BETHANY ELLIS

Once upon a time, before Covid, Bethany wrote and directed ‘Story Theatre' plays for young actors as an artist-in-residence, and told stories to school children throughout Alberta. Now most of her stories are told as part of a 'Storytelling Alberta' initiative to connect digitally with isolated seniors. Being able to connect with storytellers throughout Canada has been a great relief during these interesting times.

GRACE SMITH

Grace Smith is a Canadian Comedy Award-nominated comedian, writer and performer; she's a graduate of the Second City Conservatory program and has studied theatre at Dalhousie University and University of Toronto. She co-wrote and co-produced the Toronto Fringe smash hit Generally Hospital in 2018, and toured her self-written solo show (Slow Dancing With Mediocre Boys) to four cities in 2019, including sold-out shows in Sault Ste Marie and Kelowna. You can catch her weekly on her YouTube channel, Things with Cats.

SAGE TYRTLE

​Sage Tyrtle is a professional storyteller who tells stories all over the world, most recently in India. Her stories have been featured on NPR and CBC radio and she is a Moth StorySLAM winner who has also appeared on the PBS tv show Stories From The Stage. She teaches The Art of Storytelling in schools, to individuals, and in corporate settings.

RONIT RUBINSTEIN

Ronit Rubinstein is a playwright based in Toronto. She's performed stories at The Spoke, Confabulation/Replay storytelling, and Fireside Tales, and hopes her life will always be just weird enough to justify telling strangers about it."

DAVE HEMSTEAD

Dave Hemstead is a 17 year veteran of the Canadian Comedy scene and a ‘triple-threat” as a stand-up writer and actor.  He is a regual or CBC’s The Debators” and has taped multiple galas for Just For Laughs and the Halifax and Winnipeg Comedy Festivals.  On top of that he is an Academic All-American Golfer and will be playing in a club tournament the afternoon before appearing on BTAS.

YAEL SCHY

Yael Schy is a dynamic theater and dance instructor, improviser, storyteller, singer/songwriter, and stand-up comedian known for her creative approach to learning and performance. Yael has been performing and teaching theater and dance for almost 50 years. She is the director of All That Jazz, a Bay Area musical improv troupe, and a founding member of the Applied Improvisation Network, an international association of business professionals and academics who use improv tools, experience, and theory for human development, training, and coaching in communities and organizations. In her spare time, Yael writes original jazz and blues songs!

JIM SANDS

Jim Sands is an East Vancouver based storyteller, actor, songwriter, musician and occasional clown who has performed both as a solo artist and with a variety of musical groups. He has appeared in 15 fringe theatre festivals across Canada.

CHRISTEL BARTELSE

Christel Bartelse is an actor, writer, producer, clown, teacher and comedian, known for her five solo shows which have toured across Canada, the US and twice to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  She is the creator of the Podcast all KIDding and cohost/coproducer of Chris and Christel’s Collection at the Peacock Pub. She’s terrible at updating her website but check her out at christelbartelse.com

BRIANE NASIMOK

Briane Nasimok is a Gemini-nominated writer, comedian, producer and the creator/performer of Fringe favourite, “Confessions of an Operatic Mute”. A current member of the Storytelling Toronto Board, his television credits range from YTV’s “Uh Oh” to MTV’s “Test Pattern”.  Briane had a previous career as a Canadian film star, which is why most people don’t know him.   He also has a website – brianenasimok.com.