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HOMO is a unique night of art, performance, experimentation, frivolity and a celebration of queer performance. This campy cabaret features a diverse line-up of queer artists, experimenters, and boundary pushers in raucous cabaret acts, fabulous performance pieces, and brand new work created just for HOMO. Now called simply “HOMO”, Intrepid Theatre’s winter cabaret of queer art is always a sell-out. Prepare for a night of cabaret, camp and surprises. The Lineup Stay tuned for host and performer announcements! Accessibility Sensory warnings: There are no current show warnings. Subject to change/update - please consult intrepidtheatre.com for the show’s most up-to-date warnings Content warnings: Adult themes. Subject to change/update - please consult intrepidtheatre.com for the show’s most up-to-date warnings Free Youth OUTreach Tickets This Youth OUTreach initiative provides a limited number of free tickets to HOMO: A Queer Cabaret, as well as shows at our 2025 OUTstages Festival, for self-identified LGBTQ youth and allies under 25. Intrepid Theatre believes strongly in creating an accessible environment for queer youth to experience the festival, to engage with the work and artists presented at OUTstages, and to cultivate a new generation of theatre-goers and theatre-makers. To book your Youth OUTreach ticket, select the show, scroll through tickets types and select "Youth OUTreach Ticket". There is no promo code necessary. You can then click "add to basket" and proceed to checkout fully, as if you were purchasing a full-price ticket. Pay-What-You-Ten Tickets: 10% of tickets are available for $10, in an effort to make theatre more accessible to equity-seeking groups, newcomers, artists & arts workers, and anyone for whom cost is a barrier. We believe the arts have something to offer everyone and we want to reduce financial barriers to our programming. No registration, forms to fill out, or questions asked. Just select the PWY10 ticket when booking online. Arrival at the venue: The doors will open 30 minutes ahead of showtime. Masks are strongly encouraged inside the theatre. Refunds: If you are not feeling well or have any symptoms, please stay home to help keep everyone safe. We are able to discuss refunds on a case by case basis due to health reasons before the performance. Please contact tickets@intrepidtheatre.com. We are unable to arrange refunds after a performance has occurred.
Metro Studio
Metro Studio
What are the new models, new frameworks, new approaches? Who are the new models, new archetypes, new leaders? Join us for a meditative performance of Vivek Shraya’s 11th solo album NEW MODELS (Twin Fang Records) followed by a revisitation of her previous musical works. Part concert, part ritual, this work invites audiences to reflect on the shifting cultural landscape and uncertainties. "What follows isn’t a literal scream or cry, but Shraya’s own sonic synthesis of meditative coos colliding into a bombastic end, leaving listeners with a sense of catharsis that can’t really be put into words." —CBC Music Accessibility Sensory warnings: There are no sensory warnings for this show Content warnings: Adult language About the Artist Vivek Shraya is an artist whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music, literature, visual art, theatre, TV, film, and fashion. A three-time Canadian Screen Award winner, Vivek is the creator and writer of the CBC Gem Original Series "How to Fail as a Popstar," which had its international premiere at Cannes. She was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize and has collaborated with musical icons Jann Arden, Peaches, and Jully Black. Her best-selling book "I’m Afraid of Men" was heralded by Vanity Fair as “cultural rocket fuel.” Vivek has been a brand ambassador for MAC Cosmetics and Pantene, a guest host on The Social and CBC’s q, and she is a director on the board of the Tegan and Sara Foundation.
