Professional theatre artists to teach acting intensive in Fort McMurray

nistawâyâw / ᓂᐢᑕᐋᐧᔮᐤ / Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo theatre company, Swamp Rat Experience (SRE), is inviting local actors to learn from professional theatre artists at a weekend workshop intensive on August 12-14, 2022 at Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts.

While Wood Buffalo is a region teeming with talented theatre artists, it lacks post-secondary and adult development opportunities in all areas of theatre. Adult actors wishing to expand and deepen their craft by attending professional workshops and training must usually travel outside our region since there are currently no local resources to learn the classic theatre techniques taught in this workshop intensive.

The intensive will be led by experienced artists Éanna O’Dowd from Galway, Ireland and Jessica Cymerman from Los Angeles, US through their theatre company Untold Wants, based out of Vancouver, BC. By inviting industry professionals to our community and creating a space where actors can feel safe and supported while being challenged to further their craft, SRE hopes to help local actors build confidence in their work as they identify and strengthen their acting toolkit.

“This actors’ intensive offers a development opportunity for Wood Buffalo theatre artists to learn and grow, guided by professionals in the field,” says Hanna Fridhed, Director of Swamp Rat Experience. “Continuous growth is essential for artists, and by bringing in professionals we ensure that our local theatre artists are given an opportunity to take their practice to the next level.”

SRE is able to offer this workshop intensive thanks to generous support from Friends of Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts. 

About the facilitators: Cymerman has extensive directing experience and holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and MA in Directing from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, with additional training from Shakespeare’s Globe, UK. O’Dowd is an actor and producer with stage credits including National Irish tours of Vernon God Little and The Dead School, and Film/TV credits including Limetown, The 100, The Exorcist, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. He holds an MA in Acting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Those interested to learn more about this weekend intensive or who wish to register can visit ymm_acting_intensive.eventbrite.com.