Q.E. Tuesday

Murmur Theatre is a new company in Calgary formed by Rita Rebetskaya and Polina Kaulio whose modus operandi is to "explore the intersection of physical performance, live art, and contemporary drama". I got to speak with them about their approach to theatre creation as well as their movement workshops which are extremely popular and constantly selling out! Check out their website and instagram to learn more about these workshops and their upcoming shows and work as well.

Murmur Theatre Website

Murmur's restaurant Recommendations are:

Sweet Loretta

Native Tongues

Other Shows/Events Mentioned in this episode:

Tartuffe - Shakespeare Company - May 21-June 6

G.O.T. Improv - Mean Streets Improv - May 29

Come From Away - Theatre Calgary - May 26-June 21

Rise New Works Festival - Common Ground Arts Society -

May 29-31

Fully Committed - Teatro Live - June 4-21

CSIF Cinema Club - 6 Decades of Rom-Coms - June 15

Freewill Shakespeare - Back in Hawrelak park! -

June 12-July 12

Riverhawks Baseball Theatre Night - June 11

What a treat it was speaking with three members of the GeriActors; an intergenerational company showing how theatre is for any age! First I spoke with founder Dave Barnet and former student member Mackenzie Munch, and then actor Maria Yakula joined us. We talked about the physical and mental benefits of theatre, the age assumptions we make and must overcome, the beginnings of the company and what they are working on now. It was truly inspirational to talk to these three lovely artists.

For more information on the GeriActors, please visit:

GeriActors Website

GeriActors Instagram

Other Shows/Events mentioned in this episode:

Autumn - Edmonton New Shadow Theatre Society

- May 6-May24

Everyone is Doing Fine - Workshop West Playwrights

Theatre - May 8-24

The Verdict - Vertigo Theatre - May 9-June 7

From Cradle to Stage - Walterdale Theatre - May 19-24

Buanderie/Boulangerie - L’Unitheatre - May 21-31

The End - Old Trout Puppet Workshop - June 2-6

Have you ever thought about making a short film or video, but didn't know where to start? The place for you is the Edmonton Short Film Festival, an organization creating space for people to get their work seen by an audience! I got to talk to Sharlene Millang about the incredible work they are doing to get people in the mix with the short film industry. They are having a Women Filmmakers screening at Wafflebird this Thursday April 30th, so make sure to check out that event as well as all the other screenings and workshops they have coming up in the year! I am so grateful to Sharlene for her time and her insight into this special craft. There will be directors in attendance so it is sure to be an informative and empowering event.

For more info on the Women Filmmakers Screening please visit:

Edmonton Short Film Festival

and check out Wafflebird as well!

Sharlene's Restaurant recomendations are:

Taste of Shangri-La

May

Other shows mentioned:

Hurry Hard - Rosebud Theatre - April 10-MAy 23

Village of Idiots - Rosebud Theatre - April 17-May 2

Frontier - Ghost River Theatre - April 23-May 2

Patience - Morpheus Theatre - APril 24-May 2

Emma - Workshop Theatre Society - May 1-9

Cyrano de Bergerac - Citadel Theatre- May 2-24

Pith - Fire Exit Theatre - May 6-10

CSIF - Script Club - May 12

The Room Screening - Metro Cinema - May 1

No interview this week, just a quick monologue regarding live performance etiquette based on a recent Reddit post from and Edmontonian and an opinion piece from the Toronto Star (Links below). What are your opinions on live performance etiquette?