Metro Studio
Metro Studio
Tackle Box is a coming of age story based on Cheyenne Scott's real life experience salmon fishing with her Tsawout/Norwegian family. Performed as a one-person show, Spring, puts the pieces of herself back together by reflecting on her relationship to family and the land, while in pursuit of catching her first Chinook salmon. The Tackle Box carries stories as gifts or good medicine and important teachings. The story is told through a series of vignettes or memories: from collecting slugs, to learning to set up the fishing rods, and grieving a wounded seal pup. During this phase of development the team is experimenting with form, staging, and introducing a touch of the soundscape. Development support has been provided by First Peoples Cultural Council, Intrepid Stages and Spaces, Cahoots Theatre Hot House Program, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council Credits Written by — Cheyenne Scott Co-Directed by — Jessica Schact and Julie McIsaac Accessibility Sensory warnings: Audience interaction/participation Content warnings: Adult language About the Artist Cheyenne Scott is a member of the SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) First Nation/Norwegian settler descent, and an actor, playwright, and creative producer with a focus on new works. Having learned theatre through a colonial lens, she is working to Indigenize her process through her W̱ SÁNEĆ values, land-based methodology, and storytelling. She is a multi Dora Mavor Moore nominated artist for co-creating/performing Now You See Her (Quote Unquote Collective/Nightwood/Why Not Theatre) which was published by Coach House, and for The Home Project (Howland/Native Earth/Soulpepper). Cheyenne was named the protégé of Lori Marchand for the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award. She is an Artistic Associate for Urban Ink and Associate Artistic Director for Western Canada Theatre. Select Acting Credits include: Children of God (Urban Ink/NAC, Citadel/WCT, Segal Centre), The Herd (Citadel/Tarragon), The Last Five Years (Blue Bridge) Joyride (Caravan Farm Theatre), The Drowning Girls (WCT), Mistatim (Red Sky Performance), Trojan Girls and the Outhouse of Atreus (Outside the March/Factory). Julie McIsaac is a versatile director, dramaturg and creator of theatre and opera, Julie earned her Master’s in Theatre from the University of York (UK), and is also a graduate of Carleton University and the Canadian College of Performing Arts. She is a Jessie, Ovation and BroadwayWorld award winner, a founding member of the Honest Fishmongers (Critics’ Choice Innovation award nom.), a previous Artist-in-Residence with Pacific Opera, and in 2019 was named Director/Dramaturg-in-Residence at the Canadian Opera Company, where she led the critically-acclaimed premiere of Ian Cusson and Colleen Murphy’s Fantasma. Directing highlights include the premiere of The Nightingale of a Thousand Songs (Canadian Children’s Opera Company), The Last Five Years (Blue Bridge), Beauty’s Beast (East Van Opera), The Exquisite Hour (Playhouse Fringe award), Pride and Prejudice (Chemainus) and the multiple award-winning Poly Queer Love Ballad by Sara Vickruck & Anais West. Julie is the playwright and award-winning composer/arranger/sound designer of The Out Vigil which was featured in the New American Voices Festival in London’s West End and premiered in Vancouver in 2016, receiving a total 5 Jessie nominations including Outstanding Production. Jessica Schacht is a director, dramaturg, and writer living gratefully on Quw’utsun territory, Vancouver Island. She comes from Métis and Canadian families and her work and ethos centre around exploring identity and relationships through the cultural, environmental, and personal experiences that shape us. She is a graduate of the University of Victoria's Theatre Program and has honed her craft at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity's Dramaturgy for Dance residency, Theatre Replacement's New Aesthetics Performance Intensive, as well as PTC's Block A program. As a theatre artist she has worked across genres of theatre, opera, and dance. Select credits include: Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Director - Chemainus Theatre); TheFiancee (Director - Chemainus Theatre); In the Shadow of the Mountains Workshop (Dramaturg– Visceral Visions); Gather in Nature (Dramaturg – New World Theatre/Pacific Theatre); SisNe'Bi-Yiz: A Mother Bear’s Journey (Associate Director/Dramaturg– Heart of the City Festival); Dialogue Dances (Dramaturg – National Ballet of Canada); Kamloopa (Fire Igniter – WCT/The Cultch/Persephone/GTNT). Jessica has been the Artist in Residence at Pacific Opera Victoria and the Artistic Associate at TheatreOne.
Intrepid Studio
Intrepid Studio
We've ruined the Earth in one lifetime. 85% of the carbon in our air has happened since World War II. In Ten Thousand Things, acclaimed storyteller Brendan McLeod tracks how we got here, and how nothing (still!) seems to be getting done about it. What begins as an examination of Western history—how commodification separates people, how language influences power, history's annoying insistence on repeating—soon morphs into a personal exploration of grief and joy. The answer to the simple question—what would societal change actually look like—is obviously not so simple, but potential answers aren't as complex as expected, and might even be uplifting. From the former Canadian SLAM champ, the creator of hit Victoria fringe shows "Brain" and "Ridge", comes the world premiere of a new solo performance, which, for a show about human annihilation, also has quite a few jokes. Credits Written by – Brendan McLeod Performed by — Brendan McLeod Directed by — Julie Course Accessibility There are no Content or Sensory Warnings for this show. About the Artist Brendan McLeod is a writer, theatre creator, and musician. He’s the author of a poetry collection, a novel, and seven theatre shows. A JUNO-nominated songwriter with his folk group The Fugitives, he's the former Canadian SLAM champ, and was the Poet of Honour at the 2012 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. Here in Victoria, his 2015 solo show Brain won Best Male Performer at the Fringe Festival. His next show, Ridge, won our Virtual Pick of the Fringe in 2020.
