TEAM MONTREAL
Rebecca Durocher (Production Manager)
Rebecca Durocher is a queer multidisciplinary theatre artist, writer and creator currently based in Montréal, Quebec. Rebecca completed her post-secondary education at Bishop’s University (Bachelor of Arts Honours Drama and Literature, 2015) and The National Theatre School of Canada (Production Design and Technical Arts program, 2018). While at NTS, Rebecca was able to explore and define her artistic interests through working in both design and management roles. Now in her professional career Rebecca works primarily in Production, Technical, Tour and Stage Management.
Fatma Sarah Elkashef (Dramaturg)
Sarah is a dramaturg/theatre-maker who has been in a relationship with theatre since she was five years old. Her curiosity has shifted over the years from acting to directing to producing to dramaturgy, but she still connects to the same kid ability to explore a world and imagine it in three dimensions. Born and raised in the U.K. to Egyptian and Dutch parents, Sarah has been based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal since 2011. Prior to settling in Kanien’kehá:ka territory she was the senior reader at Soho Theatre in London, U.K. and spent eleven years in New York City as a producer, company manager, literary associate and director. Sarah is a graduate of Warwick University in English Literature and Theatre (U.K.), has an M.A. in Theatre from Hunter College (CUNY, NYC), and a Graduate Diploma in Communications from Concordia University (Montreal, Canada).
Patrick Peachey Higdon (Digital Platform Manager / Gather.town Designer)
Patrick Peachey Higdon is a professional Maker. He is a graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada’s scenography program and The Banff Centre’s theater props practicum. He has worked as a Prop builder for the Stratford Festival; An Assistant to the production designer on Lionsgate Films Chaos Walking; A puppet builder for both Monlove Production’s Scooby Doo, and Montreal Biodome’s Project Migration; As an object and puzzle designer for McCord Museum’s Treasures in the Attic; As a digital artist and technologist on the Level UP conference and the Digital Dramaturgy Initiative; And as an escape room builder for Escaparium’s Wardrobe for Sale.
Andrew Scriver (Residency Leader)
Andrew is a digital artist, multidisciplinary designer, and technical director. His work spans live performance, installation art, and digital worlds. Based out of Tiotia:ke, he is the co-founder of potatoCakes_digital Multimedia Design and Technical Integration company. He is currently a member of Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal’s team along with his fellow potato Emily, where their work as digital dramaturgs sees them helping new creators across the country in their work to realize their technological dreams. He is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada’s Production Design and Technical Arts program.
Emily Soussana (Residency Leader)
Emily Soussana is an award-winning video and production designer based out of Tiotia:ke (Montreal). They are a graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada's scenography program, the University of Ottawa's Theatre program and spent time as a projection technologist at The Banff Centre. They are the co-founder of potatoCakes_Digital, a multimedia design and technical Integration company. Over the course of the pandemic they’ve pivoted their focus to more pedagogical projects. In 2020 they co-created the Level Up symposium and are currently working with Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal as a digital dramaturg.
Emma Tibaldo (Artistic Director/Dramaturg)
Emma has been directing new Canadian plays since graduating from the National Theatre School directing program. In 2008 she became Artistic and Executive director of the national new creation centre Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal (PWM), where she has dramaturgically collaborated on numerous award winning plays. Emma was awarded the Elliott Hayes Award for outstanding achievement in Dramaturgy. Emma left her position as AD of PWM in June 2021 and has since moved on to other artistic and farming based pursuits.
Juan Velasquez (Local Documentarian)
Juan Velásquez is Colombian a writer, video artist and communications professional. He was born and raised in Bogotá but has now calls Montreal his home. Since arriving in Canada, Juan has completed a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts in English at McGill University. In his free time, you can find him watching movies, reading contemporary literature or eating chocolate.