Special Events/Discounts

• Festival Passes available now
• Limited Pay-What-You-Will tickets available per performance
• Limited amount of complimentary tickets for Indigenous folks thanks to support from the Alberta Blue Cross. Please claim your ticket using the “Free Tickets for Indigenous People” option.
• Book your group of 6 or more and get 15% off or your group of 10 or more for 20% off!
• If you require an attendant, aide, or companion, they are still required to have a ticket. Please contact coordinator@skirtsafire.com and we’ll book a ticket for the accompanying person at no extra cost.

Accessibility Measures for I Am Eagle by Matricia Bauer

ASL Interpreted Performance | Saturday, March 7 @ 1:30pm

Sensory Kits
Sensory Kits will be available to borrow for free at all shows including sunglasses, ear muffs and fidget spinners.

Companion Tickets
If you require an attendant, aide, or companion, they are still required to have a ticket. Please contact coordinator@skirtsafire.com and we’ll book a ticket for the accompanying person at no extra cost.

Full Venue Accessibility
Outside, there is a large sidewalk in front of the building. The main entrance is wheelchair accessible, and in the intimate theatre space we can accommodate wheelchairs along the skirt of the stage. Main floor washrooms are wheelchair accessible*, with separate stalls.

*Please note that washrooms may not be accessible for some wheelchairs and larger mobility aids. Further information with regard to venue accessibility will be available soon.

Walterdale Theatre has a permanent installation of the T-Coil hearing loop. Patrons with hearing loss may borrow one of our head sets, or use their Loop-compatible hearing aid.Find more info on the venue’s website here.

Parking
Paid street parking in the area, plus a paid parking lot to the west of the building.Bus Routes: ETS Bus Routes 4, 7, 52, 57, 94, and 327 stop along Whyte Avenue close to the ATB Financial Arts Barns. Click here for more information on Accessibility Click here for SkirtsAfire’s FAQs

Content Warnings

• Coming soon

If you need further clarification regarding these content warnings, please don’t hesitate to reach out to info@skirtsafire.com.

Matricia Bauer
Playwright / Presenting Artist

Matricia Bauer is a dynamic Indigenous artist, musician, and cultural ambassador with a compelling stage and media presence. For two decades, she has captivated audiences globally, from international conferences to television screens. In 2023, Matricia delivered a powerful Ted Talk, sharing her unique insights. Her expertise also led to a featured segment in Ralph Fiennes’s Epic Journey on Disney in 2024, showcasing her deep connection to Indigenous culture. In 2025, she brought her discerning palate and cultural perspective as a guest judge on Top Chef. Matricia’s engaging presence extends to her TV show “Digging for Roots” and her participation in “Bears’ Lair,” an Indigenous pitch competition, solidifying her reputation as a prominent voice in both entertainment and cultural education.

Danielle LaRose
Director

Danielle LaRose (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist, a citizen of the Otipemisiwak Métis Nation of Alberta, and a guest in ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ Amiskwacîwâskahikan (colonially known as Edmonton) on Treaty 6 Territory, Métis Region 4.  After graduating from Grant MacEwan University, she went on to obtain her Master’s degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and work in theatres across the UK. Upon returning to Turtle Island, she has appeared on stage as a performer, off-stage as a director, has written several plays, and composed original musical scores for the stage. She is grateful to learn from all her relations and to offer her creativity in service to this community in the spirit of kwayskahstahsoowin- setting things right.

