Introducing the 25/26 Cohort
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Buhle Ngaba is a multi-award winning South African actor, writer and speaker.
Her research and performance interests include developing new thought processes around the role of storytelling and creativity in unearthing and amplifying African women's voices from the archive; to inspire new narratives and push the boundaries of performance. Buhle studied Acting and Contemporary performance at Rhodes University and Processes of Performance at the University of Leeds (UK). She performed in the world premiere of John Kani’s play Missing at the Baxter Theatre (SA) and went on to tour internationally with the production earning her nominations for the “Best Supporting Actress” for the South African Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards as well as the Naledi Theatre Awards. Buhle has most recently been awarded the prestigious Barney Simon artists residency at the Market Theatre (Johannesburg) and is currently writing her latest theatre production that will she perform at its world premiere in June at Vienna Festival (Austria) 2024.
A recipient of the prestigious Brett Goldin bursary, Buhle expanded her knowledge and acting ability of Shakespeare during her residency at the Royal Shakespeare Company (Stratford upon Avon). Following the residency, Buhle has appeared on several Shakespearen stages; she also developed Shakespeare Grounded, a radical workshop program and approach to accessing Shakespeare's stories and their meaning in institutions. Buhle started her own business in 2016 and has used the company as a means to accrue value for her work through; producing, writing, as well as performing. The company continues to produce her internationally acclaimed books as well as theatre productions. She played Jodie in Mirror Mirror (directed by Asanda Sandulela) which premiered at Toronto Film Festival 2022, showed at Berlinale Generation film festival and was awarded Best Short Film at the 2023 Durban International Film Festival.
She wrote her first play Swan Song during her time at Stratford and since its premiere, Ngaba has won two South African Kanna Theatre awards including “Best Upcoming Artist”. The production has also received rave reviews and boasts sold out seasons at Suidooster Kunstefees (South Africa,2021), Wiener Festwochen (Vienna,2022) and Basel Theater Festival (Switzerland,2022). In 2018, Buhle was nominated for a Fleur Du Cap Theatre Award for “Best Leading Actress” for her performance in What Remains ; a theatre production by acclaimed writer Nadia Davids and multi-award winning director, Jay Pather.
As a published author (The Girl Without A Sound, The New Girl Code) , Buhle seeks to promote diversity in children's literature and to develop the legacy of storytelling amongst the youth. The Girl Without A Sound and Swan Song were both written and produced by her company Maru Factory(Pty)Ltd. Maru Factory was formed to give expression to Ngabas dream of being a renowned global producer of entertainment content .
In 2022 Ngaba completed a Prohelvetia Swiss studio residency in Basel culminating in the first iteration of her latest play (to premiere in 2024). As a digital curatorial artist in residence at the Centre for Humanities Research (UWC) she recently completed writing the puppetry theatre production on the life and times of Charlotte Maxeke the first black woman to graduate with a university degree in South Africa with a B.sC from Wilberforce University Ohio in 1903.
In 2023, she curated the Triggers from the Future; 76’ - Present exhibition in collaboration with Babalwa Solwandle (UWC, Mayibuye Archives) and Robben Island Mayibuye Archives (Cape Town, South Africa).
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Denise Bolduc is an established creator, director and producer who programs to transform perspectives and activate change. Her career represents countless contributions and connections with numerous artists, thinkers and institutions nationally and internationally. For over three decades, she has led and curated small to large-scale multi-disciplinary arts events and festivals. Most recent & key activities include as writer & director of the film Zaagidiwin, as co-editor and contributing writer of the award-winning book, Indigenous Toronto: Stories That Carry This Place, and as lead curator of The UNcommon Wealth and Build on Genocide. She has received several awards, is a member of a number of boards and committees, is a mentor, instructor, host, facilitator, witness and advisor.
Denise is Anishinaabe and French, born and raised in the Lake Superior-Robinson Huron Treaty Territory, and is a member of the Batchewana First Nation with familial ties in Garden River First Nation.
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Originally from Ottawa, of mixed settler and Anishinabe decent. A member of the sketch troupe Tonto's Nephews, former Artistic Associate at Native Earth Performing Arts. Toured Darrell Dennis’ Tales of an Urban Indian across Canada and Australia.
Theatre credits: Bad Roads (Crow’s Theatre) Little Red Warrior & his Lawyer (N.A.C), The Darkest Dark (Y.P.T), Detroit (The Coal Mine), Where the Blood Mixes (Soulpepper), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stratford), The Drawer Boy (Theatre Passe Muraille), Thunderstick (Persephone Theatre), King Lear (N.A.C), Trudeau & Levesque (VideoCaberet).
