Richie Wilcox is a multi-talented director/actor/writer who has spent the last fifteen years creating, devising and writing original works. They are the founding artistic director of HEIST where they have helped create several acclaimed works including The Princess Show, Frequencies, Princess Rules, and New Waterford Boy. Wilcox is a Merritt-award winner in acting and playwriting, a past Mayor’s Award for Emerging Theatre Artist recipient and a Queen’s Jubilee Medal recipient. Most recently, Wilcox directed the widely-acclaimed production of Casey & Diana at Neptune Theatre. 

Aaron is an award-winning musician, composer, sound and video designer, performer, playwright, and theatre creator. His work has toured throughout Canada, Ireland, the UK, India, and the US and has been nominated for over 20 Theatre Nova Scotia Merritt awards, receiving nine. His co-creation The Princess Show was a finalist for the 2021 Nova Scotia Masterworks Award. Aaron is a contributing artist with the acclaimed CBC Radio program IDEAS and is the co-founder of the live art company HEIST.

Sylvia Bell is a freelance Stage, Production and Event Manager Producer. Throughout her career, Sylvia has participated in the growth of some of Atlantic Canada’s most dynamic theatre companies, has toured internationally and has assisted in the development of more than 20 world premieres. Sylvia serves as the Managing Director for HEIST and is delighted to see years of creative development coming to fruition with the world premiere of Coal Bowl Queen.  Thank YOU for joining us and supporting the Arts in Nova Scotia - We appreciate you. 

Mary Fay is an actor, theatre creator & part-time academic. She has worked extensively in Nova Scotia, and has toured across Canada, England, United States, Australia, and Netherlands. She's received 2 Robert Merritt Awards, 9 nominations & a Toronto Theatre Critic's Award.

Sharleen has worked as an actor for 9 years at various companies including Neptune, Eastern Front, Ship’s, Matchstick, Zuppa, and Heist.  She lives in Upper Tantallon where she also runs her own home-based spa business.  As an actor, Sharleen loves to involve herself in work that is collaborative, and original.  This is her fourth production at Ship’s Company, and she is thrilled to be involved in another new Atlantic Canadian work.  Thank you to Dhiren and Nikhil, and Scott, for always cheering me on!

Since 1998, Jean-Pierre Cloutier (he/him) has collaborated on numerous theatre and contemporary circus productions across nearly 20 countries in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, working as a performer, director, and set and lighting designer. He directed his French translation of Doug Wright’s Quills, performing alongside Robert Lepage, and co-designed the scenography with Christian Fontaine. Their work earned the Paul Bussière Prize at Québec’s Prix d’excellence des arts et de la culture. The production toured from 2015 to 2024. Jean-Pierre’s signature approach combines minimalist, adaptable scenographic systems with integrated technology to create immersive, sensory storytelling experiences that spark audience imagination. He recently completed a Master’s degree in Architecture, specializing in Indigenous and Queer architecture, with a strong focus on universal accessibility.

Leigh Ann is a lighting designer from Nfld and living in NS. Recent design credits include Bring it On (Globe Theatre), Disney’s Frozen, Controlled Damage, Casey And Diana (Neptune), The Lehman Trilogy (Belfry), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (Neptune/Mirvish), Guilt, A Love Story (Tarragon/Centaur/MTC), Fall on Your Knees (Can. Stage/NAC/Neptune/Grand), Richard II, Hamlet 911 (Stratford), Between Breaths (Artistic Fraud), Come From Away (Nfld A&CCs, Michael Rubinoff). She recently designed the world premiere of a dance piece, Noli Timere in Princeton, NJ, with choreographer Rebecca Lazier and sculptor Janet Echelman.
Leigh Ann has a long and happy history with Ships Company, having been a technician, TD, ASM, and lighting designer on many shows over the years. Favourite moments include recording sound cues with Paul Cram in the basement of the Parrsboro Citizens’ Band Hall and living in the loft above Michael Fuller’s forge.

