a light on special parts of our city through the eyes of these playwrights.
“While most of my work is created through collaboration and devising, I am excited to have the opportunity to bring to life two new original works as a playwright in Edmonton this year. I will be working hard to bring to life the immersive theatre piece “10 Stops East” (working title) with Thou Art Here Theatre as a part of their Playwrights Unit. This new work aims to cultivate critical thought around how people in positions of power can restrict both physical mobility and class mobility amongst social groups. Alongside this project I will be writing a new one-man show, “For Her” through the RBC Emerging Artists Playwright Mentorship Program.” – Candace Job
Creative Team
Playwright: Candace Job
Director: Alexandra Hawkins*
Dramaturge: Beth Graham
Actors: Jake Tkaczyk* and Dayna Lea Hoffmann
Stage Manager: Steven Sobolewski*
Producer: Alyson Dicey
*The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT).
Alexandra Dawkins (she/her) is a theatre performer, musician, writer, and director based in ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Amiskwacîwâskahikan) / Edmonton, AB, on Treaty 6 Territory. She holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Alberta (2017), a certificate from Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance (full curriculum, 2017), and has completed One Yellow Rabbit summer Lab Intensive (2016). She made her directorial debut in March 2023 with the world-premiere of Karen Hines’ latest revision of All The Little Animals I Have Eaten, at Shadow theatre. In October 2023 she assistant directed Karen Hines Pochsy IV alongside director Michael Kennard at Theatre Network. With over a decade of experience in devised performance, bouffon, clown and physical comedy, she continues to seek new works in these mediums, and is incredibly grateful to Thou Art Here for the opportunity to help birth new work in Edmonton theatre!
Dayna Lea Hoffmann is a multidisciplinary artist from Surrey, BC. For the last five years, she has been learning and living in amiskwaciwâskahikan performing locally, and producing touring shows with her company Batrabbit Productions. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA program and additionally holds a diploma in Theatre from Douglas College. She is a former performer, student and teacher of the Vancouver Circus School, and an alumni of Canada’s National Voice Intensive. Dayna identifies as a bi-racial settler from the unceded territories of the Coast Salish people and would like to acknowledge that she is currently living and working on stolen land in Treaty 6 Territory.
Candace Job (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary artist currently based in Alberta, Canada. She primarily trained at The Commedia School, an international academy for physical theatre based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Candace believes in projects which empower artists, strengthen communities and challenge discourses. She thinks that through creative play and collaboration artists can create magical worlds which inspire and provoke the general public, pushing people out of their everyday and a little bit closer to a sense of wonder. Her previous work includes a multitude of devised pieces, most notably Out of the Blue (CPH, 2022), The Funeral (HK, 2019), Afternoon Tea (CPH, 2019) and MotherTongue (CPH, 2018). Outside of creating theatre, Candace actively seeks out opportunities to train new skills and refine her current knowledge. She is grateful for the Edmonton theatre community and can’t wait to get immersed in the local scene.
Beth Graham is an actor, playwright, and dramaturg. As a playwright, Beth has received the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award, the Carol Bolt Award and, in 2015, her play, The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble, was a finalist for the Governor Generals’ Award. As an actor, Beth has worked across the country and toured internationally. As a dramaturg, Beth has worked with Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre and the Brian Webb Dance Company. Recently, Beth was the Lee Playwright in Residence at the University of Alberta and the dramaturg in residence at Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre.
Steven Sobolewski is a proud mixed-Filipino artist based in Amiskwaciwâskahikan. He has worked as a stage manager all over Treaty 6 with companies such as Prison Dancer (Citadel Theatre) Million Dollar Quartet (Theatre Calgary), Working it Out! (Workplace School Programs), Smoke, This Won’t Hurt I Promise, Gender? I Hardly Know Them (Tiny Bear Jaws), Carmen (Edmonton Opera). Steven was also a part of the Citadel’s RBC Emerging Artist program in Artistic Leadership/planning, the Belfry Theatre’s Emerging Arts Leadership Training Program, and is also one of the Equity Stage Management Councillors. Thanks to Casey for all the love and support.