Metro Studio
Metro Studio
Death of a Salesman meets Mr. Bean... A lonely office worker squeezes through a portal in their bathroom mirror and goes on a quest for the meaning of life in this surreal physical comedy. The mundane becomes extraordinary as each vignette and dance takes you deeper into a whimsical world of illusion. The Routine will leave you in stitches and remind you of the magic within. ★★★★★ Secunda doesn’t just put on a show, they pull you into a world where routines are poetry and the mundane is pure magic. — the LIST UK ★★★★★ — Edmonton Journal “An overall rollicking good time.” — Broadway World “Secunda has great comedic timing and fantastic physicality that really shines” — Mooney on Theatre “If Jim Carrey is the male rubberface, Secunda might just be the female equivalent.” — Forget the Box “...non-stop physicality...pushes the edges of reality.” — Showbill Credits Joylyn Secunda — Co-creator, performer, sound designer, producer David Secunda — Director, co-creator Linda Arkelian — Movement coach Accessibility Content warnings: Adult language, sexual content, drugs or alcohol use, depictions of violence: references to corporal punihcment, death, war. Sensory warnings: Audience interaction/participation About the Artist Joylyn Secunda (they/them) — co-creator, performer, sound designer, producer Joylyn Secunda is a physical theatre artist, actor, dancer, and puppeteer based in Vancouver, Canada. They grew up in a performing arts family and have recently collaborated with their parents David Secunda (director) and Linda Arkelian (choreographer) on their solo shows. They toured their critically acclaimed solo show, The Moaning Yoni across Canada and most recently performed The Routine at the Adelaide Fringe and in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg. In addition to their solo career, they have performed with theatre companies including the National Arts Centre and The Wonderheads. Joylyn was mentored by Crystal Pite in the Startle Reflex Residency. They are a BFA Acting graduate from UBC and have studied clown with John Turner (Mump & Smoot) and Aitor Basauri (Spymonkey), mime with Dean Evans (Cirque du Soleil), Corporeal mime at Théâtre Omnibus, and devised theatre at Dell’Arte International. David Secunda (he/him) — co-creator, director Originally a visual artist specializing in fibre arts David Secunda transformed into a performance artist as he experimented in ritual style performance art at art show openings and conferences. Through the 1980's David Secunda performed physical theatre, experimented with his giant woven fibre masks and puppets, and toured nationally and internationally with Imago and Theatre of Giants. 1989-2012, he taught theatre arts in Coquitlam and has published two novels, Balancing Act and Fluid. He is the director and co-writer of The Moaning Yoni and The Routine. Linda Arkelian (she/her) — choreographer Linda has performed internationally with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Theatre Ballet of Canada, Anna Wyman Dance Theatre and the Judith Marcuse Dance Company. She was the recipient of a Canada Council grant in 1991 to study at the National Dance Intensive and the National Voice Intensive. Linda is a professional ballet and contemporary instructor and choreographer. She is ballet mistress and repertoire coach for Lamondance Company. In addition, Linda is a visual artist, actor and filmmaker. Her dance films with David Cooper have received worldwide acclaim and international screenings in the US, India and the UK.
Intrepid Studio
Intrepid Studio
A one-act posthumanist play, Waiting for the Sun traces Ryan’s journey from growing up queer in the rural prairies to his early encounters with other men and eventual foray into sex work. Through interwoven reflections on intimacy, loneliness, grief, nature, communication, and renewal, the piece confronts the unspoken —the hard, taboo truths we often avoid— and asks what we are willing to risk or surrender in pursuit of transformation. Commissioned by Intrepid Theatre as part of their OUTstages artists-in-residence program and written at the Mother Tongue Publishing writers cottage, Waiting for the Sun is a one act play by && and performed by Tony Adams with visuals by Paul Robles. One night only! Run-time: 45 minutes, no intermission. A talk-back will follow the presentation. Credits Written by && Performed by Tony Adams Visuals by Paul Robles Accessibility Sensory warnings: Strobe/flashing lights, sudden loud noises Content warnings: Adult language, sexual content, themes of consent, drugs or alcohol use, depictions or mentions of violence (description of assault). About the Artist PLAYWRIGHTS && is the collaborative pseudonym of artists Dillon Lew’chuk (he/him) and Kegan McFadden (he/him). Inspired by queer artistic partnerships of the past who blurred lines of life and art, particularly the playful spirit of the Fluxus movement, && make drawing, bookworks, and printmaking through an experimental lens. Rooted in documenting their love affair, &&’s practice strips back to the essentials—materials, form, and process—while centering queer visibility and joy. && positions their work in response to a politically-regressive moment in which queer rights are under siege, and so the only response is to take up space, present images of love and rebellion, and document their time together in resistance to those who would have them erased. In 2025, they expanded into film and theatre, responding to the increasing erasure of queer existence. This shift embraces risk and experimentation, positioning live performance and cinema as intimate yet far-reaching forms of activism. CAST Tony Adams (they/them, he/him) is a theatre creator, facilitator, and performer. They are the Co-Artistic Director of May Can Theatre, with whom they created over 15 original pieces. Notable shows include Happiness™ (rEvolver Festival, Wildside Festival, Tactics Series), and Wolves > Boys (CBC top ten shows of 2014) and It’s About Our Goldfish (subDevision, Magnetic North Theatre Festival 2013). Tony has received awards for Outstanding Duo, and Outstanding Ensemble from the Ottawa Fringe Festival. In 2024, Tony premiered their solo show, tony wrestles a stranger, in Victoria and Vancouver, and more recently performed in SNAFU Society of Unexpected Spectacles’ New Earth Bandits 2 and Atomic Vaudeville’s DOPPELGÄNGER. ARTIST Born in the Philippines, Paul Robles (he/him) is based in Treaty One / Winnipeg. Recognized for his intricate cut paper works, Robles combines the delicacy associated with traditional handwork that addresses psychological and emotional states ranging from animist familiars, folklore, spirits, trauma, and grief. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from University of Manitoba School of Art and Bachelor of Arts degree (Sociology) from University of Winnipeg. Having exhibited widely in Canada, USA, and France, Robles was artist in residence at aabijijiwan New Media Lab/University Of Winnipeg (2024), and honored with the Provincial King Charles III – Gold medal by the Premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew.