Koumbie is an award winning actor, director, writer, and producer based in Kjipuktuk, Nova Scotia. For stage they have worked with companies including Zuppa Theatre Co, LunaSea Theatre, Eastern Front Theatre, Neptune Theatre, The Villains Theatre and Shakespeare by the Sea. In front of the camera she has appeared in a number of local productions with reoccurring roles on shows including; Mr. D, Studio Black, Diggstown, Moonshine, and most recently The Trades. Their passion for equity, safety and inclusion led them to become one of the first Intimacy Coordinators in Atlantic Canada. 

Tamara Marie Kucheran is a multi-award-winning set and costume designer whose practice is grounded in collaboration and respect with a focus on supporting performers to do their best work. She has designed for theatres across Canada, including the Shaw Festival and the Stratford Festival. Her honours include the Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design, a Robert Merritt Award for Outstanding Costume Design, a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Costume Design, multiple nominations for set and costume design, a Tyrone Guthrie Award, and the Ian and Molly Lindsay Young Design Fellowship (Stratford Festival).

Tamara holds a BFA with Distinction from the University of Victoria, an MA in Theatre from the University of Guelph, and is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. She is an Assistant Professor of Set and Costume Design at the Fountain School of Performing Arts and is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada | IATSE Local ADC659.

Zach Faye has been working as a theatre artist in Nova Scotia for most of his life and has spent many summers here in Parrsboro. For Ship’s Company: Downed Hearts (2023), Chasing Champions & After Eepersip Disappeared (2016), By the Dark of the Moon (2014). Other theatre: Rocky Horror Show, Calendar Girls (Neptune Theatre), The Crevice (Bus Stop Writer’s Circle). TV: The Sinner (Netflix), FROM (MGM). Zach is thrilled to be back, working with the incredible team here at The Ship. Endless thanks to Meg for always supporting my love affair with Parrsboro. Hi Oli!

Elsewhere: Numerous shows for the last twenty five years as a performer/ fight director/playwright at Neptune Theatre, Ship’s Company Theatre, Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre, Two Planks and a Passion, Eastern Front Theatre and Theatre New Brunswick. Special thanks to Richie and the town of new Waterford for welcoming her into their Coal Bowl world.  Karen is grateful to be in this peaceful place where she spent many beautiful summers raising her kids.

Sylvia Nowell is a recent graduate from the Dalhousie Costume Studies program. Sylvia has previously worked as a cutter on several DalTheatre productions, most recently for Chechov's Three Sisters. This is the first time Sylvia has worked with a professional theatre company and she found this experience to be incredibly rewarding as well as an amazing learning opportunity. If she isn't at her sewing machine, Sylvia can be found building architectural Lego or playing with her dog, Doria.

Kathleen (she/her) is a creator/actor based in Dartmouth, NS (Punamu’kwati’jk). She is co-AD of LunaSea Theatre and one quarter of the clown-troupe-turned-accidental-theatre-company Tea Time Creation Co. (First Date/Last Date, Gina Is Dead, Romeo & Juliet: A Drink Along, Midsummer Night’s Wet Dream). She has had the great pleasure of working with extremely talented Halifax peers (Some Blow Flutes- HomeFirst Theatre; This is Nowhere, How Small How Far Away – Zuppa Theatre; The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I Love My Little Story Book/Guess How Much I Love You, The Rainbow Fish – Mermaid Theatre; A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Neptune Theatre). Kathleen is interested in puppetry, story through movement and magic, and meeting her audience in the space between performance and reality. (@teatimecreationco, @lunaseatheatre)

Kat McCormack (she/they) is a theatre artist from Dartmouth/Punamu’kwati’jk with a passion for playful, devised work and collective creations. As the Artistic Director of Eastern Front Theatre, Kat aims to create a supportive and accessible environment for artists to push the boundaries of Atlantic Canadian storytelling, as well as their own artistic practice. As an artist, Kat has worked with local companies Zuppa Theatre, Shakespeare By The Sea, and Neptune Theatre—among many others, basically all of them—and has toured internationally with Zuppa and Mermaid Theatre. Kat has been named "Best Theatre Actor" in The Coast's Best of Halifax issue five times, but is a four-time loser of the Theatre Nova Scotia Merritt Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Direction. On screen, you can see Kat in Lakeview, Compulsus, To the Moon, and Disco Apocalypse (for which she also did not win the Screen Nova Scotia Award for Outstanding Performance).

