CONTACTLESS
ABOUT US
Founded in 2018, Arrowwood Theatre Co. was established on the foundation of developing and producing original theatre through physically dynamic movement theatre. With a focus on creating new works, Arrowwood Theatre Co. has collaborated with numerous other companies, such as Soulpepper Theatre and Shakespeare in Action, to create thematically challenging theatre experiences. Arrowwood Theatre Co. is committed to creating Queer-led theatre and aims to spotlight stories that uplift unique voices and experiences.
Arrowwood Theatre Co. is an artist led, community focused company devoted to making real change through theatre and live performance. By engaging with the community and hosting a variety of creative partners, Arrowwood Theatre Co. expands the reach of its impact. Dedicated to their goal of bringing young professionals to the forefront of theatre and making space for young artists to thrive, Arrowwood Theatre Co. is committed to hiring and working with Early Career and Emerging Artists.
THE TEAM
SIMONE MATHESON
Artistic Director and Co-Founder
Simone Matheson (all pronouns), is a Queer multi-disciplinary artist, classically
trained actor, experimental theatre creator, and theorist. A graduate of the University of Windsor’s BFA in Acting Program and has served as co-Artistic Director of Arrowwood Theatre since 2018. They have performed and composed for The Toronto Fringe Festival, in collaboration with Soulpepper, Shakespeare in Action, Nightwood Theatre, and Theatre Passe Muraille among others.
Presently, Simone is developing theatrical theory, Theatre of Cringe, through the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s, Playwright’s Resiliency Program. Simone’s work centre themes of loneliness, identity, the internet and digital culture, and queerness as “being […] at odds with everything around it” (Bell Hooks). Overall, depedistalling the notion of “highbrow” art, breaking form and tradition and challenging our present notion of what theatrical experiences are and what they can become.
KIERA PUBLICOVER
Artistic Director and Co-Founder
Kiera Publicover (she/her) is a Queer multidisciplinary artist, theatre creator and actor. She is the co-Artistic Director of Arrowwood Theatre Company and a graduate of the University of Windsor’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting program. Kiera’s creative interests live in exploring themes of family, femininity and the ways in which society performs gender. Her work involves discovering and experimenting with alternative forms of theatre creation, such as physical devising, collective creation, verbatim theatre and more.
Previous: herself in Contactless (Soulpepper/Arrowwood Theatre Co.), herself in Canada's Next Chopped Model Minority (2021 Paprika Festival), #8 in The Wolves (University Players), various in ICARUS (Arrowwood Theatre Co./Toronto Fringe Festival), and more. Currently, Kiera is the Playwright in Residence at House+Body Theatre, working on an original theatre piece, Talking to Dead Cats in the Night, generously funded by the Canada Arts Council.
PREVIOUS COMPANY MEMBERS
Founding Members
Kyra Scarlett, Haiden Lyle, Cullen MacNaughton
Previous Company Associates
Peter Morey, Shae-lynn Applegate, Ashley Sheppard, Sofie Jarvis, Jacqueline Karabatsos, Michelle Blight, Franco Pang