Intrepid Studio
Intrepid Studio
1. I am STILL waiting to be discovered. 2. Most of my best stories aren’t even true. 3. I'm a liar, a cheat, and a thief. 4. I chain smoke. 5. I adore cheap mayonnaise. 6. I am secretly proud of my terrible table manners. 7. I haven’t had sex in over a year. Maybe two years. Actually, 6 years. 8. I can't stop scrolling!!! 9. I just want people to think I’m cool. 10. I am a loser. & I want to tell you all about it. J McLaughlin is a mean, funny, petulant, weird queer old maid obsessed with understanding and unpacking anxiety, ecstasy, true love, dark thoughts, inner peace, death, desire, enlightenment, sex, smoking, drinking, fear, rage, paranoia, guilt, greed, pleasure, failure, egomania, megalomania, & other people. Four out of 5 robots agree: “J McLaughlin’s desperate megalomania will make you feel better about your own problems.” Credits Written by – J McLaughlin Performed by - J McLaughlin Accessibility . Sensory warnings: Haze Content warnings: Adult language, sexual content, themes of consent, drugs of alcohol use, depictions or mentions of violence (surrealistic depictions of rage-fuelled revenge scenarios), potential nudity. About the Artist J McLaughlin is a shy, queer anarcho-bourgeois musician and performer. They have been entertaining, enthralling & occasionally unsettling burlesque, drag, stand-up, theatrical & music audiences for over 30 years. Working from deep within an incandescent cathedral of optimistic rage, McLaughlin’s solo performances use intimate narrative, dark humour, & surreal ribaldry to de/reconstruct the cognitive dissonance of living within a cisheteronormative imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy.
Metro Studio
Metro Studio
In 1691, two young women, Lenora and Corinna are being prosecuted for witchcraft. This coming of age historical romance musical follows the girls after their life-altering event, as they keep secrets and battle with their own emotions of love and guilt. The musical explores the complexity of queer relationships and female friendships. This first iteration of the show will be presented as a staged reading. Development support provided by Intrepid Stages & Spaces. Credits Written by Kendra Bidwell Performed by Victoria Stolting & Emma Sainte Directed by Kendra Bidwell Accessibility Sensory warnings: There are no sensory warnings for this show Content warnings: Mentions of death About the Artist Kendra Bidwell (she/her) is a theatre artist and graduate from the Bachelor of Creative Arts program at Yorkville University and from Company C at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. She lives and breathes art (in a healthy way), from performing and directing, to producing and creating. In her time at Yorkville, she recollected how few theatrical roles there are for women (particularly in musicals), in an industry that is largely comprised of women. Though Witches in the Closet is set in a different era from our own, the prosecution of women shares parallels to today. Ultimately, Kendra believes we need more stories about women in the theatre space, and she is passionate about creating and telling those stories. Favourite past works include March Madness: An Exploration of Operatic Hysteria (A. Corpus), and Defending the Planet (Tamarack Theatre). Victoria Stolting (she/her), who was born in Germany, moved to the Comox Valley at the age of seven, where her passion for performing blossomed. She trained at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, the Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts, On the Mic Voice Training, the Victoria Academy of Dramatic Arts, and more. Recent credits include playing Judy Haynes in White Christmas with VOS, Lionsgate Television’s Private Eyes West Coast, and Giovanni Starling and the Search for Mozart with Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre. Emma Sainte (she/her) is a musical theatre performer and pop singer-songwriter based in Victoria BC. Emma releases pop music on music streaming services; previous releases include several singles—most recently “POISON”—and an EP, my memory box. Emma has had a lifelong passion for the performing arts. In 2021, she graduated from the Canadian College of Performing Arts Diploma Program, where she studied singing, acting, and dance. She then completed her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Music Studies from Berklee College of Music in 2025, with a focus on songwriting. Emma always has numerous creative projects on the go. She plays the violin and autoharp, and enjoys creative writing and various forms of visual art. More information about Emma’s theatre and music pursuits can be found at www.emmasainte.com. Emma is thrilled to be portraying Corinna in Witches in the Closet!