Benan Ali is a fresh graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, and has been working as an actor for the past 6 years. Benan lives in Edmonton and has worked at Staged Theatre Productions and SATCO. Benan likes to make work that highlights the variety in Black humanity and deconstructs longstanding stereotypes and narratives. Benan loves to skate, and connects to the script through a Black and Albertan background. Have a good time!

Stephanie is a multiple award winning actor who makes her home in Halifax Nova Scotia, and is branching out to Stage Management. Previous Stage Management credits include the world premiere of  The Outside Inn (Festival Antigonish), Resident Aliens, Wood Buffalo,The O'Brien's (Theatre New Brunswick), Rain on the Parade  (Villains Theatre),Watch Over Me (Mulgrave Road Theatre), Dance Nation (Keep Good Theatre), and Bryden MacDonald's Whale Riding Weather at The Halifax Fringe Festival. 

Elsa grew up just outside of Stratford, Ontario, so it was only fitting that she decided to pursue Theatre Studies at Acadia University for her post-secondary education. After graduation, she moved to Toronto and began a career as a Stage Manager. Twelve years, four moves and two children later, the East Coast called her and her family back. Having spent a lot of time behind the scenes (four seasons at Carousel Players, four at Soulpepper, two at Stratford), Elsa has embraced her role as General Manager of Eastern Front Theatre.

Gina Woodward has been working in Nova Scotia professionally as a stage manager and theatre technician for the past 4 years. Most recently Gina was the assistant SM on Neptune Theatres productions of Little Shop of Horrors and Mamma Mia. She has worked for Neptune Theatre, Ships Company, The Halifax Fringe Festival, HEIST, Unnatural Disaster Theatre Co., in many different roles. Gina is also the Production Manager of Around + Out Theatre, a company started with long time collaborator Jessie Walker. Together they have put out two successful fringe shows in The America Show and Horse Girls. Gina is thrilled to be back for the 4th year with the Ship and looks forward to reading on the beach!  

Gina Thornhill (she/they) is a Kjipuktuk (Halifax) based theatre artist. Her training is in ensemble based physical theatre. They are a founding member of Tea Time Creation Co. Select theatre credits include: Beyond the Sea - Mulgrave Road Theatre,  The Woman in Black - Neptune Theatre, A Midsummer Night’s Wet Dream/Romeo & Juliet: A Drink Along - Tea Time Creation Co, Some Blow Flutes- HomeFirst Theatre, This is Nowhere- Zuppa Theatre, Neptune Theatre Touring Company 2019,  Pugwash- Ship's Company Theatre,  Slut: The Play- Luna/Sea Theatre. Film/TV: The Trades, From, Chapelwaite, Diggstown, The Mist. Gina is thrilled to be spending another summer at the Ship amongst all of these Queens!

Samantha is thrilled to return to Parrsboro, this time as intimacy director, lending her expertise to this exciting new Canadian show. She directed the multi-award winning productions, Downed Hearts, Dayboil and last summer’s Til Death Do Us Part at the Ship. Her work has appeared in Canada at Neptune Theatre, 2b Theatre, Gail Force Theatre, Eastern Front Theatre, Theatre Baddeck, Magnetic North Festival, Summerworks, Push & Spark Festivals, Festival Antigonish, Chester Playhouse, Sudbury Arts Centre, Theatre Yes, Live Bait Theatre, Mulgrave Road Theatre; and abroad at La Mama in NYC, Fire Exit Theatre in the UK,  Edinburgh Fringe & Spoletto in South Carolina and LitLive in India. Thanks to Peter, Jack and Nick for their love and support! samantha-wilson.ca 

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Ben is a carpenter, cyclist, and theatre-goer from Nova Scotia. Beginning with acting roles, he has since shifted into a career in technical theatre. Usually found at Neptune Theatre working as a scenic carpenter, Ben has also enjoyed working with Zuppa Theatre Co., Ships Company Theatre, Villains Theatre, Matchstick Theatre, Keep Good (Theatre) Company, and Unnatural Disaster Theatre Company. Outside of theatre Ben can be found playing dungeons and dragons, cooking for friends, and hiking.

