HORSEPLAY
Team Bios
MAY 14TH - JUNE 1ST, 2025
KOLE DURNFORD
(Playwright)
Kole Durnford is a mixed Métis/settler actor and playwright originally from Stony Plain, Alberta. Kole graduated from the acting program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022. His first play, ECHO, has been produced three times, most recently as part of the 2023 Next Stage Festival. His follow up, HORSEPLAY, was shortlisted for the Toronto Fringe’s 24 Hour Playwriting Contest. Kole has developed his work at the Banff Centre and the Paprika Festival Indigenous Arts Program. Kole looks to create work that is bold in concept, pathos and liveness. As a performer, Kole is a two time Dora Mavor Award nominee. @koledurnford
HEATHER INGLIS
(Director)
Heather Inglis took the helm of Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre as Artistic Producer in November 2019. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Heather is an award-winning director, producer, and dramaturg whose career has taken her across the country. Heather has directed and assistant-directed over 40 productions, many of which have been new Canadian works. Credits include: The Shaw Festival, Citadel Theatre, Workshop West Theatre, Northern Light Theatre, Azimuth Theatre, Theatre Junction, Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre (SK), Live Five (SK), The Doppler Effect Productions (NS), Alberta Playwrights Network, Saskatchewan Playwrights' Centre, Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre, The Notable Acts Festival (NB) and Universities in Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatoon. 13 of Inglis’ productions have been nominated for 21 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards, including 7 nominations for Outstanding Independent Production and nominations for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Fringe Director. In 2019, and 2020 Heather was nominated for the Playwrights’ Guild of Canada’s Bra D’Or Award, recognizing her support and promotion of Canadian women playwrights. Heather has received a Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award (2014), the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund (twice), the Celebration of Women in the Arts Award (twice), the Telus Courage to Innovate Award, an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding Innovation in Theatre (2014). In 2022 she received the Queens Platinum Jubilee medal for her contributions to Alberta’s literary community. At Workshop West Heather has directed The Enchantment, The Laws of Thermodynamics, Metronome, Tell Us What Happened, Unsung: Tales from the Front Line, Mob, Dead Letter and Stars on Her Shoulders.
ALEXANDER ARIATE
(Horse)
Alexander Ariate is a multidisciplinary artist, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Alberta as well as a Diploma in Theatre Performance from Mount Royal University. Alex combines his highly technical and classical acting training with a healthy love of clowning and comedy to create honest, physical, dynamic, “never boring” theatre.
Selected theatre acting credits include, The Play That Goes Wrong (Citadel Theatre/Theatre Calgary/RMTC/The Grand); The Three Musketeers (Citadel Theatre/Arts Club); HEIST (Vertigo Theatre/Citadel Theatre); Murder on the Orient Express (Vertigo Theatre); The Importance of Being Earnest, CLUE, and Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Citadel Theatre); The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, Othello, Twelfth Night, and The Winter’s Tale (The Shakespeare Company); MINE and BRICK SHITHOUSE (Workshop staged readings for Backstage Theatre and Found Fest). You can catch Alex this summer at Teatro Live in their production of The Odd Couple! He hopes you enjoy the show.
LEE BOYES
(Jacques)
Lee is absolutely honored to be working with the amazing team at WWPT. The trust and communication through the rehearsal process has been incredible, and he can't wait to frolic and fly for you! Though he hates to admit it, Lee is undoubtedly a clown; and his solo show "Big Business" was an Edmonton International Fringe hold over in both 2023 & 2024. He often improvises in the city of champions, appearing regularly with Grindstone Theatre, as well as being an alumni member of Rapid Fire, playing Mayor Donnie WooHoo in their annual offering, "The Blank Who Stole Christmas". Other credits include Arial in "The Pillowman" (Hectik Theatre) Bernardo in "Zastrozzi: Master of Discipline "(Hectik Theatre) & Macbeth in "The Black Bonspiel of Wullie Macrimmon" (Globe Theatre). He'd like to thank Heather for her leadership, Kole for his vision, Amber for her grace, Nyssa for her joy, Alex for his synergy, and finally, his wife Cayley; who somehow continues to provide unwavering love & support. Grab the reins gang; this show is one heck of a ride!
BEYATA HACKBORN
(Set/Costume Design)
Beyata is an Edmonton-based set & costume designer currently living with a beloved household of friends and dogs. When not gallivanting around with them, she splits her time between building maquettes for other designers, planning out a (currently non-existent) garden and eating good food. She has an especial love for shows that embrace non-reality and the absurd, musically-driven pieces, and also has an incredibly soft spot for Sondheim. On a good day, she can juggle a bit.