Reddit post and responses

Toronto Star Article

Other shows/Events mentioned:

Ghost River Theatre - Frontier - April 23- May 2

9-5 The Musical - Windmill Theatre Players - High River - Apr 17-25

A Hint of Snow White - Forbeez Theatre Group - Lacombe - April 17-19

Wildwoman - Alberta Theatre Projects - Calgary - April 21-May 10

A Love Letter to Sondheim - Brave Space Theatre - Grindstone Theatre - Edmonton - April 29

The Mousetrap - Manluk Theatre - Wetaskiwin - May 1-10

Paddling Film Festival - UAPS - Edmonton - April 18

ESFF - Womens Popup Screening - Wafflebird - April 30

What do you do when your hockey career gets kiboshed due to concussions? Become a talented actor and writer of course! This week I got to talk to Stephanie Alexandre who is performing in Fire Exit Theatre's upcoming show Pith. It was so interesting to hear about the parallels between playing a sport and performing in theatre, and also to hear about her beliefs, dream role and of course favourite restaurant! Stephanie seems to be the type of person who can make your day better just by speaking to her, so I hope you enjoy this episode.

Fire Exit Theatre and Pith Tickets are at:

Fire Exit Website

Stephanie's favourite restaurant is:

Ryuko

Other productions/events mentioned in this episode:

Casey and Diana - Citadel & ATP - April 4-26

Rat Academy - Theatre Network - April 9-12

Marjorie Prime - Trunk Theatre - April 9-19

Hurry Hard - Rosebud Theatre - April 10-MAy 23

Stage Struck - Alberta Drama Festival - April 17-18

The Revolutionists - Shadow Theatre - March 18-April 5

AMPIA - Producer Powerup - May 2

Metro Easter Movies - Jesus Christ Superstar - Apr 3

The Ten Commandments - April 6

Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo Region have been through fires, floods, and pandemics, and still their theatre culture is thriving! This is in part to the heroic efforts of Jenny Price of Swamp Rat Experience, a company started in 2021 by Hanna Fridhed. Jenny took over as Artistic Director recently, and I was able to talk to her about the beginnings of the company, how it has grown and why their workshops are continuously selling out! It is definitely worth the trip up north to experience Swamp Rat Experience!

For more information please visit:

Swamp Rat Experience

Jenny's restaurant recommendation is:

Pocket Heart Cafe

Also we speak about Keyano theatre company in Fort McMurray:

Keyano Theatre

Other shows/events mentioned in this episode:

A Killing Snow - Vertigo Theatre - March 14-April 12

Lazy Susan - Inside Out theatre - March 17-28

Gracie - Fire Exit Theatre - March 18-22

Impossible Worlds - Acorn Cap Productions/Nickel & Dime Theatre - March 19-22

The Wizard of Oz - The Citadel - March 7-April 12

The Revolutionists - Shadow Theatre - March 18-April 5

Springboards - Workshop West Playwrights Theatre- March 22-29

FAVA Fest 2026 - Various Dates in March

Jameela McNeil has just come off an amazing year performing at the the Citadel, Riser Festival and so much more. Now the SkirtsAfire Festival is hosting her show Ms. Pat's Kitchen, a story she has been writing for many years now. I am so honored she spoke to me about her writing, thoughts about generational healing and her path as an artist. Jameela also gives the names of some great restaurants here in Edmonton akin to Ms. Pat's were it fully realized. Shows are already sold out so don't wait to get your tickets to see a work by a truly talented artist.

Ms. Pat's Kitchen is on:

March 5 (SOLD OUT)

March 6 - 7:30

March 7 - 1:30 & 7:30

March 8 - 1:30

Find Jameela on Instagram at:

@jameela_jade

SkirtsAFire Tickets

Other Shows/Events Mentioned in this episode:

Raiders of the Lost Lemon Mine - Erratic Players - Longview - Closes March 7

10th Anniversary Sound Off Deaf Theatre Festival - March 3-8

Sylvan Lake Theatre - Ten Minute New Play Festival - March 1, 8, 15

Alberta Playwrights Network - 61st Annual Playwrighting Competition - March 15

Skirts A Fire Festival – March 5 - 15

Metro Cinema - Live Accompanist Applications

Festival of Animated Objects - March 14-22

Alliance Francaise - Francophone Film Festival - March 20-22

Some restaurant recommendations from Jameela are:

Island Crust and Spice

Sauce Modern Caribbean Cuisine

Paradise Grill

Irie Foods

Iland Vybes Restaurant

Cafe Caribbean

Shish Shwarma

El Corazon

Meat

Juana Ines

After a smash hit opening weekend, Bottle Rocket Theatre is proving to be the new popular choice for improv and comedy in Calgary! I got to talk to founder and performer Zachary Dean Friesen about starting the company, why it is important to pay performers, marketing, and his top improv tips. Zachary's been in the game for many years and performed across the country, so his wisdom is invaluable, and I hope you enjoy!

