Excerpted from “Nextfest has a new festival director: multi-talented Ellen Chorley” by Liz Nicholls
Edmonton Journal, November 2, 2016

“… Ellen Chorley, an adventurous theatre artist of remarkable range and versatility, replaces Steve Pirot, who left Nextfest earlier in 2016 after 15 years, to assume the artistic directorship of iHuman Youth Society. Chorley is an award-winning playwright, actor, director, dramaturg, and a teacher/mentor at the Citadel’s Foote Theatre School.

She’s a curator, producer, and the founder and artistic director of both a kids’ theatre (Promise Productions) and an experimental burlesque theatre troupe (Send in the Girls) for whom she performs and writes plays. She’s also the artistic associate at Northern Light Theatre.

With Nextfest, the 32-year-old Chorley is at the helm of the festival that is, as she puts it, “the home of all my firsts.” She and the festival go way back.

“Nextfest is such a great place for people to experiment with new things, learn new skills, find the support they need to be successful.”

“This job is about living in Edmonton, fostering our arts community here. It’s what I’ve always wanted; I love creating here.””

Photo: Ellen Chorley, the new festival director for Nextfest (supplied).