Intrepid Studio
Intrepid Studio
HOMO is a unique night of art, performance, experimentation, frivolity and a celebration of queer performance. This campy cabaret features a diverse line-up of queer artists, experimenters, and boundary pushers in raucous cabaret acts, fabulous performance pieces, and brand new work created just for HOMO. Now called simply “HOMO”, Intrepid Theatre’s winter cabaret of queer art is always a sell-out. Prepare for a night of cabaret, camp and surprises. The Lineup Stay tuned for host and performer announcements! Accessibility Sensory warnings: There are no current show warnings. Subject to change/update - please consult intrepidtheatre.com for the show’s most up-to-date warnings Content warnings: Adult themes. Subject to change/update - please consult intrepidtheatre.com for the show’s most up-to-date warnings Free Youth OUTreach Tickets This Youth OUTreach initiative provides a limited number of free tickets to HOMO: A Queer Cabaret, as well as shows at our 2025 OUTstages Festival, for self-identified LGBTQ youth and allies under 25. Intrepid Theatre believes strongly in creating an accessible environment for queer youth to experience the festival, to engage with the work and artists presented at OUTstages, and to cultivate a new generation of theatre-goers and theatre-makers. To book your Youth OUTreach ticket, select the show, scroll through tickets types and select "Youth OUTreach Ticket". There is no promo code necessary. You can then click "add to basket" and proceed to checkout fully, as if you were purchasing a full-price ticket. Pay-What-You-Ten Tickets: 10% of tickets are available for $10, in an effort to make theatre more accessible to equity-seeking groups, newcomers, artists & arts workers, and anyone for whom cost is a barrier. We believe the arts have something to offer everyone and we want to reduce financial barriers to our programming. No registration, forms to fill out, or questions asked. Just select the PWY10 ticket when booking online. Arrival at the venue: The doors will open 30 minutes ahead of showtime. Masks are strongly encouraged inside the theatre. Refunds: If you are not feeling well or have any symptoms, please stay home to help keep everyone safe. We are able to discuss refunds on a case by case basis due to health reasons before the performance. Please contact tickets@intrepidtheatre.com. We are unable to arrange refunds after a performance has occurred.
Metro Studio
Metro Studio
What are the new models, new frameworks, new approaches? Who are the new models, new archetypes, new leaders? Join us for a meditative performance of Vivek Shraya’s 11th solo album NEW MODELS (Twin Fang Records) followed by a revisitation of her previous musical works. Part concert, part ritual, this work invites audiences to reflect on the shifting cultural landscape and uncertainties. "What follows isn’t a literal scream or cry, but Shraya’s own sonic synthesis of meditative coos colliding into a bombastic end, leaving listeners with a sense of catharsis that can’t really be put into words." —CBC Music Accessibility Sensory warnings: There are no sensory warnings for this show Content warnings: Adult language About the Artist Vivek Shraya is an artist whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music, literature, visual art, theatre, TV, film, and fashion. A three-time Canadian Screen Award winner, Vivek is the creator and writer of the CBC Gem Original Series "How to Fail as a Popstar," which had its international premiere at Cannes. She was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize and has collaborated with musical icons Jann Arden, Peaches, and Jully Black. Her best-selling book "I’m Afraid of Men" was heralded by Vanity Fair as “cultural rocket fuel.” Vivek has been a brand ambassador for MAC Cosmetics and Pantene, a guest host on The Social and CBC’s q, and she is a director on the board of the Tegan and Sara Foundation.
