Provocation Series at 2020 IGNITE! Festival
Artist Biographies
Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre and Sage Theatre are proud to present the creative team for the Provocation Series at the 2020 IGNITE! Festival of Emerging Artists.
The Banana Conundrum
- Devin Kotani
- Kodie Rollan
- Zach Running Coyote
- Kris Vanessa Teo Xin-En (mentor)
Good People
- Bryan Sandberg
- Lori Bachynski
- Russell Bisschop
- Erika Carey
- Michael Giardino
- Karina Luterbach
- Jordan Baylon (mentor)
Elegant Animal
- Stuart McDougall
- Ira Doré
- Elaine Weryshko (mentor)
Lori Bachynski
Lori Bachynski says she has been an actor her whole life starting with making up her own plays at a young age. These days Lori does her best to follow her dreams as an actor, hoping that it shows her children that they can too. She wants to thank Bryan for this amazing opportunity, her husband, and her amazing teachers. Credits: Small parts in Heartland and Jann. Fighting Zombie: Night of the Living Dead until Covid-19. Various radio commercials. English dub work on Kiznaivers and Law of Ueki.
Russell Bisschop
Russell Bisschop is making his acting debut as part of the IGNITE! festival, playing the role of Pastor Howard, in “Good People”. Bisschop has been developing a variety of acting skills through study at the Company of Rogues Actors’ studio in Calgary, Alberta.
Throughout his life, Bisschop has pursued a variety of activities that challenge him, including Martial arts, Indoor Climbing, and Marksmanship. In his non-acting life, Russell works as a Labour Relations professional, and enjoys spending life’s quieter moments with his wife and two children.
Erika Casey
Erika Casey is a young aspiring stage manager who has a deep appreciation for all things theatre, film, and entertainment.
Michael Giardino
After stints in Toronto and London (the one with the funny accents), Michael is now living in Calgary, where he’s caught the acting bug once again. To date, he has been cast in mostly comedic roles in theatre, television and film. A Social Media Specialist by trade, Michael loves travelling, game nights with friends, spending time at the gym, and all things pop-culture and entertainment. Yes, he’s probably seen it!
Devin Kotani
A graduate of the University of Calgary’s drama program, Devin studied primarily as an actor, and has worked as an actor and a director since graduating in 2018.
Karina Luterbach
Karina Luterbach is an English major, a writer and an avid dnd player. She’s really excited to get to voice act!
Stuart McDougall
Stuart is an artist, producer, and administrator currently based in Banff on Treaty 7 territory, and after 6 Edmonton Nextfests, is thrilled to be a part of IGNITE! He is a co-artistic producer with In Arms Theatre, a queer company (mostly) based in Edmonton, and as an artist has worked in Alberta with such companies as Theatre Outré, Theatre Calgary, and The Orange Girl. Working as an administrator, he has spent time with The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, and most recently the Banff Centre.
Kodie Rollan
Kodie Rollan is a Philippine-born, Scarborough-raised, Calgary-based playwright, dramaturg, actor, and producer. Kodie is drawn to telling stories that examine the socio-political environment of our world. His dramaturgy credits include: A Visual Presentation of My Worst Anxieties by Lucas Gerimbly (Hoodlum Theatre), Rule of the Ring (Proeliator Theatre) Safehouse (Seven Starving Artists). His playwriting credits include: The Watchdog Society (Carlos Bulosan Theatre – Tales from the Flipside Festival), Funny Man (Ignite Festival of Emerging Artists). Kodie is currently the Artistic Associate of Chromatic Theatre.
Zach Running Coyote
Zach Running Coyote is a Mi’gmaq Interdisciplinary Story Scavenger who’s work examines how colonization and diverse community structure alters the land we call home. You may know him as the playwright/performer of Snowblind at Lunchbox Theatre and Making Treaty 7.
Bryan Sandberg
A queer Filipinx-Canadian artist based in Calgary, Alberta, Bryan Sandberg has always been interested in exploring new territory in how stories are told. His experiences growing up as a Christian missionary kid in the Philippines give him unique perspectives on the world. If he is not writing, he is likely playing video games or board games.
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