Started in January 2023 to help grow community theatre in Victoria by providing a stage for a diversity of local talent and voices to share their stories and art.
Kurt Archer – Festival Director
Kurt has over 8 years experience working in community theatre in Calgary as a former board member of Morpheus Theatre, also as an actor, producer, director, and playwright. His experience includes Gilbert & Sullivans’ Gondoliers and Ruddigore, It’s a Wonderful Life, A little murder never hurt anybody, and Death of Salesman among others. He is also the former Curator for TEDxYYC, one of Canada’s largest independently organized TED events.
Kurt is the Founder of Between Words Theatre and is the President of the Board for the Victoria Event Centre.
Kurt also coaches speakers, and does communication consulting for small businesses and non-profits doing great work in the community. Kurt loves to work and be at the intersection of technology, climate issues, and art – which also inspires a lot of his Sci-Fi writing he does on the side.
Alison Bendall – Artist Liaison
Originally from the Cowichan Valley, Alison discovered a love for performing at an early age. She spent many years performing in community theatre shows across Vancouver Island, before pursuing professional training at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. Alison was a member of CCPA’s 2021-2022 Studio Ensemble, where she explored the technical side of theatre including Lighting Design and Social Media Marketing. She has also worked at several island theatres as a Front of House Supervisor, Box Office Agent and Usher, including the Chemainus Theatre Festival and the Belfry Theatre. Alison is very enthusiastic about using her experience in the local theatre industry to help create an enriching and supportive environment for this year’s Festival participants.
Taylor Guidotti – Festival Technical Producer
Taylor (she/they) is a stage director, intimacy director, and stage and production manager from Calgary, but now proudly resides in Victoria, BC. A recent graduate of the University of Victoria’s theatre program (BFA 2020), Taylor has worn many hats at various performing arts festivals in Alberta and British Columbia. She is thrilled to be returning to the One Act Festival, this time as the Technical Coordinator. Most recent credits include: [Co-Festival Manager, Technical Coordinator] Common Ground Festival; [Stage Management] The Incredible Glowing Woman (hapax), Abandoned (One Act Festival 2023); [Director] The Crime on Goat Island, Aphra, Such Creatures. The War of the Worlds (untitled theatrics). Much love to Benji, Mum and Arlo.
Alex Kennedy – Graphic Design
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Misty Cozac obtained her BFA in Drama from U of L, and her MA (Dramaturgy/Theatre History) from U of T. She has lived and worked in Japan, Italy, and Mexico, and settled in Victoria about seven years ago. In that time, she has acted and directed for Peninsula Players, directed for Theatre Inconnu, and sits on the boards for Atomic Vaudeville, the Victoria Theatre Collective, and now Between Words. She is currently working on her own play Genki Bear: Memoirs of a Granddaughter.
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Francis is a Filipino theatre artist who debuted in Canada with Theatre Inconnu’s production of Pepe in 2023. Since then, he has collaborated with local companies including Blue Bridge Theatre, The Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, Lawyers On Stage Theatre Society, Langham Court Theatre, Intercultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA), and Attitude Theatre. He is a co-artistic collaborator for Bayanihan Creative Collective and a board member for Theatre SKAM and Victoria Theatre Collective. He is ConVerge 2024 artist in residence and holds an MFA in Directing from UVic.
Meera (she/her) is an actor, director, playwright, event coordinator, and social change storyteller gratefully working and living on the traditional territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ and Lekwungen-speaking peoples. She believes in the power of stories to connect us more deeply to ourselves and our community. Previous credits include: The Drowning Girls (Assistant Director, Hapax theatre), Notes for July (Actor/Writer/Director - One Act Play Fest, Outstanding Performance 2024), Double Bind (Actor - One Act Play Fest), Crime on Goat Island (Production Coordinator - Untitled Theatrics), Beauty and the Beast (Actor - Victoria On Stage).