Krista is back at the Ship for a third year of amazing prop creations and crew workings. She is local to Parrsboro and is involved in several artistic adventures and soulful ideations. She has a background in design from Ryerson and enjoys exploring the supernatural side of life. Krista is excited to be working on scenic painting and making props for all three shows this year. It’s a wonderful thing when you love what you do.

Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Orion is a lighting designer and performing artist recently relocated to the east coast of Canada. They are a graduate of Bishop’s University with a BA Drama Honours and are comfortable working in both English and French. Previous works include: Heathers: la comédie musicale, Whatever Happened to Doctor Faustus: A Tragical History, La Belle et la Bête, Life’s A Dream, The Children’s Hour, and more.

Kat is a theatre technician and artist originally from Victoria, B.C. currently based in Kjipuktuk/Halifax. Kat moved to Nova Scotia and began working in theatre after completing her master’s degree in film studies at Concordia University in 2022. Kat has worked at Neptune Theatre, Shakespeare by the Sea, and is returning to Ship’s Company Theatre for her third season. This past winter Kat was the Assistant Technical Director at Neptune Theatre and is excited to bring all she learned to her first summer as Technical Director at the Ship. In her free time, Kat enjoys riding her bike around town and swimming in the ocean.

MacKenzie Cornfield (she/her) is a projection designer for live performance, based in K'jipuktuk/Halifax. For the past 4 years, she has found herself across Eastern Canada and abroad, exploring multidisciplinary and thoughtful storytelling in video, lighting, and scenic paint. MacKenzie is grateful to be learning new skills in surtitling alongside the brilliant and kindhearted Aaron Collier. Select design credits include An Anxious Agenda (The Woods, 2025), STORM (Christina Martin, 2024), Deepwater (The Villains Theatre, 2024), Downed Hearts (Ship’s Company Theatre, 2023), and Crypthand (Gale Force Theatre, 2023). Samples of her work can be found at mackenziecornfield.com

This is Laura's third season as artistic director at Ship’s Company Theatre! While she had so much fun planning the season, she is taking some time off to start her biggest project yet---becoming a mom. She is thrilled to welcome Alex Rioux as the Ship's Interim Artistic Director this summer, who will carry out the 2025 season with great energy and enthusiasm. Laura has been attending shows at the Ship since she was a small child and has fond memories of experiencing the magic of the tent and the joy of dancing on the deck. She believes strongly in the power of rural theatres to be beacons of culture in their communities. She is the founding artistic director of Keep Good (Theatre) Company and has worked as a director and assistant director with theatre companies across Canada, including, 2b theatre, Gale Force Theatre, Matchstick Theatre, Eastern Front Theatre, and The Stratford Festival.

Alex is a theatre producer, performer, and director based in Wolastoqey Territory (Fredericton, NB). Alex’s professional practice began through an internship with Solo Chicken Productions, and with the guidance of Lisa Anne Ross, developed and executed new works of physical theatre and innovative community programming. It was through Solo Chicken that Alex fell in love with the process of devised theatre.  This inspired the development of their premier physical theatre production ‘Fruit Machine’. Throughout the years, they’ve directed and produced for several New Brunswick companies, including NotaBle Acts Theatre and Bard in the Barracks. In 2021, Alex founded and currently acts as the Artistic Director of the Braver Stages Festival, New Brunswick’s premier festival for the fostering and promotion of 2SLGBTIA+ theatre works.
Recent directing credits include Fruit Machine (Solo Chicken Productions), Twelfth Night (Bard in the Barracks), James and the Giant Peach (Theatre New Brunswick Theatre School), I Hope You Can See the Birds (NotaBle Acts Festival). Performance credits include Lee in TILT (Solo Chicken Productions), and Carl in The Baltimore Waltz (Smugglers Theatre)