Instructor Bios

Nicola Elson

 Nicola is an actor, creator and educator with 15 years of experience working across Canada, England and Italy. Her love for all things theatre has inspired a diverse career, ranging from acting in contemporary and classical theatre, devising and performing theatre with an ensemble of artists, stilt walking, performing as an improviser and teaching students of all ages in all setting on all topics imaginable.

Nicola is a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary teaching ‘Theatre for Young Audiences’ and is a returning instructor for Theatre Alberta’s ArtsTrek, a drama summer camp for teenagers.  Nicola regularly teaches, directs or co-creates plays for Evergreen Theatre, Quest Theatre and Trickster Theatre. 

Nicola has performed for local companies such as Vertigo Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects and Sage Theatre. Nicola is part of the Dowmnstage Creation Ensebmle and has co-created numerous productions  Nicola was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her work in Downstage's Bus(t).

Kelly Reay
Kelly is an award-winning theatre director and has been the Artistic Director of Sage Theatre since 2004. His professional theatre career has taken him across Canada, spanning numerous styles, and disciplines.

Directing highlights at Sage Theatre include Jack Goes Boating, Summer of My Amazing Luck, Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, Hedwig and The Angry Inch, Trainspotting (Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Direction), Scorched, and Blowfish amongst others. Additional recent directing credits include Wagonstage '13 &'14 (University of Calgary),  Super 8 (Lunchbox Theatre), The Woman in Black (Vertigo Theatre), Palace of the End (co-director) and The Dishwashers (Downstage).