Maja Ardal, core member; director, playwright, actor

Currently Maja is Interim Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre (Canada's National Women's Theatre), and will direct Nightwood's production of Age of Arousal by Linda Griffiths at Factory Theatre, opening November 23, 2007.

Maja is the recipient of the 2002 George Luscombe Award for Mentorship in the Theatre.

Maja is the writer and performer of You Fancy Yourself.

Maja is the former Artistic Director of Young People's Theatre (now Lorraine Kimsa Theatre). She began her career as an actor in the acclaimed Toronto Workshop Productions, under the inspired guidance of the late George Luscombe, whom she regards as her theatre mentor.

An Iceland-born Canadian, Maja was schooled in Scotland. She returned to Iceland in 2001 to direct her play Midnight Sun, which was also co-produced by Tarragon Theatre, Toronto, and the National Arts Centre, Ottawa, as well as Gloucester Theatre Massachusetts.

Maja also wrote the book for the musical JOY, (music by Joey Miller), produced by Workman Theatre, Toronto, 2002. She is presently completing her play EXPOSURE, to be produced by Contrary Company.

Maja has directed at The Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake; The Grand Theatre, London; Alberta Theatre Projects; and The Great Canadian Theatre Company, among others. Her production of Whale at YPT received the Dora Award for Outstanding Production, and later toured to Washington DC.

Maja's recent appearances as an actor were in KILT, by Jonathan Wilson, at Tarragon Theatre, (Nominated for Dora Award for outstanding performance) and JOAN at The Caravan Farm Theatre. In the 2004 season Maja directed Stones in His Pockets, by Marie Jones, at Alberta Theatre Projects, Calgary, (Betty Award nomination for outstanding direction) and The Foursome at The Grand Theatre, London, ON. In March, 2006, she directed Stones in His Pockets at The Grand Theatre, and Brecht and Weil's Threepenny Opera at Humber College. Maja teaches playwriting, the Laban Approach to Shakespeare, and "acting for the empty space". She has taught at the University of Toronto, The National Theatre School, Humber College, Fanshawe College, Tarragon Theatre, and she continues to offer various workshops for youth and teachers.

Mary Francis Moore, core member; actor-director, dramaturg, playwright

Mary is currently in development with her play Bittergirl: The Musical (with fellow bittergirls Alison Lawrence and Annabel Griffiths). She has recently directed Mom's the Word at Magnus Theatre and will continue to work on Mom's at various theatres over the next several months.

Mary has worked at such theatres as Tarragon, Factory, Theatre Passe Muraille, Nightwood, Buddies In Bad Times and Can Stage. Favourite credits include Dora nominated Russell Hill (Tarragon), One Good Marriage (Theatre Passe Muraille and Summerworks), Top Gun! The Musical (Factory and Toronto Fringe), and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Mary Francis spent several seasons as Associate Director at Magnus Theatre. Along with Annabel Griffiths and Alison Lawrence, Mary Francis co-wrote and co-starred in the much produced hit bittergirl which has played to sold out runs in Toronto and toured to London's West End and New York. Her book Bittergirl: Getting Over Getting Dumped is published in both Canada and the United States by Penguin.

Mary Francis has been featured on such programs as NBC's The Today Show, Sounds Like Canada, The Women's Network, E!Talk Daily, Off The Record, CTV's Canadian Success Stories and more.

Julia Tribe, core member; set and costume designer

Julie Tribe is the designer of the 2007 Canadian Stage Dream in High Park.

As a Theatrical Set and Costume Designer of over twenty years, Julia Tribe has designed extensively for Theatre, Opera and Dance.

She has received recognition in major companies across Canada and in the Toronto Theatre community, with the following companies showcasing some of her most innovative work: Mirvish Productions, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, Factory Theatre, Tapestry New Opera Works, and Canadian Children's Opera Chorus.

Julia Tribe has been most fortunate to design for a wide range of culturally diverse plays and is finding the world of theatre totally exciting. Her work has delved into African, Korean, Japanese, Inuit, First Nations, Aboriginal, and Caribbean Culture and is some of her most exciting work to date.

As a theatre artist under continual growth she actively explores new play development and the role of design as a crucial part of the fundamental play development practice. Her work with Contrary Theatre Company embraces this exploration.

Kim Blackwell - director

Kim has been a theatre practitioner for 31 years. She has been directing professionally for 16 years. 2008 marks her 14th season with 4th Line Theatre near Millbrook, Ontario. Kim has directed 23 productions and 12 development workshops for new Canadian plays throughout her professional career. Selected 4th Line credits include: artistic associate since 2001; directing: Schoolhouse, The Art of Silent Killing, That Summer, Crow Hill, The Cavan Blazers, Attrition, Gimme That Primetime Religion; directing development workshops of Attrition, Cavan Casanova, The Art of Silent Killing, The Right Road to Pontypool and Welcome Death; stage managing The Cavan Blazers, Crow Hill, 1837: The Farmer's Revolt, Moodie Traill, The Farm Show, Stone Angel, Winslows of Derryvore, The Orchard.

Other favourite directing credits include: Freedom 85 (Toronto Fringe, 2008) Getting Lucky (Rhubarb!, 2005), Unlucky (Summerworks, 2003), The Ugly Man, Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), Poor Super Man, Unidentified Human Remains…, House, The Lover, Killer's Head, Seduced (Black Well Theatre), Once A Flame, Fire in the Stable, The Shadow of Genius (Heritage Pavilion).

Kim is also the creator and performer of the movement-based poem Kim Blackwell Starring as Keanu Reeves in The Matrix.

Kim runs her own communications company - Blackwell Communications - based in Toronto; her clients include Nightwood Theatre, Dancemakers, Tapestry New Opera Works, Theatre Direct, Stage Centre Productions, Contrary Company, and Birdland Theatre.