As co-Artistic Directors, artists and community members, when we dive into the creation of a new work, we ask ourselves a multitude of questions: What do we want to share with the world? Which creative challenges do we want to tackle? What story and which characters will serve our vision best? All of these reflections led to many long-winded conversations that took place along the Yukon River in Whitehorse, by the ocean in Victoria, over zoom, phone, and email. Somewhere along the way, it became clear to us that we were excited to create a world where beauty prevails, a reality that doesn’t obey the rules of accuracy, a story of a broken family that makes its way back together, the tale of two resourceful women who draw strength and wisdom from the land they live on.

Since the inception of the show you’re about to witness, the world has turned upside down. Working through the delays and bumps on the road, our vision for the show kept growing and evolving. Along with the story and the character development, our desire to use our creative voices to offer a respite from the hardship all around us intensified. We hope to offer you a celebration of the wonders that the land relentlessly provides to us day in, day out; a reminder of the lasting ties of family and people’s innate ability to take care of one another. We hope you’re able to leave the theater feeling a little brighter and that you can carry some of that hope back into the “real” world with you.

Co-Artistic Directors

Jessica Hickman – Co-Writer, Director, Prop & Puppet Design, Performer

Jessica is based right here in Victoria, where she works as a director, choreographer, teacher, performer, and puppet maker.  She is the co-Artistic Director and founder of Open Pit Theatre, and directed past productions Busted Up: A Yukon Story (which you may have seen on the mainstage at the 2020 Belfry Spark Festival), The Trophy Hunt, and Leave a Message (apres le bip).  For over ten years Jessica has been teaching acting and devising at both The Canadian College of Performing Arts and the University of Victoria.  You may have seen Jessica’s choreography in: La Bohème (Pacific Opera Victoria), A Christmas Carol, Puttin’ On the Ritz, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, and Mom’s the Word (Belfry Theatre), Sweet Charity (CCPA), and Elf: The Musical (Chemainus Theatre Festival). Jessica would like to thank Geneviève, her co-writer, co-creator, co-producer, and co-everything for dreaming up this beauty of a show with her. We made it!  To learn more about Jess’ artistic creations, you can visit her website at www.jessicahickman.net.  Enjoy the magic of Radio Silence!

Geneviève Doyon – Co-Writer, Associate Director

Geneviève Doyon was born in Venezuela and grew up in Europe before ending up in Montreal where she studied literature, film and theatre. Shortly after graduating from l’UQAM’s theatre school in 2011, she wandered North to the Yukon where she has been working as an actor, creator and producer ever since. Her performing/creator credits include Ramshackle’s Sci-Fi Double Feature and Tombstone: a Cardboard Westerm, Gwaandak’s Map of the Land, Map of the Stars as well as Open Pit Theatre’s Leave a Message (après le bip) and Busted Up: A Yukon Story. When she’s not working on a show, Geneviève can be found working at Yukon Archives or exploring rivers, lakes and mountains with her husband Fletcher and their three kids. Geneviève is the co-Artistic director of Open Pit Theatre and is beyond lucky to have Jessica Hickman as a creative partner in crime. Have a great show! 

Kate Braidwood – Lead Collaborator, Sound Design/Music Arrangement, Mask Design

Kate Braidwood is Co-Founding Artistic Director of WONDERHEADS, a physical theatre company specializing in mask performance, puppetry, and visual storytelling. Her job description as Co-Artistic Director includes theatre deviser, performer, mask maker, sound designer, director, teacher, administrator and garbage-taker-outer. Kate discovered her passion for mask performance while completing her MFA in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre at Dell’Arte International. In 2009 she teamed up with fellow graduate and admirer of whimsy and wonder, Andrew Phoenix, to create the WONDERHEADS, and they have been busy developing and touring their work throughout Canada and the US since that time.

Andrew Phoenix – Lead Collaborator, Set Design, Caribou Puppet Design

Andrew Phoenix is co-founding artistic director of WONDERHEADS Theatre, a physical theatre company specializing in full-face mask performance and wordless, visual storytelling. Andrew holds a BFA in Acting from Texas State University, an MFA in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre from Dell’Arte International, and has performed and taught all over the world, including Hawaii, Alaska, India, and China. Coming from a long line of carpenters, Andrew parlayed his building skills to the stage and is responsible for many of the set and lighting designs for WONDERHEADS’ productions. When not on the road with WONDERHEADS, Andrew makes his home in Victoria, BC.

Michelle Olson – Dramaturge

Michelle Olson is a member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation and the Artistic Director of Raven Spirit Dance. She studied dance and performance at the University of New Mexico, the Aboriginal Arts Program at the Banff Centre and was an Ensemble Member of Full Circle First Nations Performance.  Michelle works in areas of dance, theatre and opera as a choreographer, performer and movement coach and her work has been seen on stages across Canada. Selected choreography/theatre credits include Shawnadithit (Tapestry Opera,) Gathering Light (Raven Spirit Dance), Salmon Girl (TYA – Raven Spirit Dance), Map of the Land, Map of the Stars (Gwaandak Theatre), Frost Trees Exploding Moon (Raven Spirit Dance), Mozart’s Magic Flute (Vancouver Opera), The Ecstasy of Rita Joe (Western Canada Theatre/National Arts Centre), Death of a Chief (Native Earth Performing Arts/National Arts Centre) and Evening in Paris (Raven Spirit Dance). She was the recipient of the inaugural Vancouver International Dance Festival Choreographic Award.  She graduated as a Certified Movement Analyst from Laban/Bartenieff and Somatic Studies Canada and is currently teaching at Langara’s Studio 58 and working on her MFA in the UBC Theatre and Film Department.