Metro Studio
Metro Studio
Tackle Box is a coming of age story based on Cheyenne Scott's real life experience salmon fishing with her Tsawout/Norwegian family. Performed as a one-person show, Spring, puts the pieces of herself back together by reflecting on her relationship to family and the land, while in pursuit of catching her first Chinook salmon. The Tackle Box carries stories as gifts or good medicine and important teachings. The story is told through a series of vignettes or memories: from collecting slugs, to learning to set up the fishing rods, and grieving a wounded seal pup. During this phase of development the team is experimenting with form, staging, and introducing a touch of the soundscape. Development support has been provided by First Peoples Cultural Council, Intrepid Stages and Spaces, Cahoots Theatre Hot House Program, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council Credits Written by — Cheyenne Scott Co-Directed by — Jessica Schact and Julie McIsaac Accessibility Sensory warnings: Audience interaction/participation Content warnings: Adult language About the Artist Cheyenne Scott is a member of the SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) First Nation/Norwegian settler descent, and an actor, playwright, and creative producer with a focus on new works. Having learned theatre through a colonial lens, she is working to Indigenize her process through her W̱ SÁNEĆ values, land-based methodology, and storytelling. She is a multi Dora Mavor Moore nominated artist for co-creating/performing Now You See Her (Quote Unquote Collective/Nightwood/Why Not Theatre) which was published by Coach House, and for The Home Project (Howland/Native Earth/Soulpepper). Cheyenne was named the protégé of Lori Marchand for the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award. She is an Artistic Associate for Urban Ink and Associate Artistic Director for Western Canada Theatre. Select Acting Credits include: Children of God (Urban Ink/NAC, Citadel/WCT, Segal Centre), The Herd (Citadel/Tarragon), The Last Five Years (Blue Bridge) Joyride (Caravan Farm Theatre), The Drowning Girls (WCT), Mistatim (Red Sky Performance), Trojan Girls and the Outhouse of Atreus (Outside the March/Factory). Julie McIsaac is a versatile director, dramaturg and creator of theatre and opera, Julie earned her Master’s in Theatre from the University of York (UK), and is also a graduate of Carleton University and the Canadian College of Performing Arts. She is a Jessie, Ovation and BroadwayWorld award winner, a founding member of the Honest Fishmongers (Critics’ Choice Innovation award nom.), a previous Artist-in-Residence with Pacific Opera, and in 2019 was named Director/Dramaturg-in-Residence at the Canadian Opera Company, where she led the critically-acclaimed premiere of Ian Cusson and Colleen Murphy’s Fantasma. Directing highlights include the premiere of The Nightingale of a Thousand Songs (Canadian Children’s Opera Company), The Last Five Years (Blue Bridge), Beauty’s Beast (East Van Opera), The Exquisite Hour (Playhouse Fringe award), Pride and Prejudice (Chemainus) and the multiple award-winning Poly Queer Love Ballad by Sara Vickruck & Anais West. Julie is the playwright and award-winning composer/arranger/sound designer of The Out Vigil which was featured in the New American Voices Festival in London’s West End and premiered in Vancouver in 2016, receiving a total 5 Jessie nominations including Outstanding Production. Jessica Schacht is a director, dramaturg, and writer living gratefully on Quw’utsun territory, Vancouver Island. She comes from Métis and Canadian families and her work and ethos centre around exploring identity and relationships through the cultural, environmental, and personal experiences that shape us. She is a graduate of the University of Victoria's Theatre Program and has honed her craft at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity's Dramaturgy for Dance residency, Theatre Replacement's New Aesthetics Performance Intensive, as well as PTC's Block A program. As a theatre artist she has worked across genres of theatre, opera, and dance. Select credits include: Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Director - Chemainus Theatre); TheFiancee (Director - Chemainus Theatre); In the Shadow of the Mountains Workshop (Dramaturg– Visceral Visions); Gather in Nature (Dramaturg – New World Theatre/Pacific Theatre); SisNe'Bi-Yiz: A Mother Bear’s Journey (Associate Director/Dramaturg– Heart of the City Festival); Dialogue Dances (Dramaturg – National Ballet of Canada); Kamloopa (Fire Igniter – WCT/The Cultch/Persephone/GTNT). Jessica has been the Artist in Residence at Pacific Opera Victoria and the Artistic Associate at TheatreOne.
Intrepid Studio
Intrepid Studio
We've ruined the Earth in one lifetime. 85% of the carbon in our air has happened since World War II. In Ten Thousand Things, acclaimed storyteller Brendan McLeod tracks how we got here, and how nothing (still!) seems to be getting done about it. What begins as an examination of Western history—how commodification separates people, how language influences power, history's annoying insistence on repeating—soon morphs into a personal exploration of grief and joy. The answer to the simple question—what would societal change actually look like—is obviously not so simple, but potential answers aren't as complex as expected, and might even be uplifting. From the former Canadian SLAM champ, the creator of hit Victoria fringe shows "Brain" and "Ridge", comes the world premiere of a new solo performance, which, for a show about human annihilation, also has quite a few jokes. Credits Written by – Brendan McLeod Performed by — Brendan McLeod Directed by — Julie Course Accessibility There are no Content or Sensory Warnings for this show. About the Artist Brendan McLeod is a writer, theatre creator, and musician. He’s the author of a poetry collection, a novel, and seven theatre shows. A JUNO-nominated songwriter with his folk group The Fugitives, he's the former Canadian SLAM champ, and was the Poet of Honour at the 2012 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. Here in Victoria, his 2015 solo show Brain won Best Male Performer at the Fringe Festival. His next show, Ridge, won our Virtual Pick of the Fringe in 2020.
