University of Saskatchewan

The University of Saskatchewan Drama Department was established in 1945, making it the oldest degree-granting department of drama not only in Saskatchewan, not only in Canada, but also in the entire British Commonwealth.

Springing out of a visionary joint initiative by the province's university extension, community theatre and educational drama movements, the department has continued to serve the grassroots theatrical needs of Saskatchewan for over 65 years, while contributing to the larger national and international theatre scene.

We offer the following programs:

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Acting
Design

wîcêhtowin Theatre Program

The wîcêhtowin Theatre Program (WTP) is a 21-credit Arts and Sciences Certificate program for Indigenous students. WTP has been revised so students can take the certificate on its own in combination with any other degree program.

Names of participating students: Lexi Armstrong, Cody Brayshaw, Jessie Bruce, Olivia Carlson, Molly Chartier, Raven Dallman, Ethan Donaldson, Meeka Fast, Hannah Fehr, Grace Flegel, Abraham Galman, Gillian Garvie, Lauren Griffin, Emma Jensen, Liam Johnston, Ian Kimpton, Darius Kiskotagan, Julia Kowalski, Michael Kruger, Jon MacPherson, Ibrahim Oshodi, Emily Palmer, Abbey Tomlinson, and Ashton Turner

Names of School Supervisors: Shannon Blanchet, Ken MacKenzie and Carla Orosz

More Info Here

Participating Artists

Julia Kowalski

Raven Dallman

Molly Chartier

Cody Brayshaw

Cody Brayshaw is a Student Designer and Emerging Artist based in Saskatoon, SK. Cody enjoys tackling many challenges throughout the performance and scenography world, wearing many different hats throughout the Drama Department at the University of Saskatchewan. Select credits include Dresser for Paradise Park (Greystone Theatre, 2022), Lighting Designer for A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes (Greystone Theatre, 2023), Stage Manager for Terra Nova (Greystone Theatre, 2023), Set Designer for The Mirror of Venus and Paris, Without Return (University of Alberta’s New Works Festival, 2020) and The Insanity of Mary Girard (Mad Hatter Theatre Company, 2018).

Cody has a deep passion for Scenography and Design, with a special focus in Lighting and Set design. He often dives deep into concepts and ideas, and many of his classmates will tell you about his obsession with pushing the limits of what can be done on stage, such as powerful electromagnets and questioning whether or not the audience needs to see. Cody is currently working as a Design Assistant for an upcoming Persephone Theatre Production, and also moonlights as a film photographer. You’ll find Cody wandering around PQ with his old Canon AE-1 film camera and searching for his next big obsession that pushes the limits of the stage.

Jessie Bruce

Abraham Galman

I am a fourth year theatre design student at the University of Saskatchewan, with a passion for set design and painting. As a queer Filipino individual, I aim to create artwork that pushes the boundaries of design and explore new ways to tell my own story through my art.

Ian Kimpton

ASHTON TURNER

Suspensions / Figurines

JULIA: I wanted this piece to focus on the usefulness and beauty of water rather than

the sad realities that surround it. It is very easy to focus on the negative topics surrounding water and the future which can make us feel defeated. My wish is that my piece reminds people of the importance of water while also creating hope for the future. To hear more about the story and process of creation follow this link.

RAVEN: I wrote this monologue from the water’s perspective because I feel that the water needs a voice to be heard just as much as the Indigenous communities that are suffering from unsafe drinking water and that the water is not a resource to be exploited. It broke my heart to hear that the Neskantaga First Nation community has surpassed TEN THOUSAND DAYS being under the boil water advisory. This advisory was set in place back in February 1995, the same month and year that I was born in. So for over 28 YEARS the people in Neskantaga First Nation had to boil their water for drinking, cooking and bathing which makes me feel disgusted that no help has been done. My hope is that my monologue can inspire others to help defend water by fighting for the water right by viewing it as personhood. Water is a very sacred element to many Indigenous people including myself. It is our job to help protect water from the damages that have occurred and I hope that my monologue can be the eye opener for others to understand how serious the water issues are here in Canada.

MOLLY: For this piece, my peers and I wanted to explore the idea of a “glass half full, glass half empty” view of Canada. For the half full side, we have the image of clear, fresh water that is used in advertisements for Canada’s tourism, and on the empty side, we see the reality of fresh water being polluted, lobbied, and withheld from communities, especially reserves. One thing we spoke about as a group is how water is present at the beginning of life, it is both within us and necessary to sustain ourselves, yet the disparity of clean, safe drinking water is killing people every day. The image that Canada sells internationally is one of peace and prosperity, yet the very people who we should be learning from are the people that are having essential “rights” withheld from them. I hope more people begin to see the other side of the story, the one that the Canadian government tries so hard to hide.

JESSIE: This piece is a representation of the personhood and rights we feel water and bodies of water deserve to protect the sacred resource, as well as the items that contaminate it.

Selected Work

A Beautiful Day in November on the Bank of the Greatest of Great Lakes Playwright - Kate Benson Director - Natasha Martina Set Designers - Evangeline Ambros and Hannah Fehr Lighting Design - Cody Brayshaw and Ashton Turner Costume Designer - Abraham Galman Photo by David Stobbes	The Margin of the Sky Playwright Stewart Lemoine Directed by Shannon Blanchet Set Design by Carla Orosz Lighting Design by Ken MacKenzie Costume Design by Beverley Kobelsky Actors: Julia Kowlaski and Ashton Turner Photo by David Stobbes	Sir John A. Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion Playwright - Drew Hayden Taylor Director - Deneh'Cho Thompson Set Design - Ken MacKenzie Lighting Desing - Judith Schulz Costume Design - Beverley Kobelsky Actors - Raven Dallman and Leze Pewapsconias Photo by David Stobbes	Terra Nova Playwright - Ted Tally Director - Dwayne Brenna Set Design - Carla Orosz Lighting & Projection Design - Ken MacKenzie Costume Design - Beverley Kobelsky Actors - Ian Kimpton and Xander Scribrante Photo by David Stobbes

Participating Artists

Suspensions / Figurines

Selected Work

A Beautiful Day in November on the Bank of the Greatest of Great Lakes

Playwright - Kate Benson Director - Natasha Martina Set Designers - Evangeline Ambros and Hannah Fehr Lighting Design - Cody Brayshaw and Ashton Turner Costume Designer - Abraham Galman Photo by David Stobbes

The Margin of the Sky

Playwright Stewart Lemoine Directed by Shannon Blanchet Set Design by Carla Orosz Lighting Design by Ken MacKenzie Costume Design by Beverley Kobelsky Actors: Julia Kowlaski and Ashton Turner Photo by David Stobbes

Sir John A. Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion

Playwright - Drew Hayden Taylor Director - Deneh'Cho Thompson Set Design - Ken MacKenzie Lighting Desing - Judith Schulz Costume Design - Beverley Kobelsky Actors - Raven Dallman and Leze Pewapsconias Photo by David Stobbes

Terra Nova

Playwright - Ted Tally Director - Dwayne Brenna Set Design - Carla Orosz Lighting & Projection Design - Ken MacKenzie Costume Design - Beverley Kobelsky Actors - Ian Kimpton and Xander Scribrante Photo by David Stobbes