The Board of Directors at Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre are pleased to announce that Heather Inglis will be the new Artistic Producer of the 40 year old theatre company.
Inglis, an award-winning Edmonton Theatre Artist and the Artistic Director of site-specific theatre company, Theatre Yes, stepped into the role earlier this month.
The Workshop West Board couldn’t be more pleased. Said Board Chair Jillian Gamez, “Heather is a remarkable director and talented dramaturge, with a demonstrated history of excellence in arts management. We believe her collaborative approach to projects, her deep connections in the Edmonton theatre community, and her demonstrated commitment to the development of new plays perfectly position her for success in the new role of Artistic Producer at WWPT.”
Inglis is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada and award-winning director, producer, and dramaturg. Her extensive resume includes productions in Alberta and around the country, including The Shaw Festival, Citadel Theatre, Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre, Northern Light Theatre, and Azimuth Theatre, as well as theatres in Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
Workshop West recently marked 40 years of Edmonton theatre with a celebration that brought previous artistic directors to the city in acknowledgement of the contributions of the company to Canadian playwrights. Notably, Inglis said, “For 40 years Workshop West has been shining a light on Edmonton writers and creators, producing and presenting outstanding Canadian work from across the county. It’s an honour to walk in the footsteps of so many terrific ADs.”
Inglis replaces outgoing Artistic Director, Vern Thiessen, who vacated the position at the beginning of the month. The company has since been restructured from an Artistic Director and General Manager to the newly formed Artistic Producer position that will include an Operations Manager. Marian Brant is outgoing General Manager. Operations Manager will be named shortly.
As for Inglis’ vision for the company, she says she’ll stick to the core aims of the company. “It’s not radical. We’ll continue to find, support, and advance, Canadian playwrights with a focus on Edmonton writers. Workshop West will continue to reach out to distinct and underserved communities, striving to listen, remove barriers, and include diverse artists.”
In 2019, Heather was nominated for the Playwrights’ Guild of Canada’s Bra D’Or Award, recognizing her support and promotion of Canadian women playwrights via Theatre Yes. She was the 2014 recipient of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award.
