Our Mission
We are cultivating a theatre community that is coming alive with voices, inspired ideas, and powerful stories that represent the diversity of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Playwrights’ Centre works collaboratively with artists to create innovative theatre and performance works that reflect upon the changing tapestry of our stories as people from Saskatchewan.
As a deeply rooted Saskatchewan organization, we provide the people and materials needed to facilitate, workshop, and explore the stories that divide us and bring us together.
We are working to better serve rural and remote Saskatchewan communities and support under-served or marginalized communities, particularly women, Indigenous, the 2SLGBTQ+ and disabled communities.
In addition to text-based work, we support the creation and development of dance/movement theatre, immersive theatre, multi-media performance, devised work, clown, puppetry, and site-specific pieces. We are supporting art that matters and work that is vital and current.
Our Team
-
Jennifer Lyn Squires
CREATIVE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
she / herJennifer Lyn Squires is a 35 year old theatre artist from and living in Oskana / Regina (Treaty 4 territory). She has a degree in English Literature with a minor in Theatre Studies from the University of Regina. She has been involved in theatre since high school.
Jennifer is unashamedly neurodiverse, living with ADHD and anxiety. She is an advocate for fat people and the health at every size philosophy. She is an ally of the 2SLGBTQ and loves to get involved in her community.
When she’s not working on theatre or serving others, she can be found playing board games, baking, sleeping, or petting all the cats (like her foster cat, Alfred). -
Jalisa Gonie
CHAIR
she / her | they / them
Jalisa is a versatile theatre artist that balances acting, stage management, clown and writing. They hold a BFA in Acting from the University of Saskatchewan and have trained at the Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance. She has been a part of the Saskatoon Theatre scene for 10 years in different capacities, working with 25th Street Theatre, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, SUM Theatre, Persephone Theatre, Short Cuts and one half of a clown duo with Charlie Peters (Oblong & Oboe). Recipient of a 2020 Saskatoon and Area Theatre Award for outstanding supportive performance as #2 in Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves (Live Five/LittleBig Theatre) and nominated for The Technical Excellence Award (2022) for their work as a Production Manager. -
Avianna Hudym
VICE CHAIR
she / her | they / themAvianna is white, queer, working-class artist currently living on Treaty 4 land. Their art practice is independent, eclectic and project-based, including threads of dance, theatre, writing, and visual design. She is passionate about the development of new works as well as building resilience through local communities and networks, and hopes to foster the continued growth of both those things through her service with the SPC
-
Landon Walliser
TREASURER
he / himLandon Walliser is a director and producer based in Regina Saskatchewan. He currently works as the producer for The Women's Company and is honoured to have received two BroadwayWorld awards for their inaugural production of Love, Loss, and What I Wore.
-
Emma Eaton
SECRETARY
they / themEmma is an interdisciplinary artist based on Treaty 4 territory. They hold a BA in Theatre Performance with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of Regina and were honoured with the University Prize in Media, Art, and Performance.
Emma is a queer disabled nonbinary performer with special interests in physical theatre and queer performance art.
-
Kristi Friday
PAST CHAIR
she / herKristi is an actress, puppeteer, puppet builder, & writer. She has had the privilege or performing on several SK stages and recently started a new creative endeavour with www.girlfridaycreations.com.
-
Ricardo Alvarado
MEMBER
he / him | they / them
Ricardo Alvarado (he/they) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist based in Saskatoon. They were recently awarded the People's Choice Award at the Saskatoon and Area Theatre Awards, they are the co-founder of Ppl r Ppl Productions and they just stepped into the role of Artistic Producer for SUM Theatre. They regularly teach painting to elementary school students through the Hugo Alvarado Community Art Program and recently taught a week-long drag intensive for teens at Persephone Theatre as their alter ego Puffy von Pop-n-Fresh. Up Next: The Birds & The Bees (SM, Persephone/Globe Theatre Regina), Romeo & Juliet and As You Like It (PSM, Shakespeare on the SK). -
Rachel Walliser
MEMBER
she / herRachel Walliser is a theatre artist, playwright, and intimacy director in-training based on Treaty 4 land. This past June, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Performance and Women’s and Gender Studies with Distinction from the University of Regina. Most recently, Rachel won the “Excellence in New Work” SATA award for her play Breaking the Curse produced by 25th Street Theatre & Ferre Play Theatre in Saskatoon. Rachel likes to spend her free time collaging, reading, and selling vintage with Victory Vintage Co.