Jake Tkaczyk, a Sterling and Betty Mitchell award-nominated performer, holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Alberta and pursues a PhD in Creative Practice at the Transart Institute. A Red Deer College Theatre Performance and Creation program graduate, Jake’s versatile roles span actor, director, creator, and educator. He has collaborated with various Alberta-based companies, including Lunchbox Theatre, Shadow Theatre, and the Citadel Theatre. Notable works encompass directing and creating productions like White Guy on Stage Talking and The Big Fat Surprise. Currently serving as General Manager at Workshop West, Jake earned the AFA Young Artist Prize and interned at Northern Light Theatre. Jake is the founder of MUNT Performance Association.
“I grew up sitting on the salon chair or the living room floor with a small cushion under my bum, to the backseat of my mother’s car, getting my hair slicked back for church. Putting them cornrows, twists, crochet, braids, beads, weaves, and all the colours of the rainbow on a Sunday and then a fresh look on a Monday, having kids and teachers asking me, “how’d your hair grow so fast?” and me grinning. This piece is a love letter. Period. All curls. No perms. In the next couple of months, I’ll gather stories visiting my sister’s salon (sassy salon) in Montreal, where I grew up. I’ll be interviewing folks in the chair and behind it, then in Toronto, and returning to Edmonton’s Black salon scene on 118 avenue, the epicenter for Black-owned barbershops and beauty salons engaging directly with the Black stylists of our city. It’s the traveling of the strands, an education and an invitation to the magic and versatility of the Afro and Afro wearers. I’m excited to work alongside Shima Robinson, and a few local artists/hairstylist who will be crafting this story together.” – Kijo Gatama
Creative Team
Playwright: Kijo Gatama
Dramaturge: Shima Robinson
Director: Patricia Darbasie*
Actors: Helen Belay*, Moses Kouyaté, & NiLo
Stage Manager: Patton Wei
Producer: Alyson Dicey
*The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT).
Helen Belay (she/her) was born in Bedford, England and raised in Edmonton, AB. Graduate of the UofA’s BFA Acting. Select acting credits include: The Importance of Being Earnest, Jane Eyre, The Fiancée, Heaven (Citadel Theatre); The 39 Steps (County Stage Company); Heaven (National Arts Centre); The Wonderful (Caravan Farm Theatre); King Lear, Queen Goneril (Soulpepper Theatre Company); Here There Be Night (WWPT); The Blue Hour (SkirtsAFire Festival); Titus Bouffonious (Theatre Network); Cinderella (Globe Theatre); Vidalia (Teatro Live!). Thanks to my loved ones and anyone and everyone that’s ever plucked up the courage to tell a story.
Patricia Darbasie is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting and MFA Directing programs. Directing credits include: Ribbon, about Amber Valley at Studio Theatre. The Syringa Tree, at York University. Mesa for Atlas Theatre and the assistant director on The Color Purple the Citadel/ RMTC. Heaven reopened the Shoctor theatre in 2021. Later that year God of Carnage at Studio Theatre, Shadow Theatre with Mountain Top, and Sexy Laundry at Mayfield Dinner theatre. The National Arts Centre in Ottawa hosted a remount of Heaven this spring. Look for Pat in 2024 in Donna Orbits the Moon at Northern Light Theatre in January and a new production of The Mountain Top at the Citadel in March.
Kijo Gatama (she/her) is an Edmonton-based interdisciplinary theatre performer, playwright , producer, dancer, comedian by nature and emerging artistic director. Co-curator and producer of Here,for:Fear Collective formerly known as Fear The Festival , Edmonton’s first fear-focused theatre/film festival centring around elevating explorations by self-identifying members of IBPOC artists (2020-present). As a playwright, Gatama strives to create theatre that explores more Folklore, and Queer Afro-Canadian experiences and story-telling. Workshop West: Creative Incubator program (2021) Hyena’s Trail online at rEvolver Festival in Vancouver in June (2022). A Thousand Faces Festival: Mythics Series with my new work Mango of The Dead (2022). Writing with curiosity and research (personal or historical) has been a great of mine with every process. Looking forward to braiding together an experience for Thou Art Here: Immersive Playwrights’ Unit.