Metro Studio
Metro Studio
Death of a Salesman meets Mr. Bean... A lonely office worker squeezes through a portal in their bathroom mirror and goes on a quest for the meaning of life in this surreal physical comedy. The mundane becomes extraordinary as each vignette and dance takes you deeper into a whimsical world of illusion. The Routine will leave you in stitches and remind you of the magic within. ★★★★★ Secunda doesn’t just put on a show, they pull you into a world where routines are poetry and the mundane is pure magic. — the LIST UK ★★★★★ — Edmonton Journal “An overall rollicking good time.” — Broadway World “Secunda has great comedic timing and fantastic physicality that really shines” — Mooney on Theatre “If Jim Carrey is the male rubberface, Secunda might just be the female equivalent.” — Forget the Box “...non-stop physicality...pushes the edges of reality.” — Showbill Credits Joylyn Secunda — Co-creator, performer, sound designer, producer David Secunda — Director, co-creator Linda Arkelian — Movement coach Accessibility Content warnings: Adult language, sexual content, drugs or alcohol use, depictions of violence: references to corporal punihcment, death, war. Sensory warnings: Audience interaction/participation About the Artist Joylyn Secunda (they/them) — co-creator, performer, sound designer, producer Joylyn Secunda is a physical theatre artist, actor, dancer, and puppeteer based in Vancouver, Canada. They grew up in a performing arts family and have recently collaborated with their parents David Secunda (director) and Linda Arkelian (choreographer) on their solo shows. They toured their critically acclaimed solo show, The Moaning Yoni across Canada and most recently performed The Routine at the Adelaide Fringe and in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg. In addition to their solo career, they have performed with theatre companies including the National Arts Centre and The Wonderheads. Joylyn was mentored by Crystal Pite in the Startle Reflex Residency. They are a BFA Acting graduate from UBC and have studied clown with John Turner (Mump & Smoot) and Aitor Basauri (Spymonkey), mime with Dean Evans (Cirque du Soleil), Corporeal mime at Théâtre Omnibus, and devised theatre at Dell’Arte International. David Secunda (he/him) — co-creator, director Originally a visual artist specializing in fibre arts David Secunda transformed into a performance artist as he experimented in ritual style performance art at art show openings and conferences. Through the 1980's David Secunda performed physical theatre, experimented with his giant woven fibre masks and puppets, and toured nationally and internationally with Imago and Theatre of Giants. 1989-2012, he taught theatre arts in Coquitlam and has published two novels, Balancing Act and Fluid. He is the director and co-writer of The Moaning Yoni and The Routine. Linda Arkelian (she/her) — choreographer Linda has performed internationally with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Theatre Ballet of Canada, Anna Wyman Dance Theatre and the Judith Marcuse Dance Company. She was the recipient of a Canada Council grant in 1991 to study at the National Dance Intensive and the National Voice Intensive. Linda is a professional ballet and contemporary instructor and choreographer. She is ballet mistress and repertoire coach for Lamondance Company. In addition, Linda is a visual artist, actor and filmmaker. Her dance films with David Cooper have received worldwide acclaim and international screenings in the US, India and the UK.
Intrepid Studio
Intrepid Studio
A one-act posthumanist play, Waiting for the Sun traces Ryan’s journey from growing up queer in the rural prairies to his early encounters with other men and eventual foray into sex work. Through interwoven reflections on intimacy, loneliness, grief, nature, communication, and renewal, the piece confronts the unspoken —the hard, taboo truths we often avoid— and asks what we are willing to risk or surrender in pursuit of transformation. Commissioned by Intrepid Theatre as part of their OUTstages artists-in-residence program and written at the Mother Tongue Publishing writers cottage, Waiting for the Sun is a one act play by && and performed by Tony Adams with visuals by Paul Robles. One night only! Run-time: 45 minutes, no intermission. A talk-back will follow the presentation. Credits Written by && Performed by Tony Adams Visuals by Paul Robles Accessibility Sensory warnings: Strobe/flashing lights, sudden loud noises Content warnings: Adult language, sexual content, themes of consent, drugs or alcohol use, depictions or mentions of violence (description of assault). About the Artist PLAYWRIGHTS && is the collaborative pseudonym of artists Dillon Lew’chuk (he/him) and Kegan McFadden (he/him). Inspired by queer artistic partnerships of the past who blurred lines of life and art, particularly the playful spirit of the Fluxus movement, && make drawing, bookworks, and printmaking through an experimental lens. Rooted in documenting their love affair, &&’s practice strips back to the essentials—materials, form, and process—while centering queer visibility and joy. && positions their work in response to a politically-regressive moment in which queer rights are under siege, and so the only response is to take up space, present images of love and rebellion, and document their time together in resistance to those who would have them erased. In 2025, they expanded into film and theatre, responding to the increasing erasure of queer existence. This shift embraces risk and experimentation, positioning live performance and cinema as intimate yet far-reaching forms of activism. CAST Tony Adams (they/them, he/him) is a theatre creator, facilitator, and performer. They are the Co-Artistic Director of May Can Theatre, with whom they created over 15 original pieces. Notable shows include Happiness™ (rEvolver Festival, Wildside Festival, Tactics Series), and Wolves > Boys (CBC top ten shows of 2014) and It’s About Our Goldfish (subDevision, Magnetic North Theatre Festival 2013). Tony has received awards for Outstanding Duo, and Outstanding Ensemble from the Ottawa Fringe Festival. In 2024, Tony premiered their solo show, tony wrestles a stranger, in Victoria and Vancouver, and more recently performed in SNAFU Society of Unexpected Spectacles’ New Earth Bandits 2 and Atomic Vaudeville’s DOPPELGÄNGER. ARTIST Born in the Philippines, Paul Robles (he/him) is based in Treaty One / Winnipeg. Recognized for his intricate cut paper works, Robles combines the delicacy associated with traditional handwork that addresses psychological and emotional states ranging from animist familiars, folklore, spirits, trauma, and grief. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from University of Manitoba School of Art and Bachelor of Arts degree (Sociology) from University of Winnipeg. Having exhibited widely in Canada, USA, and France, Robles was artist in residence at aabijijiwan New Media Lab/University Of Winnipeg (2024), and honored with the Provincial King Charles III – Gold medal by the Premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew.
