Welcome to It Takes Two! On this podcast, we pair five emerging artists with five professional mentors to work together on an informal mentorship process. Over four weeks, pairs will develop and create a performance piece as well as record an interview together to talk about their process. In this episode, Noah Boonov and Ari Weinberg discuss the intersection of queer and Jewish identity in their artistic practice. Noah Boonov (she/they) is a Winnipeg-born-Ottawa-raised, Queer, and Jewish multidisciplinary artist. Noah has completed theatre training at Canterbury High School’s Drama Program (2016), The Village Conservatory for Music Theatre (2021), and UWinnipeg’s Honours Devised Theatre (2022). Noah continues to examine her identities as a Feminist, Queer, Jewish and neuro-divergent person, as well as their passions for make-up, singing, and internet culture through devised creation, writing, and performance.  Ari is currently the Associate Casting Director at the Stratford Festival. He served seven seasons as Artistic and Managing Director of Winnipeg Jewish Theatre. His directing credits include Narrow Bridge, After Jerusalem, Tribes, The Whipping Man, Another Way Home, Shiksa, Stars of David (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre); Frankenstein (University of Winnipeg); Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Knavish Hedgehogs at Winnipeg Fringe), and Godspell (Theatre Sheridan). We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Arts Council, as well as our producing partner the Crescent Arts Centre, in making this podcast possible.

Welcome to It Takes Two! On this podcast, we pair five emerging artists with five professional mentors to work together on an informal mentorship process. Over four weeks, pairs will develop and create a performance piece as well as record an interview together to talk about their process. In this episode, Mady Richard and Yvette Nolan discuss the intersection of Indigenous identity with playwriting and theatre. Richard (she/her) is a queer Indigenous performer and creator. She is currently training at the University of Manitoba and has trained with the Village Conservatory for Music Theatre and with Ken Peter’s Dance Express. Mady’s most recent projects include Grumplestock’s (Rose Coloured Apocalypse and Eleventh Hour Productions) and Antigone Now (University of Manitoba). She spent the summer with One Trunk Theatre as part of their Resident Artist program and is looking forward to continuing her artistic journey! Yvette Nolan (Algonquin) is a playwright, director and dramaturg. Her works include the play The Unplugging, the dance-opera Bearing, the libretto Shawnadithit. She co-created, with Joel Bernbaum and Lancelot Knight, the verbatim play Reasonable Doubt, about relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan. From 2003-2011, she served as Artistic Director of Native Earth Performing Arts. Born in Prince Albert, raised in Winnipeg, she currently lives in Saskatoon, where she is pursuing her Masters in Public Policy at Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Arts Council, as well as our producing partner the Crescent Arts Centre, in making this podcast possible.

Welcome to It Takes Two! On this podcast, we pair five emerging artists with five professional mentors to work together on an informal mentorship process. Over four weeks, pairs will develop and create a performance piece as well as record an interview together to talk about their process. In this episode, Parker Koepnick and Chun Shing Au (Roland) & Carmen Lee of Theatre du Poulet talk all things puppetry! Parker Koepnick (he/they/ils) is a movement based actor, playwright, and poet residing in win-nipi/ Winnipeg Treaty 1 Territory. Parker has his certificate in Theatre Foundations, and enjoys the continuous learning theatre brings. They are excited to be back in the wonderful wonderland of win-nipi/Winnipeg. Past projects include A Sliver of a Moment (One Trunk Theatre Artist Residency Program), Catching Foxes (RSA, dancer). Film credits include Cotard’s Delusion (Sound mixer/boom operator), and Dichrome (production assistant). Parker likes working on everything at once, and when they aren’t creating something theatre related, you can find them experimenting with photography, music, or exploring nature. Before Theatre du Poulet was born in 2016, Roland and Carmen first met in The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts where Roland majored in Acting and Carmen majored in Stage, Events, and Arts Management. With a combined experience of nearly two decades, the couple has travelled and performed in Ireland, Hong Kong and Canada. The duo’s passion for theatre is led by fusing political, environmental, and social issues with art: it is their belief that using puppetry and physical theatre is a powerful and language-free tool that reaches the widest of crowds. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Arts Council, as well as our producing partner the Crescent Arts Centre, in making this podcast possible.

Welcome to It Takes Two! On this podcast, we pair five emerging artists with five professional mentors to work together on an informal mentorship process. Over four weeks, pairs will develop and create a performance piece as well as record an interview together to talk about their process. In this episode, Sam Hutchings and Jillian Willems have teamed up to explore dance, choreography, and movement in performance. Sam is a Winnipeg-based emerging choreographer and performer. She is a proud alumna of the ViC and a graduate of the University of Winnipeg’s Theatre program. A dancer since she could walk, Sam has always been drawn to physical storytelling, and her artistic interest also includes stunts and intimacy direction. Sam is driven to help her fellow artists tell stories safely and prioritize their mental and physical well-being while working in theatre and film. Jillian Willems is a Winnipeg-based director, choreographer, and performer. Select performance credits include: South Pacific (Winnipeg Symphony); A Charlie Brown Double Bill (MTYP); South Pacific (Regina Symphony); Heathers (WST); Follies (Dry Cold); Annie (Rainbow Stage); . Select creative credits include: Guys & Dolls (Director, WSO/Rainbow); Pippin (Choreographer, WST/ViC); Chicago (Director/Choreographer, Pizza Party); Breaking Up is Hard to Do (Choreographer, Rainbow Stage); American Idiot (Choreographer, WST). We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Arts Council, as well as our producing partner the Crescent Arts Centre, in making this podcast possible.

Welcome to It Takes Two! On this podcast, we pair five emerging artists with five professional mentors to work together on an informal mentorship process. Over four weeks, pairs will develop and create a performance piece as well as record an interview together to talk about their process. In this, our first ever episode, Jacob Janzen and Kevin Jesuino have teamed up to explore queer identity, movement, and devised theatre. Jacob (@the_tallncurly) is a queer multidisciplinary devised theatre artist with roots in movement, dance, and playwriting. Currently Jacob is exploring the intersection of visual art and performance. Their work primarily focuses on the stories from within our bodies, exploring everything people wish they could really say, and the joys of simply being alive. Kevin (@kevinjesuino) is a Portuguese-Canadian queer multi-disciplinary performer, facilitator, activist, somatic practioner, movement arts coach and arts educator. His work is oftentimes collaborative, site-specific, participatory, and process-oriented. His practice explores relationality, the stories within our bodies and the magical-realism that manifests itself in LGBTQ+ communities and the natural world.