Moses Kouyaté is a queer Afrikan performer raised in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan. They hope to create art that may inspire people during great times of duress, for the oppressed masses, and hopefully to allow audiences to discover things they’ve never seen before. Recent performance credits include the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, She Kills Monsters (Studio Theatre), God of Carnage (Studio Theatre), Tracks (Amoris Projects) and Cruising at 30 Kilometers a Second and Attempting Not To Crash (Mile Zero Dance). As a great lover of theatre and dance, Moses is ever grateful to share the wonders of storytelling and collaboration with the world once again.
NiLo emerged on stage as Annie in her high school’s 12th-grade show and also clinched Best Supporting Actor and Best Director accolades at the Sherwood Park High School Theater Festival. From backstage at Off Off Broadway’s “Looking Toward Half Dome” to improv and stand-up ventures, NiLo’s artistic journey is dynamic. As a Natural Hair Care Specialist, she has written 2 Children’s books; Harriet’s Humungous Hair and Harriet’s Tremendous Day, which she does reading performances in schools and children’s events. NiLo also currently orchestrates captivating storytelling nights monthly at Afrodisiac, showcasing her diverse talents and passion for narrative performance.
Shima Aisha Robinson works for the Edmonton Poetry Festival Society as the Artistic Producer, and for Fringe Theatre as the Learning and Outreach Manager. She is an alumnus of MacEwan University where she earned a BA in Sociology and Creative Writing. Currently, she is a University of Alberta – Master of Arts in Community Engagement (MACE) candidate who advances her enthusiasm for anti-oppression and social justice work volunteering, interning and working with local groups that address systemic issues of oppression and marginalization in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (aka Edmonton). Shima is also an amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (aka Edmonton) born poet and spoken word artist who embodies, with every literary and scholarly effort, the ancient meaning of her chosen pen name. Dwennimmen is the name of an ancient African Adinkra symbol, which means strength, humility, learning and wisdom.
Patton Wei is a Stage Manager who recently graduated from the U of A. He worked as a Stage Manager, Lighting operator, Sound Operator, Programmer and Production Assistant with different companies. He recently stage managed the Circus Show Éphémère for Firefly Theatre and Christmas improv show The Blank who steal the Christmas with Rapid Fire Theatre. This is the first time Patton work with Thou Art Here Theatre, and he’s super excited to make his first debut!
“I hope to work on an interactive walk experience which highlights a very special neighbourhood in Millwoods. Through interactive and innovative storytelling methods I want to write an experience that tells the story of my childhood growing up Trans, Queer, and Indian. When I had to leave Edmonton, I didn’t realize just how connected I was to the neighbourhood, nature, and environment I grew up around. How I somehow came back to the same street, same park, and same people, with different identities, values, and homes. I really want to capture the essence of all that Edmonton and my experiences mean to me.” – Aisha
Creative Team
Playwright: Aisha
Dramaturge: desirée leverenz
Director: Tracy Carroll*
Actors: Alexander Ariate*, Noori Gill*, & Shrina Patel
Design Consultant: T. Erin Gruber
Stage Manager: Patton Wei
Producer: Alyson Dicey
*The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT).
Aisha (they/them) is a multimedia artist based in Edmonton and Toronto in their 2nd year of RTA Media Production at Toronto Metropolitan University. Abhay has worked on many film, TV, and radio productions, as a writer, editor, producer and talent. They wrote and directed award-winning play, Brown Kids, Slay Monsters and are currently working on their poetry book, Trans Tears. You can stay updated and support Abhay on their Instagram @heyits__abhay. Aisha can’t wait to be back in Edmonton and is thrilled to be working with Thou Art Here Theatre.
