Makings of a Voice

DANA WYLIE

WRITER | PERFORMER

Dana Wylie is a musician and theatre artist from Edmonton, Alberta, whose original work is rootsy, spacious, thought-provoking, and essentially joyful. Her fifth and latest album, The Earth That You’re Made Of, earned her a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Contemporary Singer of the Year, and her work in theatre – as an actor, singer, writer, and musical director – has earned her four Sterling Award nominations. She is also the immeasurably proud and generally overwhelmed mother of nine-year-old Anna and two-year-old Grayson. Her sixth album, How Much Muscle, came out in 2021 and is available (along with her other work) at www.danawylie.net.

*The participation of this Artist is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance•Opera•Theatre Policy (DOT).

VANESSA SABOURIN

DIRECTOR

Vanessa is so thrilled to be working on this beautiful piece and to be a part of the fabulous SkirtsAfire Festival. She is a co-founder of The Maggie Tree and was co-artistic producer at Azimuth Theatre from 2016-2020. Directing credits include Cleave (Tiny Bear Jaws); 9 Parts of Desire, The Supine Cobbler, HROSES: An Affront To Reason, Shatter, A Life in the Day, and Hunger Striking (The Maggie Tree). Selected performing credits include 19 Weeks (NLT/Azimuth), Fallen Angels (Bright Young Things); Comedy of Errors/Hamlet (Freewill Shakespeare Festival); The Crucible (Theatre Calgary); The Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst (Ghost River Theatre / Alberta Theatre Projects); Nevermore (Catalyst Theatre); Monstrosities, and Folie à Deux (The Maggie Tree).

Photo by Ryan Parker Photography

*The participation of this Artist is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance•Opera•Theatre Policy (DOT).

ELLEN HAVARD

DRAMATURG

Ellen is a theatre-maker from Bristol, UK, living in London. She met Dana in 2014 when Ellen made a piece of family theatre, inspired by Dana’s song ‘Hurricane Boy’ from her first album.

Recent Credits include: Sexy Lamp, by Katie Arnstein, Edinburgh Festival 2019 & London’s Vault Festival 2019;  Ad Libido, by Frances Bush, Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh Festival 2018 & Vault Festival 2018, Snow Mouse, Travelling Light in co-production with the egg, Bath. Ellen has been both associate and assistant director including the UK’s National Theatre, Stratford East, Bristol Old Vic and Propeller Theatre. Ellen was Resident Director, London’s National Theatre Studio 2017-2018. 

WHITTYN JASON

SET, PROPS & COSTUME DESIGN

Whittyn Jason (them/them/theirs) is a queer, mixed-race, scenographer living and creating in amiskawaciy (Edmonton, Alberta). In their practice, they are particularly interested in the intersection of visual art, installation in theatre, and creating devised performances. Recent credits include ‘All That Binds Us’ (Azimuth Theatre), ‘Horizon’s Lab’ (Citadel Theatre), ‘Tracks’ (Vena Amoris Theatre), ‘Second-Hand Dances for the Crude, Crude City’ (Mile Zero Dance), and ‘Crave’ (StoneMarrow Theatre). Upcoming credits include ‘Wolves (The Maggie Tree), and ‘Tell Us What Happened’ (Theatre YES). They also hold a BFA from the University of Alberta in Drama (Theatre Design).

BETH GRIEVE

STAGE MANAGER

BROOKE LEIFSO

ACCESSIBILITY CONSULTANT & ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

KIRSTEN ELLIOTT

FLUTE

CHRISTINE HANSON

CELLO

BILLIE ZIZI

GUITAR

Edmonton’s Billie Zizi deftly combines the groove of classic soul with a flair for contemporary RnB melody, while adding an avant-jazz vibe with her adventurous guitar forays to create a sound as accessible as it is experimental.