TAEA 2026 National Drama Teachers’ Conference
Alberta · Calgary

Dean Bareham is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Green Fools Theatre. A proud Métis artist, Dean is internationally recognized as a performer, master puppeteer, and theatre creator.

For more than 35 years, he has shared his unique blend of puppetry, circus, clowning, and physical theatre with audiences across six continents.

Kathryn Smith is a theatre creator, artistic leader, and educator who has worked across Canada for the last 10 years. They love supporting their queer community, creating art with youth, their partner Lara, and their dog Scout.

For the past 18 months, Kathryn has been the Drama Education Associate at Quest Theatre where they support drama education activities and support Quest in the endeavour to “Grow good humans through theatre”. Since 2022, Kathryn (or KP) has been the Artistic Director of Verb Theatre - a Calgary based independent theatre company that focuses on producing ‘tomorrows theatre today’.

Kathryn has spent their career on new work development, producing and directing independently. They have an extensive background in theatre production, technical design, and production management. Local companies they have worked for include: Theatre Calgary, Verb Theatre, Handsome Alice Theatre, Downstage, Sage Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, Calgary Stampeded, Vertigo Theatre, Lunchbox Theatre, and numerous national companies.

Alex Allen is a Calgary-based artist with more than 10 years of theatre experience, specializing in Theatre for Young Audiences. From acting to directing, Alex has worked with numerous local theatre companies.

Alex spearheads Trickster’s Storytelling and Science Workshops programs and leads many of its week-long theatre residencies across Alberta schools.

Nathan Schmidt is the Head of the Acting Program at Rosebud School of the Arts and a professional actor, teaching artist, fight director, and musician. He teaches acting, voice, and stage combat, and has performed with companies including Bard on the Beach, Theatre Calgary, Vertigo Theatre, The Shakespeare Company, and Rosebud Theatre. His work as an educator and artist focuses on developing expressive, physically engaged performers and helping emerging actors build strong, practical performance skills.

Tina Kenny is TAEA's Alberta Chapter Director. She helps educators and schools connect with provincial professional development, regional STAR Festivals and national theatre education opportunities.

Frances Ewington is an award-winning Speech Arts & Drama instructor with nearly three decades of teaching and professional training experience. From 1997 to 2016, she was employed by the Mount Royal Conservatory as a Speech Arts & Drama instructor and voice specialist. In 2017, she opened her own private studio, where she continues to teach students of all ages and levels.

Over the past five years, her high school-aged students have consistently received top marks in their RCM performance exams, including several recipients of Provincial and National medals for the highest mark in Alberta or Canada.

Frances has had the privilege of training with VASTA distinguished member David Smukler and internationally renowned movement specialist Judith Koltai. She has significant training in Linklater Voice Method, Rodenburg Voice and Speech, Vibrant Voice Technique, Alexander Technique, Authentic Movement, and Koltai Embodied Practice. She is also a certified Yoga Alliance teacher and incorporates these teachings into her Voice classes.

Jess McNabb has been working in theatre as a lighting technician, programmer and designer for over 20 years. She was the Head of Lighting at the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon and Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She has a particular interest in light and colour after experiencing the transition from traditional lighting to colour-mixing LEDs. Currently she is the DMX and Production Lighting Specialist at Optics Lighting and Controls in Calgary, Alberta. She is also a factory-authorized ETC Service Technician and Eos console trainer. Now her work includes design, programming and ongoing support of lighting systems for theatre but also architectural installations and public art
Jess McNabb has been working in theatre as a lighting technician, programmer and designer for over 20 years. She was the Head of Lighting at the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon and Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She has a particular interest in light and colour after experiencing the transition from traditional lighting to colour-mixing LEDs. Currently she is the DMX and Production Lighting Specialist at Optics Lighting and Controls in Calgary, Alberta. She is also a factory-authorized ETC Service Technician and Eos console trainer. Now her work includes design, programming and ongoing support of lighting systems for theatre but also architectural installations and public art.