Alex Ariate is an Alberta based artist. He is extremely honoured to be working with Thou Art Here and to be a part of the process on such a beautiful piece of theatre. Alex holds a Diploma in Theatre Performance from Mount Royal University and a BFA in Acting from the University of Alberta. Recent theatre acting credits include The Importance of Being Earnest, CLUE, and Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Citadel Theatre)/(The Arts Club); Might As Well Be Dead and Murder On The Orient Express (Vertigo Theatre); The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, Othello, Twelfth Night, and The Winter’s Tale (The Shakespeare Company); Listen Listen (Teatro La Quindicina), MINE and BRICK SHITHOUSE (Workshop readings for Backstage Theatre and Found Fest). You can catch Alex down in Calgary January 2024 starring in the world premiere of Heist at Vertigo Theatre and later this Spring 2024 starring in Citadel Theatre’s The Three Musketeers!
Tracy Carroll has worked for many years in the Edmonton theatre community and is presently the Interim Managing Director at Catalyst Theatre. She has held leadership positions at Concrete Theatre, Alberta Playwrights’ Network, and the Citadel Theatre, and has produced several play development programs including Script Salon, EDMONten, and Peep Show! at SkirtsAfire. She is the facilitator of the Young Playwriting and Young Production Companies at the Citadel, co-facilitator of the Edmonton Playwriting Circle and teaches for the school program Writes of Passage through Workshop West. Most recently Tracy Directed and Dramaturged The Space Between Stars by Christine Lesiak at SkirtsAfire and Fresh Hell by Conni Massing at Shadow Theatre.
Noori Gill is a two time U of A alumnus, an improvisor at Sorry Not Sorry, and occasionally a scrub model. You may have seen them in All The Little Animals I Have Eaten at Varscona Theatre, or making believe at Sprouts with Concrete Theatre! You also may have seen them in some commercials for AGLC, as well as having small roles on Guilty Party, Joe Pickett, and maybe even a Hallmark movie! Noori does prefer the stage though, and they are excited to lend their voice to a new work with this stacked team.
T. Erin Gruber is an award-winning set, lighting, costume and projected media designer. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta and works professionally across Canada and around the world. In June 2019 her work was featured at the Prague Quadrennial International Design Exhibition. Selection of Award-winning projects: Métis Mutt (One Little Indian Productions, Sterling Award for Outstanding Production), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (Citadel Theatre and RMTC, Sterling Award for Lighting Design). For more information visit her online: eringruber.com
desirée leverenz is a theatre director and creator, who will never wash treaty 6 soil from beneath her feet. she exists to bring questions, and reveal stories and conversations, for artists and audiences alike, so that we can all dream of a better future together. desirée loves epic stories: epic in content, aesthetic, and spirit. she’s received institutional education from University of Alberta (BA), and York University (MFA), and has directed in large institutions and quiet back alleys. desirée has an affinity for new work and plays with traditional text to transform ideas and institutions that are no longer serving us.
Shrina Patel (she/they) is an artistic director, performing artist, actor and choreographer based in Amiskwacîwâskahikan. Her artistry is a fusion of grace, strength and innovation, driven and founded by her Gujarati roots. The recipient of the 2023 Elizabeth Sterling Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement for Younger Audiences, Shrina has the ability to transform spaces into living canvases through her innate understanding of movement. As part of NextFest Festival 2023, she penned, produced and delivered a captivating performance in her first one-woman show titled ‘Draupadi’. Her role as artistic director of Shaktiflow Studios solidifies her leadership and creative prowess in storytelling. She is currently working with Alberta Musical Theatre Company to educate and mentor the next generation of theatre artists.
Patton Wei is a Stage Manager who recently graduated from the U of A. He worked as a Stage Manager, Lighting operator, Sound Operator, Programmer and Production Assistant with different companies. He recently stage managed the Circus Show Éphémère for Firefly Theatre and Christmas improv show The Blank who steal the Christmas with Rapid Fire Theatre. This is the first time Patton work with Thou Art Here Theatre, and he’s super excited to make his first debut!
Thank Yous
Brett Dahl, Fringe Theatre, Mac Brock, Sheiny Satanove, & Sue Goberdhan
