SPRINGBOARDS 2025 FESTIVAL STAFF

GIVE IT UP FOR OUR BEHIND-THE-SCENES HEROS!

LINDSEY WALKER - Sound Designer

Born and raised on Treaty 1 territory (Winnipeg), and currently residing in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), Lindsey Walker (she/her) is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and theatre performer. Lindsey’s music has been described as “achingly sincere”, and “cinematic”. As a theatre creator, Lindsey wrote the score and lyrics for ren & the wake, an original semi-immersive musical that she created with Catch the Keys Productions, as well as creating the music and lyrics for the one-man political musical Amor de Cosmos with Richard Kemick. Selected sound design work: Bea (Shadow Theatre), Re:Construct (Donkey Dog Theatre), In My Own Little Corner (RISER Edmonton), The Debut (Hoy! Productions), and was nominated for a Sterling Award for her contribution to the sound design for The Spinsters (Small Matters Productions). Lindsey is currently working on her latest EP, Something Real, which will be out Fall 2024. Follow all her exploits on social media here: @lindseywalkermusic

KIRA FRANCHUK - Technician

Kira Franchuk (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, and Subscribe Or Like, 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 Roy 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

PAYAL JOTANIA - Design Coordinator

Payal Jotania is an Architect and Set, Costume and Lighting designer from India. She is a recent MFA Theater Design graduate from University of Alberta. She is experienced as art director,and production designer and has designed for commercial and feature films, television and TV commercials in the Indian film industry. She has received her undergraduate degree in Architecture from University of Mumbai, India. She is an emerging designer exploring use of textures and influence of colours in her designs.. Her credits include The Devils (Set and Props Designer), Indecent (Costume Designer), Girl in the Goldfish Bowl (Lighting Designer), Rough Magic (Lighting Designer), The Circle at University of Alberta (Head Scenic Paint), Everybody (Lighting Assistant), Regression (Lighting Designer), Orlando (Lighting Assistant), Wildfire (Set & Lighting Designer).

ALISSA WATSON - Intern Director

Alissa is an adventurous prairie artist, with a passion for physical theatre, clown, and satire in performance. Born and raised on Treaty 1 Territory, Alissa has performed on Winnipeg’s most prominent stages including the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, and Manitoba Theatre for Young People. She is a founding member of the clown duo, The Red Nose Diaries, and Winnipeg's all-female bouffon ensemble, The Talentless Lumps. Alissa is the proud recipient of the Brandon University Distinguished Young Alumni Award and most recently, a Graduate Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. In the summer you can find her at music festivals singing and playing the washboard with the sweet and cheeky, Fu Fu Chi Chi Choir. She is currently in her second year of the MFA in Directing program at the University of Alberta and will be directing her thesis in the Studio Theatre season this fall.

BROCK KEELER - Design Coordinator

Brock (he/him) is a multi-disciplinary theatre designer currently based in Edmonton. He is currently pursuing his MFA in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta. Brock is excited to be working on Springboards this year, helping bring these great new plays to life. Recent design credits include: Through the Leaves (Costume, BLT), Indecent (Set & Projection, Studio Theatre), Everybody (Lighting, Studio Theatre), The Circle (Lighting, BLT), The Consul (Set & Lighting, Opera NUOVA). You can watch his MFA thesis production in the University’s Studio Theatre next February 2026. Take a look at his portfolio of work by visiting brockkeeler.com

KADE MAZURY - Artistic Coordinator

Kade Mazury is a Stage Manager and Theatre artist based in Alberta and  is excited to be back working on Springboards 2025.  Kade will be working with Northern Light Theatre soon as their Production Manager mentee for Radiant Vermin. Some  recent projects you may have seen Kade include: Production Manager Mentee for Angry Alan with Northern Light Theatre, Stage Manager for Krampus: A New Musical by Seth Gilfillan and Stephen Allred, Stage Manager for Lets Not Turn on Each Other (by Walters and Watt).  Kade would like to thank all the incredible artists they got to collaborate with throughout the festival, and his supportive friends and family.