• Do you want to expand your artistic practice in theatre?
• Would you like to develop new theatre-making skills?
• Do you believe in the power and usefulness of lifelong training? 

Cameron Fraser-Monroe

“The National Theatre School has created a supportive space for me to explore my curiosity and expand my skills in storytelling and theatre-making while respecting my experiences as an artist. Access to the technical coursework, coupled with the freedom to program one-on-one mentorships, all guided by a dedicated advocate, means that my practice has expanded rapidly during my time here.“

Cameron Fraser-Monroe (he/him) is a member of the Tla’amin First Nation. At three years old, he started Ukrainian dancing in Vernon, BC. He was privileged to receive several years of training and performance with World Champion Hoop Dancer Dallas Arcand and studied Grass Dance with Elder Mollie Bono.

Since graduating from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School on the RWB Alumni Scholarship, he has performed with many companies, including Dancers of Damelahamid at Kia Mau Festival in New Zealand and the International Cervantino Festival, at Jacob’s Pillow Festival, with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet at the National Arts Centre, and with the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada.

Barry Bilinsky

Barry Bilinsky (Indigenous Artist in Residence, 2024) is a professional multi-disciplinary theatre creator of Metis, Cree and Ukrainian heritage. Based in Alberta, he has worked as a director, curator, performing artist, stage manager, and technical production manager across Canada with projects centred primarily around the proliferation of Indigenous arts, artists and collaborations. Barry is committed to developing honest, respectful, and purposefully compassion creations that challenge the overarching cultural assumptions present in the performing arts community.

Darla Contois

Darla Contois (Indigenous Artist in Residence, 2023) is a Cree-Salteaux performer and playwright. She graduated from the Centre for Indigenous Theatre’s professional training program in 2014, attended David Smukler’s National Voice Intensive and premiered her solo show White Man’s Indian at Summerworks 2017 in Toronto where she was awarded the Emerging Artist Award. Her most recent work produced by Winnipeg’s Prairie Theatre Exchange The War Being Waged, has been acknowledged by Toronto Critic Lynn Slotkin with a Tootsie award.

Sylvia Cloutier

Sylvia Cloutier (Indigenous Artist in Residence, 2020) is from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik (Northern Quebec) a mother, performing artist, producer, director, well known for performing Inuit throat singing and drum dancing. She has collaborated with many artists all over the world including Think of One from Belgium; Tafelmusik, a Toronto based baroque orchestra; Montréal based DJ Geronimo Inutiq and the National Symphony Orchestra when visited Iqaluit in 2012.

“It’s really important when Indigenous artists are here at the School. When we show our presence through art, it connects us as human beings. And I think that’s the whole point.”

Sylvia’s residency was supported by the Cole Foundation

Jimmy Blais

Jimmy (Indigenous Artist in Residence, 2019) is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.

Born and raised in Montreal, Jimmy graduated from Concordia’s Theatre Performance Program. He has worked professionally for over 10 years, for companies like The Stratford Festival, The Centaur, Geordie Productions, Porte Parole and La Licorne. Jimmy is the co-founder of the META nominated theatre company PlayShed. Jimmy also played the role of Watio on APTN’s hit series Mohawk Girls. He is an acting teacher, director, mentor and coach. He is the host of a new travelling documentary television series called Chasing The Midnight Sun. Jimmy focused on playwriting and creation during his Indigenous Artist Residency at The National Theatre School of Canada in 2018 and 2019.

Out of all this, his favorite gig is being a dad to his daughter Indigo.

Rebecca Cuddy

Métis/Canadian, Mezzo-Soprano Rebecca Cuddy (Indigenous Artist in Residence, 2022) is a fast up and comer on Canadian operatic stages. She has been twice nominated at the Dora Awards alongside her colleagues for exceptional ensemble work, ultimately taking home the win for Soundstreams’ Two Odysseys; Pimootewin and Gállábártnit. Her recent career highlights include singing La Métisse, in the world premiere of Riel; Heart of the North with Regina Symphony Orchestra, Kwe in the world premiere of Shanawdithit with Tapestry Opera/Opera on the Avalon, Mercedes (Cover Carmen) in Carmen, and Dreitte Dame in Die Zauberflöte.

Rebecca has a keen interest in Indigenous relations and music, along with contemporary composition. She is immensely proud to be a collaborator on multiple productions and part of 6 new Indigenous Opera productions in the past 3 years.

Rebecca completed her MA in Voice and Opera at The Royal Academy of Music, London U.K. 2017, and her BMus in Voice Performance at Western University, 2015. She currently studies voice with her incredible teacher Claudiu Stoia. She is excited to continue exploring her love of the performing arts as the Indigenous Artist in Residence at the National Theatre School of Canada this fall, following in the footsteps of so many talented Indigenous artists.

Rebecca’s residency is supported by the Cole Foundation

Jimmy Blais (Cree, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, SK) and Sylvia Cloutier (Inuit, Kuujjuaq, Nunavik) share their experience as Indigenous Artists in Residence at the National Theatre School of Canada.

“This residency has been a wonderful accelerator for my artistic ambitions. Having the time and support to dig deeper into my own practice has given me the space to articulate what I truly want my creative endeavours to achieve. The faculty and students are passionate about their respective programs, which is invigorating, and the welcoming atmosphere has allowed me to develop several major creative projects. I’ve already found practical applications in the writing I’ve done with youth in Alberta and Kahnawake. I’ve also had the chance to make important connections with Eastern Canadian theatre artists, Montreal-based companies, and peers from across the country. Anyone wishing to take some time to hone their craft with support and encouragement could benefit from this time at NTS.”

– Barry Bilinsky, Indigenous Artist in Residence, 2024

”Theatre and dance and music have always been in Indigenous communities. So to be able to get the skills and to be able to do it, using contemporary language, is really important, and to share with all the cultures what we are coming from, and to see the potential of the stories, all stories, our stories.”

– Carlos Rivera Martìnez, Indigenous Artist in Residence, 2018, Mexico, of Nahua and Mixteco descent, supported by Cole Foundation

”As an Indigenous artist-in-residence at NTS, I am learning a lot about myself. I have time to reflect on my art, my work, how I approach things, but I am really actually just learning my own voice. And to be able to give myself the time to do what is really valuable. There is a tremendous amount of resources that are here, whether in the form of a space, teachers or mentors, or other students offering their opinions and views on things.”

– Jimmy Blais, Indigenous Artist in Residency, 2019, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, supported by Conseil des arts de Montréal

”I really enjoyed developing as a performer. I never saw myself as an actor in any way, although I knew I am a performer. I love exploring myself as a singer, and taking part in the choir with the first- and second-years actors. I really enjoyed taking classes with the playwrights and the directors. Every day was different, every week was different, I really enjoyed trying new things, and reminding myself that I allow myself to see who I am as an artist.”

– Sylvia Cloutier, Indigenous Artist in Residence, 2020, Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, Inuq, supported by Cole Foundation