Sarah Roberston – Performer

Sarah Robertson is a multidisciplinary performer with a background in dance, choreography, clown and spoken word poetry. She is a graduate of Rosebud School of the Arts (Rosebud, AB)) and a protégée of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Mentorship Program.  Past credits include A Wonderheads Christmas Carol (The Wonderheads), The Skin of Our Teeth, The Miracle Worker, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (Rosebud Theatre), Proof (Leonard’s Corner Productions), Dr. Frankenbean’s Halloween and other science demos (Telus SPARK Science Centre).  She can be seen next on Rosebud Theatre’s studio stage this summer, acting in the one-person show, Every Brilliant Thing.  Sarah is over the moon to be a part of this world premiere of Radio Silence.

JD Montgrand – Performer, Radio Narration

JD is thrilled to once again be able to work with Open Pit Theatre and have the chance to explore the beautiful Yukon for a second time.  A woodland Cree man originally hailing from Northern Saskatchewan, he is no stranger to being called a northerner and witnessing the lights, at least he considered himself one till he came up here and saw a much further northern life and the beauty that is all around.   He is especially happy to be working in mask work as expanding his wheelhouse is always an exciting challenge, because despite being a veteran of the stage, TV and movies including the award winning feature “Beans” and shows like “Supernatural” and “Legends of Tomorrow”, he hasn’t had much experience doing full mask.   This will surely be a great time and he hopes you enjoy the show.

Brenda Barnes – Radio Narration

Brenda Barnes is a performer who acts from time to time and has done so for The Guild, Nakai Theatre, Gwaandak Theatre and Open Pit Theatre.  She also spends a lot of time swimming, sailing, mountain biking, playing guitar tab on a baritone ukulele, reading and hanging out with her grey cat, Spalding. All of this makes her a lucky so and so.

Calla Kinglit – Original Music

Calla Kinglit is a composer and musician who derives inspiration from the awe of wilderness and exploring the human experience. Her album, ‘Dreamer’s Sea’ is comprised of songs written while working as a researcher in the Congo Forest Basin of Cameroon and exploring the vast and redemptive beauty of her home base in Canada’s Yukon Wilderness. She is currently pursuing music composition and filmmaking studies at Simon Fraser University where she is creating multi-channel sound installations and live experimental electro-acoustic works. 

Rosemary Scanlon – Visual Artist

Rosemary Scanlon is an artist living and working in Whitehorse, Yukon. Working primarily in watercolour, she attempts to locate the tension between fantasy and reality of northern life. 

Scanlon has exhibited nationally and internationally, including exhibitions in Montreal, San Francisco, Berlin and London. Scanlon received her Master’s Degree in Fine Arts      from the Glasgow School of Art. 

Vashti Etzel – Beadwork

My name is Vashti Etzel. I am a Shuhta Dene and Kaska Dene artist. I am from the Unceded Traditional Territory of the Kaska Dene, Ross River, Yukon. My family originates from North West Territories of the Sahtu region. I create Indigenous wearable art and statement jewellery. The pieces I create are a way to honour my ancestors and to carry on my late grandmother Eva Etzel’s legacy. My inspiration comes from our stories, childhood memories, the land and our traditional medicines. I enjoy using raw materials sourced from the land and finding unique ways to incorporate it into my wearable art.

T. Erin Gruber – Projection Design

T. Erin Gruber is an award-winning set, lighting, costume, and projected media designer. She works professionally across Canada and her work has been toured and exhibited internationally. She is a member of the board of directors of the Associated Designers of Canada and instructor at the University of Alberta. In June 2019 her work was featured at the Prague Quadrennial International Design Exhibition. Online at: www.eringruber.com

Patrick Matheson – Lighting Design

Patrick is pleased to work with Open Pit Theatre. Patrick’s side hustle ‘Lux Lighting Production Services’ provides lighting and sound rentals and services to various Yukon events and clients including The Guild Hall, Queer Yukon, Variatease, Gwaandak Theatre, The Akaka Festival, The Atlin Arts and Music Festival and the Dawson City Music Festival. Thank you to the entire team of Radio Silence.

Kaori Torigai – Costume Design

Kaori has played and worked in theatre for all her life, specifically in the Yukon for close to two decades. The Yukon opened the door to costuming, which Kaori has been doing almost every year since 2005, sometimes multiple times a year. Once in a while, she jumps on stage for a show or two to change it up a bit. She loves creation and experimenting, trying new things, and making things work. It is with gratitude and great admiration that Kaori has joined the talented Open Pit Theatre for this beautiful, heartfelt show.

Open Pit Theatre

Pedro Siqueira – Stage Manager

Martin Nishikawa – Technical Director

Hannah Ockenden – Seamstress

Brooke Maxwell – Re-Arrangement of “God’s Waltz”

Intrepid Theatre

Intrepid Theatre Staff