Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish by Joseph A. Dandurand is back on the road embarking on a cross-Canada tour! Read more about the team on tour below!

TEAM ON TOUR

Danica Charlie 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.

Braiden Houle 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 graduate of Studio 58.

Meela Alexis 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).

Damion LeClair Sqeweqs (Raven)

Damion is an award-winning Métis and Two Spirit multi-disciplinary artist, located on the unceded and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, 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. Some 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), A Chorus Line (Studio 58), The Kitchen (Studio 58) Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish (Axis Theatre) CITY NDN LUV (Savage Society/Full Circle: First Nations Performance) (Rumble Theatre) Braiding Peonies and They Know Not What They Do (Native Earth Performing Arts).

Cassandra Bourchier Kw’at’el (Mouse)

Cassandra is a queer neurodivergent theatre artist of Métis and Settler heritage. Originally from Treaty 6 territory, she is currently based in Vancouver on the lands of the Coast Salish peoples. Cassandra is the Artistic & Marketing Associate at Axis Theatre. She holds a BFA in Acting and Visual Arts from the University of British Columbia and works as a freelance graphic and web designer. Select acting credits: Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, Quelqu’un t’aime Monsieur Hatch (Axis Theatre), Hedda Gabler (True Pulse Productions), Lion in the Streets, Much Ado About Nothing (UBC Theatre).

Sophie Kaplan 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.

CREATIVE TEAM

Written by Joseph A. Dandurand
Directed & Dramaturgy by Chris McGregor
Set, Props, Mask, Painting & Costume Design by Jay Havens
Original Composition by Marguerite Witvoet
Sound Design by Stephen Bulat
Recorded Hang Drum by Jerrett Plett
Mask Carving and Background Design by Carrielynn Victor
Feast Dish Carving by Steven Beaver
Original Feast Dish Carving by Earl Moulton and Don Froese