About
Sleeping Giants
Sleeping Giant
noun:
one that has great but unrealized or newly emerging power
-Merriam Webster Dictionary
OUR VISION
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To bring quality theatre education and experiences to the people of Cochrane and surrounding areas.
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OUR MISSION
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To provide accessible theatre classes for young people to help them gain confidence and to foster creativity and critical thinking skills, while inspiring a love and respect for the performing arts.
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OUR VALUES
Accessibility:
No one should be turned away from quality theatre training or experiences due to any physical, mental, or financial barrier.
Agency:
Students will be empowered to make decisions and be the driving force behind any creative works. We believe that young people are capable of incredible things and should be given the space to explore and create.
Quality:
We work towards creating theatre and performances that we are proud of, that combine student's ideas and artistry to create performances that move our audiences.
Managing Director
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Jenny is a professional actor, singer and stage manager. She grew up around Cochrane and Bragg Creek, and happily moved back to Cochrane in 2021. She is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of British Columbia. She is passionate about working with young people and helping inspire them to create and love theatre!
Her professional experience has led her across Alberta, BC, Ontario and Italy, performing and running workshops in schools. She also works as an artist in residence in schools, working with students to create and perform their own plays from scratch in one week. She believes in a full body physical approach to acting, and she continuously seeks out workshops in physical theatre, devising, and clown to enhance her skills in these areas.
Outside of theatre, you can find Jenny on the mats training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or spending time with her husband, her son, and her adorable puppy.
Fall 2024 Instructors
Kit Benz
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Kit Benz (they/them) is a clown, puppeteer, physical theatre artist, and arts educator based in Calgary on Treaty 7 Territory. They are a graduate of the drama program at Bishop’s University as well as the Professional Training Program at Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. Kit spent several glorious summers training in Pochinko clown at the Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance. Kit has performed with Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects, Lunchbox Theatre, The Shakespeare Company, and others. In their spare time Kit likes to garden, do puzzles, and cuddle with their cats.
Day Chase
Day Chase (she/they) is a theatre artist, educator, playwright, and animator based in Southern Alberta. This year is her fifth year teaching theatre, and she has worked with many companies all over Alberta! She always looks forward to playing games, creating fun new ideas for plays, and watching youth take their first brave leap onto the stage.
Day's recent works have been producing her play “The Estate Sale” and devising/acting for Incendiary Festival’s "Abigail" as well as “Islands Disappear.” She has also worked with the Animated Objects Festival and Hot Summer Nights Cabaret. Through their artistic endeavors Day has experimented with prose, puppetry, visual arts, object theatre, mask, and animation! Day finds joy in creating work that is both silly and meaningful.
John Knight
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John is a British Columbia born, Southern Alberta raised, son of Newfoundlanders. As a theatre artist he has called Mokhinstsis/Calgary home for the last two decades. His fight direction work has been seen on stages large and small across the Calgary and has been recognized with nominations for a Betty Mitchell Award and a Calgary Theatre Critic's Award. He has had the privilege to teach students from ages 7 to 70.
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In addition to dual certifications as Fight Instructor and Fight Director with Fight Directors Canada, John is the owner/operator of Knight Fights, an organization providing stage combat training and choreography services. He holds a BFA in Performance from the University of Lethbridge and an MFA in Directing from the University of Calgary.
