Symmetree Theatre shares stories about marginalized members of society where the main conflict does not stem from the fact that they are marginalized.
LUAY ELJAMAL
Founder & Artistic Director
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Luay is a Lebanese-Canadian theatre artist with work experience in Canada and the UK.
As a writer and director, Luay approaches performance-creation from a digital standpoint. He has developed a directing​ style which marries digital technology with live performance on stage. In 2010, his direction of The Insanity of Mary Girard won 6 provincial awards including "Outstanding Director", "Outstanding Ensemble" and "Outstanding Sound Design". Additional directing credits include: Sexy Laundry (Keyano Theatre), Seussical the Musical (Lister Hall), Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein (University of Alberta), and Proud (Finborough Theatre). He is the writer and director behind Freeing Heaven's Secrets—a contemporary sound-based performance which was shortlisted for a 2016 DBACE award in London, UK and premiered with Symmetree Theatre in 2019.
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As an Audiovisual Designer, Luay produces videos, projections, sound effects and music compositions for various artistic projects. Recent projects include Lottery (The Pleasance London) and The Slave (Tristan Bates Theatre).
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He has worked as a Production Manager on touring pieces in London and Canterbury, UK, as well as on two Edinburgh Fringe Festival productions (Quarter Life Crisis with Underbelly and Ruby Redfort with Assembly at Edinburgh Fringe)
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Luay was also the recipient of the PRIDE YMM 2019 LGBTQ2+ Artist Leadership Award and was one of YMM Magazine's Top 50 Under 50 in 2020. He currently leads Symmetree Theatre and works as the Programs Manager for Arts Council Wood Buffalo.
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"We call it Symmetree because the company endeavours to share stories that are "reflections" ("symmetry") of society on stage, in ways which advocate for and promote social "growth" ("tree")"
- Founder & Artistic Director Luay Eljamal
LEAH NAND
Artistic Producer
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Leah joined Symmetree Theatre as a Co-Artistic Producer, bringing her experience in communications and business. She has a love for the arts and has been involved in numerous theatrical productions, which gives her a unique perspective into the business side of the theatre world.
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Through her work as a project manager, she has produced many projects that showcase and celebrate multiculturalism in Canada. Among these projects include: Human Rights Day 2018 Conference, Speak Up Against Racism 2019, and the Multicultural EXPO 2019; a trade-show style event that involved coordinating over 500 multicultural performers. She also produced and marketed the 2019 debut of Freeing Heaven's Secrets in Fort McMurray, Alberta, which sold out with exceptional reviews from local theatre professionals.
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MELISSA KONTUK
Resident Stage Manager
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Melissa has been stage managing since 2008, and joined Symmetree Theatre as a Resident Stage Manager in 2019. She has a portfolio of experience working on community productions such as Urinetown (Cheepiyak Theatre), Dracula (Keyano Theatre), and All Shook Up (Keyano Theatre).
She stage managed Eljamal's production of The Insanity of Mary Girard in 2010, which awarded her with two provincial theatre awards: Outstanding Stage Management, and Outstanding Technical Achievement. She was the Stage Manager and Sound Operator behind Freeing Heaven's Secrets, when it debuted in Fort McMurray in 2019.
ARPITA ISLAM
Actor
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Arpita has been performing for many years, developing her passion for acting through multiple productions, including "Unity", "Night Witches", and "Kitsune". In 2018, Arpita directed a production of "Haiku" which competed at the provincial level.
JON QPID
Actor
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Qpid has over 12 years of experience professionally on film, stage and television. He has developed a true love for performing and has enjoyed exercising his creativity in Fort McMurray. Over the past 6 years, he has performed in two Waypoints Dinner Theatre and two Adult One Act Festival productions.
SHWETA SUTHAR
Actor/Choreographer
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Shweta is an actor, dancer, choreogeapher and the founder of local dance group the "Divine Group of India". Before moving to Fort McMurray, Shweta spent 8 years acting in Gujarati Cinema. She was also a news anchor in Western India. Over the past 7 years, Shweta has directed many local theatre productions, and also starred in the Multicultural Association's performance of "Ubuntu". She was the 2018 recipient of the Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Award in the Dance Category.
COBURN FADDEN
Actor
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Coburn began his theatre experience behind the scenes in Ecole McTavish's production of "The Wiz". He ventured in front of the stage in such productions as "Grease", "Mamma Mia!" and "Matilda", where he played the role of Miss Trunchbull.
Symmetree Theatre believes that theatre showcases the world through a lens that looks beyond what we can or have already achieved in reality. It has the power to show us what a more inclusive world could look like.
Symmetree Theatre respectfully acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 8 Territory. We acknowledge all the many Dene, Nêhiyawak, Métis, and First Nations peoples whose histories, languages, and cultures continue to influence our vibrant community.