Bottle Rocket Theatre can be found at:

Bottle Rocket Theatre Website

or

Bottle Rocket Theatre Instagram

Zachary's Restaurant Recommendation is:

Queen's Breakfast Cocktails

Other Shows mentioned in this episode:

The Wizard of Oz - The Citadel - March 7 - April 12

A Man & A Woman - Globe Cinema - Calgary Cinematheque - February 19

Anne of Green Gables the Musical - Nuova Vocal Arts - February 26 - March 4

I Meant What I Said – Teatro Live! - February 20 - March 8

Skirts A Fire Festival - March 5-15

Free Mobile Device Filmmaking Workshop - Edmonton Short Film Festival - March 14 at Concordia University

Casey and Diana - Alberta Theatre Projects - February 24 - March 15

Sixteen sleeps until Christmas, but only two more sleeps until the premiere of Girl Brain, Actually! I got to talk to Alberta's incredible sketch trio Girl Brain (Alyson Dicey, Ellie Heath and Caley Suliak) about their origin story, their writing process, some amazing advice they've received and of course their restaurant picks. Head down to The Roxy from December 11-21st to check out this new festive show directed by Bradley Moss and starring, of course, the hilarious Girl Brain!

For more information on Girl Brain, check out their website:

Girl Brain Sketch Comedy

or follow them on:

Youtube

Instagram

Girl Brain, Actually

Created by Ellie Heath, Alyson Dicey & Caley Suliak

Directed by Bradley Moss

Stage Managed by Candice Stollery

Design by Tessa Stamp & Dayna Lea Hoffmann

Featuring Special Guests Tiff Hall & Letabby Lexington

Girl Brain Restaurant Recommendations:

Bodega

Bar Bricco

Una Pizza

Rosso Pizzeria

Cafe Amore

On the Rocks

Other Shows mentioned in this episode:

Chase Padgett - A 6 String Christmas - Fringe Theatre

Nuova Vocal Arts - Miracle on 34th Street

Grindstone Theatre - Die Harsh

Metro Cinema - Die Hard

Calgary Cinematheque - Elf & Being There + Christmas Market

Kinkonauts - Actually, I Love You

Kat Evans is a Swiss Army Knife in the Edmonton theatre and film world. But don't let her stacked resume intimidate you, she is as kind-hearted and open as they come; proof that you don't need to be ruthless and uncaring to make it in show-biz. I got to talk to her about her history in the industry, what trends she sees currently for audiences and creators alike, and of course her favourite restaurants! Make sure to check out all her upcoming work; there is alot to choose from!

Kat's Instagram:

@katlynnevans

Common Ground Arts Society/Riser Festival

Edmonton Fringe Festival

Kat's Restaurant Recommendations:

The Bothy

Pip

Next Act

Other Shows Mentioned in this Episode:

Oscar Bait - Mean Streets Improv - ⁠November 28

Alberta Number One - Metro Cinema - November 29

Chicago: The Musical – Windmill Theatre Players – November 21-29 High River

2000 Candles - Fire Exit Theatre - December 3-7

Present Laughter – Walterdale Theatre – December 3-13

The Gertrude Project – Script Salon and Freewill Shakspeare Festival – December 7

Sketchup presents Sketchmas! – Grindstone Theatre – December 7

The Blank Who Stole Christmas - Rapid Fire Theatre - November 27 - December 21