Select credits include: Fully Committed (Theatre Aquarius), Heist (Grand/Citadel), The Play That Goes Wrong (Citadel/Theatre Calgary/RMTC), Chris, Mrs. (Boldly Productions – Winter Garden), Little Shop of Horrors (Artsclub/Citadel); Jersey Boys (Citadel); Horseplay, Metronome, Mob (Workshop West); Sleight of Mind (WCT); The Secret Garden, Village Wooing, Playboy of the Western World, Overruled, Bright Lights (Shaw Festival).
Check out her work later this year in the Citadel’s Legally Blonde (Theatre Calgary co-prod.) & Life of Pi (RMTC co-prod)!
JASON KODIE
(Sound Design)
Jason is delighted to return to Workshop West and to play with the crew of ‘Horseplay’. Last seen/heard with the sound design for ‘Metronome’ has since been fidgeting and mixing, cutting and rejecting/creating other designs for theatre including for l’Unithéâtre and their current production of ‘Le malade Imaginaire’. Jason is a member of several bands and projects; Captain Tractor, Le Fuzz, and a recent return with the ESO with their ‘Lord of the Rings’ pops concert series (musette). Jason continues to work with schools as an artist in residence, and has been with the Flying Canoe Volant festival since their inception as their musical curator and MC. Here’s to a great show!
AMBER BOROTSIK
(Choreographer)
Amber Borotsik is an Amiskwaciwâskahikan based creator and performer keenly interested in the intersection between contemporary dance and theatre practices. New work is her greatest passion; she loves everything about it, even (sometimes especially) when it makes her brain melt. Working with the magically brilliant (and funny!) Horseplay team has been a profound gift. Amber has devised, directed, choreographed and performed in both theatre and dance all across Canada and the United States, as well as in Japan and South Africa. Recent credits include Glory - MacEwan University (Director), Story Seekers and the Dictionary of Destiny - St. Albert’s International Children’s Festival (Creator/Performer alongside Jesse Gervais) and Black Rainbow -KO Dance Projects (Dancer). Amber delights in any opportunity to create (Scythe, Moon at Midnight, No Guesses Found), collaborate (Genital Posturing of the Vervet Monkey Punctuate! Theatre/UTM/Centre for the Less Good Idea/UCM), remix (CanDance/Studio 303/MZD/NDW REMIX Exchange) and exchange (Centre de Création O Vertigo’s Emerging Encounters International Exchange Project). Amber, recently returned from St. John’s NL where she Co-Directed a collaboratively created adaptation of Oderin by Newfoundland poet Agnes Walsh. Next up she will be performing in As You Like It at the Freewill Shakespeare Festival.
SARAH KARPYSHIN
(Lighting Designer)
Sarah has a BFA from the University of Alberta in Theatre Design and a diploma of Fine Arts from MacEwan University. She is currently the Head of Props at the Citadel Theatre. Most recent works include: Deafy (No Limits Festival 2024 at STET Theatre in The Hague, Citadel Theatre Highwire Series 2023, The Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in Peterborough 2022, Harbourfront Centre in Toronto 2022, The Registry Theatre in Kitchener 2022 and Edmonton Fringe Festival 2021, lighting design), Low (2023 Short, production design), and Dark Woods (2022 Film, head of props). “Stay gold, Ponyboy.”
JAKE TKACZYK
(Production Manager)
Jake Tkaczyk is an Edmonton-based theatre artist with a passion for creating new and engaging work collaboratively. He graduated from the BFA Acting at the University of Alberta and is currently in the midst of his PhD in Creative Practice from the Transart Institute and Liverpool John Moores’ University. Also a graduate of Red Deer College’s Theatre Performance and Creation program, Jake has worked as an actor, director, creator, and educator in central Alberta. His selected acting credits include: Flora and Fawna Have Beaver Fever (and so does Fleurette!) (Lunchbox Theatre), Mr. Burns, a post-electric play (Blarney Productions/You are Here), 10 Funerals, Lungs (Shadow Theatre), That’s Danger! (Alberta Workers’ Health Centre), Crack in the Mirror, With Bells On, Don’t Frown at the Gown, (Guys in Disguise), Urinetown(Grindstone Theatre), You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown! (Opera Nuova). Directing and creating credits include: White Guy on Stage Talking, Bedeutung Krankenwagen, Post, Like, Share—Beware!, The Big Fat Surprise, All Proceeds Go To:, and Pride and Pre-Jeu-Dice (Innocent Operations), The Land that Art Forgot, and Devour Content Here: Of Love and Wheat (Kristine Nutting). Jake has taught workshops for The Citadel Theatre’s Foote Theatre School and Grindstone Theatre, as well as guest instructing at Augustana University. Jake had the extreme pleasure of working as an Artist Intern at Northern Light Theatre for a few years and is was previously employed as Theatre Alberta’s Program Coordinator and the Program Manager of Performing Arts at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Jake recently received the AFA Young Artist Prize.