Intrepid Studio
Intrepid Studio
1. I am STILL waiting to be discovered. 2. Most of my best stories aren’t even true. 3. I'm a liar, a cheat, and a thief. 4. I chain smoke. 5. I adore cheap mayonnaise. 6. I am secretly proud of my terrible table manners. 7. I haven’t had sex in over a year. Maybe two years. Actually, 6 years. 8. I can't stop scrolling!!! 9. I just want people to think I’m cool. 10. I am a loser. & I want to tell you all about it. J McLaughlin is a mean, funny, petulant, weird queer old maid obsessed with understanding and unpacking anxiety, ecstasy, true love, dark thoughts, inner peace, death, desire, enlightenment, sex, smoking, drinking, fear, rage, paranoia, guilt, greed, pleasure, failure, egomania, megalomania, & other people. Four out of 5 robots agree: “J McLaughlin’s desperate megalomania will make you feel better about your own problems.” Credits Written by – J McLaughlin Performed by - J McLaughlin Accessibility . Sensory warnings: Haze Content warnings: Adult language, sexual content, themes of consent, drugs of alcohol use, depictions or mentions of violence (surrealistic depictions of rage-fuelled revenge scenarios), potential nudity. About the Artist J McLaughlin is a shy, queer anarcho-bourgeois musician and performer. They have been entertaining, enthralling & occasionally unsettling burlesque, drag, stand-up, theatrical & music audiences for over 30 years. Working from deep within an incandescent cathedral of optimistic rage, McLaughlin’s solo performances use intimate narrative, dark humour, & surreal ribaldry to de/reconstruct the cognitive dissonance of living within a cisheteronormative imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy.
Metro Studio
Metro Studio
In 1691, two young women, Lenora and Corinna are being prosecuted for witchcraft. This coming of age historical romance musical follows the girls after their life-altering event, as they keep secrets and battle with their own emotions of love and guilt. The musical explores the complexity of queer relationships and female friendships. This first iteration of the show will be presented as a staged reading. Development support provided by Intrepid Stages & Spaces. Credits Written by Kendra Bidwell Performed by Victoria Stolting & Emma Sainte Directed by Kendra Bidwell Accessibility Sensory warnings: There are no sensory warnings for this show Content warnings: Mentions of death About the Artist Kendra Bidwell (she/her) is a theatre artist and graduate from the Bachelor of Creative Arts program at Yorkville University and from Company C at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. She lives and breathes art (in a healthy way), from performing and directing, to producing and creating. In her time at Yorkville, she recollected how few theatrical roles there are for women (particularly in musicals), in an industry that is largely comprised of women. Though Witches in the Closet is set in a different era from our own, the prosecution of women shares parallels to today. Ultimately, Kendra believes we need more stories about women in the theatre space, and she is passionate about creating and telling those stories. Favourite past works include March Madness: An Exploration of Operatic Hysteria (A. Corpus), and Defending the Planet (Tamarack Theatre). Victoria Stolting (she/her), who was born in Germany, moved to the Comox Valley at the age of seven, where her passion for performing blossomed. She trained at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, the Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts, On the Mic Voice Training, the Victoria Academy of Dramatic Arts, and more. Recent credits include playing Judy Haynes in White Christmas with VOS, Lionsgate Television’s Private Eyes West Coast, and Giovanni Starling and the Search for Mozart with Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre. Emma Sainte (she/her) is a musical theatre performer and pop singer-songwriter based in Victoria BC. Emma releases pop music on music streaming services; previous releases include several singles—most recently “POISON”—and an EP, my memory box. Emma has had a lifelong passion for the performing arts. In 2021, she graduated from the Canadian College of Performing Arts Diploma Program, where she studied singing, acting, and dance. She then completed her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Music Studies from Berklee College of Music in 2025, with a focus on songwriting. Emma always has numerous creative projects on the go. She plays the violin and autoharp, and enjoys creative writing and various forms of visual art. More information about Emma’s theatre and music pursuits can be found at www.emmasainte.com. Emma is thrilled to be portraying Corinna in Witches in the Closet!
Intrepid Studio
Intrepid Studio