On tour to schools in Saskatchewan – November 20 – December 8, 2023.
Click here for more information
Immerse yourself in the legend of the basket ogress, Th’owxiya. A sly mouse, Kw’at’el, is caught stealing cheese from Th’owxiya, a hungry old spirit who inhabits a feast dish full of bountiful delicious foods. This Kwantlen First Nations tale features traditional Coast Salish and Sto:lo music and masks.
Recommended for ages 5+
Sasq’ets/Sasquatch
Danica Charlie (they/she) is a mixed Nuu-chah-nulth/settler & queer actor, and a 2021 grad from the Canadian College of Performing Arts. Danica is excited and proud to be discovering their own indigeneity through storytelling, as well as beadwork. Recent credits include: Louise/Ensemble in Ghost The Musical (Chemainus Theatre), Juliet in Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet (Blue Bridge), Miskozi in White Girls in Moccasins (the frank theatre), and Mary Jane in The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito (Kaleidoscope Theatre). When she has time, Danica likes to cuddle with her cat Lily.
Sister Theqa:t (Tree)/Spa:th (Bear)
Meela Alexis is a young Métis woman from Thompson, Manitoba. Meela’s passion for acting began in her first year of highschool. Throughout her high school years she starred in four plays and acted as stage manager for an additional two plays. In 2019 she was accepted into Vancouver Film School. Upon graduating in August of 2021 she completed both the “Acting Essentials” and “Acting for Film and Television” programs. At VFS she starred in showcases such as Tough, Soft Dude, and This Is How We Got Here. In 2022 she began her professional acting career with Th’owxiya The Hungry Feast Dish (Axis Theatre). Meela is very excited to return to her role as Girl Spa:th(Bear).
Brother Theqa:t (Tree)/Spa:th (Bear)
Braiden is excited and honoured to be involved in this production of THOWXIYA: The Hungry Feast Dish. He was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Selected credits include: White Noise (Savage Society), In My Day (Zee Zee Theatre), Kill Me Now (Manitoba Theatre Centre & National Arts Centre), Kill Me Now (Touchstone Theatre), Shadows among the Prairies (Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre), Only Drunks and Children Tell The Truth (Firehall Arts Centre), Camera Obscura Hungry Ghosts (the frank theatre), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Manitoba Theatre for Young People), THOWXIYA: The Hungry Feast Dish (Axis Theatre), Redpatch (Hardline Productions), Jumping Mouse (Urban Indigenous Theatre Company), Little Red Riding Hood (Urban Indigenous Theatre Company), Wings of Darkness (Urban Indigenous Theatre Company).
He is a graduate of Studio 58.
Sqeweqs/Raven
Damion LeClair is an award-winning Métis and Two Spirit multi-disciplinary artist, located on the unceded and ancestral territories of the xwməθkwəy̓ əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səlilwətaɬ Nations. Damion was one of forty Indigenous artists across “Canada” to be awarded Native Earth Performing Arts’ 40 Seeds for 40 Seasons. Damion was also the recent recipient of the Bill Millerd Artist Fund 2023 (Arts Club). Past credits include: Our Town (Peninsula Productions), Juggle Me Not (Axis Theatre and Wandering Wagon), Old Man Little Man (Studio 58), Blue Stockings (Studio 58), Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish B.C and Alberta Tour (Axis Theatre), CITY NDN LUV (Savage Society/Full Circle: First Nations Performance), A Chorus Line (Studio 58), The Kitchen (Studio 58) and Braiding Peonies (Rumble Theatre/TODOS). Damion is currently represented by Kim Barsanti at Lucas Talent.
Kw’at’el/Mouse
Cassandra Bourchier has a BFA in Theatre, with a focus on Acting and Visual Arts from UBC. In her free time, you can find her playing sports, making music, or watching shows with friends. Select theatre credits: Hedda Gabler (True Pulse Productions), Lion in the Streets, Much Ado About Nothing, The Crucible (UBC Theatre and Film). Select film credits: Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish – The Film (Axis Theatre Company), Roommate (Vancouver Film School). Cassandra is grateful to live, work and play on the lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
Voice of Th’owxiya
Cree-Saulteaux performing artist, Margo Kane is the Founder and Artistic Managing Director of Full Circle: First Nations Performance. For over 45 years she has been active as an actor, performing artist and community cultural worker. Her desire to share artistic performance that has meaning for her people is the catalyst for her extensive work, travels and consultation within Indigenous communities across Canada and abroad. Moonlodge, her acclaimed one-woman show, an Indigenous Canadian classic, toured for over 10 years nationally and internationally. The Sydney Press (AU) during The Festival of the Dreaming praised it as being ‘in the top echelon of solo performance.’
She developed and runs the annual Talking Stick Festival celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year and numerous programs including Moccasin Trek: Arts on the Move!, Indian Acts and an Indigenous Ensemble Performing Arts Program in Vancouver.
Playwright
Joseph A. Dandurand is a member of Kwantlen First Nation located on the Fraser River about 20 minutes east of Vancouver. He resides there with his 3 children Danessa, Marlysse, and Jace. Joseph is the Director of the Kwantlen Cultural Center. Joseph received a Diploma in Performing Arts from Algonquin College and studied Theatre and Direction at the University of Ottawa. He has been the Storyteller in Residence at the Vancouver Public Library. He has published 13 books of poetry. The latest are: I WANT by Leaf Press (2015) and HEAR AND FORETELL by BookLand Press (2015) The Rumour (2018) by BookLand Press in (2018) SH:LAM (the doctor) Mawenzi Press (2019) The Corrupted by Guernica
Press (2020) his children’s play: Th’owixiya: The Hungry Feast Dish by Playwrights Press Canada (2019) his children’s books: The Sasquatch, the Fire, and the Cedar Basket (2020) and The Magical Sturgeon (2022) published by Nightwood Press along with his poetry manuscript: The Punishment (2022) He also is very busy Storytelling at many events and Schools.
Director
Chris is a third generation settler from Scotland and England. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Bishop’s University and a Masters in Theatre in Directing from the University of British Columbia. He has taught physical theatre, Commedia dell’arte, mask and Red Nose Clown at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Bishop’s University and Studio 58. He has directed more than 60 productions across Canada, has won four Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and been nominated for three Ovation Awards for directing. Chris has adapted the children’s books: SOMEBODY LOVES YOU, MR. HATCH, FROG BELLY RAT BONE and CRY, HEART, BUT NEVER BREAK into puppets plays for the stage.
Stage Manager
Originally, from Maine, Sophie is a recent graduate from Bishop’s University with a BA in Drama and Musical Theatre. She loves working both on and offstage, having explored stage management, playwriting, stage-combat and acting for video games. Having worked in Centennial Theatre in Lennoxville, Que for the past three years, she has been able to experience everything in tech from light and sound design, to flying in a guitar mid-show. Sophie is a recipient of the Sydney R. McMorran Scholarship and was chosen as one of the top twenty-eight international students of 2023. When not in the theater, Sophie enjoys skiing, making music, going on bike rides, and spoiling her cat.
Join our mailing list, and we'll keep you posted on season announcements, show information, event details and more!