Teneil Whiskeyjack
Dramaturg

Teneil Whiskeyjack is a Plains Cree indigenous women from Saddle Lake Cree Nation. Storytelling has always been an integral part of Teneil’s life. She began acting at the age of 8, well into adulthood in film and television which garnered her Outstanding New Performance by an Actress in Film from First Americans in the Arts for her breakout role in Dreamkeeper.. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Drama from Concordia University of Edmonton and is the 2024 Esquao Awards Recipient for the arts. She was the keynote speaker at Augustana University with her talk “The Resurgence of Indigenous Women’s Medicine” in 2023. Teneil made her playwright’s debut with her play Ayita. Ayita was the headlining production for SkirtsAfire Festival’s 10th Anniversary in 2021. Most recently, she has toured across North America with the hit musical Bear Grease, a high-energy parody of the classic film, Grease. Teneil was also honoured as an artist to be a part of the first ever cross-cultural and artistic residency in Chile, South America through the Pemmican Collective and Punctuate Theatre. Amongst performing, she also curates and produces land-based artistic offerings with the show Pahkisimon with Jasper Dark Sky Festival. Her recent creative development has been through movement and how our stories live in the body as a means to heal, liberate and free ourselves from our limitations. 

Ayla Modeste
Performer

Ayla Modeste (also known as Shir Modesty) is a fierce nehiyaw – gwichin mother, indigenous rights activist, body worker and performance artist born in Amiskwaciywâskahikan. They perform in many styles including: burlesque, contemporary, indigenous theatre and pole dance. 

Ayla’s dynamic storytelling has showcased in many local shows and festivals including: Shumka’s Ancestors and Elders (2017/2019), Mile Zero’s Dirt Buffet Cabaret (2017-2019), Rubaboo Indigenous Arts Festival (2018-2022), Next Fest (2022), House of Hush (2021–2024), Banff Pride Festival (2024), Jasper Dark Sky Festival (2023/2024), as well as in showcases with Central Edmonton Aerial Performing Arts Centre(2024/2025)

Rebecca Sadowski
Performer

Rebecca is a métis/queer performer and teacher based in amiskwacîwâskahikan and is thrilled to be returning to the SkirtsAfire stage in I Am Eagle. Rebecca teaches with dancED Movement Project and works as an Indigenous Narratives Coordinator with the City of Edmonton. Recent credits include: You Used to Call Me Marie (Savage Society/NAC), Civil Blood (Thou Art Here Theatre), Feast (Edmonton Fringe Theatre), Ayita (Skirtsafire Festival), Two- Headed Half-Hearted (Northern Light Theatre) BEARS (Punctuate Theatre), and Minosis Gathers Hope (Alberta Aboriginal Arts). Rebecca has danced as a member of the Good Women Dance Collective, and has curated dance programming for the Nextfest Festival. Rebecca has produced several dance films including THE SASH MAKER with Native Earth Performing Arts, as well as BREAKING BAPTIST with the Catalyst Theatre. Rebecca has a passion for sharing Indigenous narratives and historic arts. She strives to decolonize spaces and continues to deepen her connection to her Métis roots by sharing family stories, jigging, and finger-weaving sashes.

Soul Spiritwalker
Performer

Soul Spiritwalker is a métis person originally from Grimshaw, Alberta. Specializing in multiple traditional Indigenous art forms such as Woodland Cree Hide Tanning and caribou hair tufting. They also enjoy the fine arts, having spent the majority of their life studying dance and singing in choirs. Their love for acting developed later in their life after reading a book where the main character became a successful actor. Relating to that character and finding that spark, they themselves took up acting, performing in many plays and Musicals. After graduating highschool they attended Portage College, before relocating to Edmonton Alberta.

Jessica Hickman
Puppet Designer & Builder

Jessica Hickman (mixed.media.monsters) is a tinkerer, builder, and maker of whimsical creatures.  She is thrilled to debut her work here at SkirtsAFire, and thanks Matricia for the invitation to collaborate.  Jessica lives on Vancouver Island and is the co-Artistic Director of the Victoria Association of Mask & Puppetry (VAMP).  She has built puppets for Wonderheads, Puente Theatre, SNAFU Theatre, Open Pit Theatre, Story Theatre, and the Canadian College of Performing Arts.  Jessica co-wrote, directed, and built the puppets for her company’s show Radio Silence, which is being performed at the Festival of Animated Objects later this month!