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Matthew MacKenzie is a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta and proud father of Ivan (Eevan, Vanya, Vanichka). Artistic Director of Punctuate! Theatre, Matthew is also the founder and an Artistic Associate with Pyretic Productions, a founding member of the Pemmican Collective, as well as Canadian Liaison of the Liberian Dance Troupe. Matt’s plays include First Métis Man of Odesa, Bears, After the Fire and The Particulars.
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Taanishi kiyawâw. Danielle LaRose dishinikashoon. Ni wahkômâkanak michif de nipaapaa, au nom de Daze, Nadeau, Marchand, Bouvette i LaRose, Pembina (Red River Valley) d’ooshchiw. My matrilineal Mennonite family, names Abrams and Kehler, also trace our settler roots back to the Red River Valley. Aen koonteur niya, okitohcîkew niya. I am a guest on Treaty Six territory and a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. I currently live in Amiskwâcîswakahikan and I have had the privilege of working as a playwright, performer, director, composer, and storyteller across Turtle Island and the UK. "The Poisoner's Daughter" will delve into my family history using elements of Michif language, Métis folklore, and traditional Métis music. With this piece, I hope to share the story of my great-great-grandmother, Hélène LaRose nee Bouvette, in the spirit of kwayaskâstâsowin- setting things right.
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Paula González Seguel (1983, Santiago de Chile) is an Artist, Director, playwright, academic, documentary filmmaker, musician and cultural manager. She is a graduate of the Performing Arts program at Mayor University (2009), specialized in Theatre Direction at La Memoria Theatre Research Center (2010), and has a master in Documentary Film from the University of Chile (2022). Paula is the Founder and Artistic Director of KIMVN Theatre Company (2008-2023). Since 2017 she has collaborated in Art and Social Sciences, with the Center for Intercultural and Indigenous Studies CIIR, at the Catholic University of Chile.
Paula has directed Documentary theatre works; “Ñi Pu Tremen - My Ancestors” (Santiago, Chile, 2008), “Descuajado Territory. Testimony of a mixed country” (Santiago, Chile, 2011) “Galvarino” (Santiago, Chile, 2022), “ÑUKE. An intimate look of the Mapuche resistance” (Santiago, Chile, 2016), “ÑIAMI TAÑI PIXAN - her soul disappeared” (Mérida, México, 2017), the theatrical concert "UL KIMVN. Wisdom singing" (Santiago, Chile, 2018), “TREWA. State - Nation or the specter of Betrayal” (Santiago, Chile, 2019), “La Mémoire Bafouée” (Festival Sens Interdits, France, 2021), “IXOFIJ MONGEN. All Lives Without Exception” (Teatro A Mil International Festival, Chile, 2022), “Ancestral Future” (TEPI Festival, São Paulo-Sesc, 2023), “La Lègion Imaginaire” (Royal Conservatory of Liège, Belgium, 2023), among others.
Her research and creation work in performing arts, around the documentary genre, addresses themes related to memory, native people, political violence and human rights, and has been recognized in Chile, France, Brazil, South Korea, Argentina, Australia, Cuba and Mexico, among other territories. She has also been part of important festivals with her creations and pedagogical activities: “Santiago a Mil International Theatre Festival”; “Les Translatines” Bayonne, France; “Sens Interdits” Lyon, France; “FIT & SESC International Theatre Festival”, São Paulo, Brazil; “Seoul Marginal Theatre Festival” Seoul, South Korea; “IX Latin American Group Theatre Show” Cooperativa Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil; “Eighth La Rendija Theatre Festival” Mérida-Yucatán, México; “IV Meeting of Young Thought and Creation in the Americas” Havana, Cuba; “Wilberto Cantón Performing Arts Festival” Peón Contreras Municipal Theatre, Mérida-Yucatán; México, “MITSp”, Sao Paulo, Brazil; “ESCÉNICA”, Mexico City; “COMING SOON”, KVS- Belgium; “WARM UP ” Montpellier, France; and “Rimes” TNP International Stage Direction Meeting, Lyon, France; “International Book Fair” of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In 2018, she published the book “Dramaturgies of the Resistance. KIMVN Teatro Marry Xipantv”, and in 2022 she premiered her first documentary film: “ÑI PU TREMEN. The film”, being part of the Indigenous Film + Video Showcase, “Sens Interdits Festival”, “Arica Nativa Film Festival” and “Fic Wallmapu”.
Punctuate! Theatre is thrilled to once again partner with the Pemmican Collective for the 2025/2026 Creators’ Cohort- Turtle Island’s largest collective of Indigenous playwrights.
We are honoured to support these Indigenous playwrights and their work!.
Thank you to our Funders