KIRA FRANCHUK
(Technical Director)
Kira Franchuck (they/them) is a lifelong resident of the prairies and the current in-house Technical Director for Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre. Leveraging a history of using technology creatively in a diverse range of contexts, from high performance computing to “new media” and professional videography, they are excited to facilitate another bleeding-edge season at The Gateway. You’ve assuredly seen or heard of their handiwork on any number of occasions including Workshop Wests’ Mob, Dead Letter, Tell Us What Happened, Unsung, Subscribe Or Like, Stars on Her Shoulders, and Krampus: A New Musical among many other credits. Outside of the theatre, Kira has built experiences for and with organizations such as Apple, Grainger, the Edmonton Valley Zoo (in collacoration with Toy Jackson), and MacEwan University. They still collect CDs (vinyl is too heavy!) and greatly enjoy working at a theatre so close to bike lane access. You can check out what they’ve been hearing lately at http://hhhpccc.ca
NYSSA BEAIRSTO
(Stage Manager)
Nyssa is honoured to return to WWPT and be a part of this beautiful piece, HORSEPLAY. Graduate of the University of Alberta, Nyssa is an Edmonton-based stage manager who most adores assisting in the creation of new works all while safely hiding in the shadows.
Recent stage-management credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The 70’s Musical, The Mountaintop, Little Shop of Horrors, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Matilda (Citadel Theatre); Dead Letter, Unsung, Here there be Night (WWPT); Mermaid Legs (SkirtsAfire); The Invisible, Nevermore (Catalyst); The Wrong People Have Money, The Mountaintop (Shadow Theatre). Two-headed/Half-Hearted (NLT)
Extra love to Nyssa’s family and partner Kia for sanity maintenance.
CONNOR MACDONALD
(Assistant Set Designer)
Connor is nearing his tenth year of his theatre career in Edmonton as a theatre technician since entering MacEwan’s Theatre Production program and is excited to be exploring aspects of design. While previously working as Assistant Head of both Props and Scenic carpentry at the Edmonton Opera, he now primarily works at the Citadel Theatre as the main builder in the Props department. Throughout his time in these jobs, he’s been able to work closely with designers from across Canada to realize their artistic endeavors. While rewarding, he’s interested in having opportunities to impart his own artistic flare into the world of Canadian theatre. Having honed his abilities in AutoCAD, 3D printing, and model making, Connor has begun to pursue working more directly with designers, outside of the prop shop.
For Horseplay, Connor translated the designer’s inspirations and drawings into 3D, which he then used to build the maquette, as well as creating all the horse silhouettes featured on the overhead mobile. As a chronic hobbyist, he has many interests and fixations revolving around creating or building. His current fixation is cobbling, and he plans on building a pair of leather boots as a summer project.
PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTES…
In January 2024, I was in the midst of extreme burnout following the busiest creative period of my life and my first serious mental health struggle. I decided to sign up for a 24 hour playwriting contest as a fun creative activity. The prompts were: pasta, pavement, playground, and promise. I wanted to write a play about how much I loved my best friend, and suddenly, the characters of Horse and Jacques appeared on my page.
I remember being halfway through the play and not knowing where to go next. I realized I was stuck because I had written Horse into the exact situation I had found myself in. Like me, Horse was lost and burnt out. I didn’t know how we could possibly get back on our feet.
I am not a writer who meticulously plans a story, or who writes five pages every single day, or who really has any technique to speak of. The only way I know how to write is by bouncing off what I’ve already written, by responding to where the characters want to bring me next. So to find a way out of our shared predicament, I chose to trust wherever Horse wanted to carry me.
In rehearsal, we discovered that horses have an electromagnetic field that is five times bigger than a human’s. The reason why is because of how big their hearts are. Due to the strength of a horse’s electromagnetic field, human heartbeats will often change to match a horse’s heartbeat when one comes around.
Horse showed up in my life when I really needed him, and he changed the rhythm of my heart. He got me back on my feet, he gave me hours upon hours of laughter, and he has reminded me why I decided to make theatre. I loved every moment of writing alongside him. And now, he has carried me back home for the premiere of this show. Thank you for coming to HORSEPLAY. I hope you love Horse as much as I do.
-KOLE DURNFORD
DIRECTORS NOTES…
It is a joy and a privilege to share the heart and talent and brilliance of the newest generation of Canadian talent with Workshop West’s audiences. Kole sent his play to WWPT’s Reading Service and when I first read it, I got chills. It speaks to the truest of loves in the harshest of worlds. If we are lucky, we are granted a friendship once or twice in our lives that changes us. These rarest of gifts can set us free, welcome us home, and break out hearts. Enter the wonderful, wacky, shimmering world of HORSEPLAY —which is (shhh) not really a play about horses.