WILLOW HAYES Co-Artistic Producer
Willow Hayes (they/them) is a queer and trans settler of Irish, Welsh, and British ancestry. Willow was born and raised on the stolen territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples (the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations) and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, and currently lives in sxʷeŋ’xʷəŋ taŋ’exw (James Bay). They are a producer, performer, stage manager, and administrator with a passion for baking tasty treats to share with loved ones. While it has taken some time (and many bribes), they have successfully befriended the local crows, and cherish long strolls through the neighborhood with their dog Mija.
Willow initially fell in love with the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival as a performer in shows such as Pericles (2018) and Julius Caesar (2019), and recently returned to stage manage All’s Well That Ends Well (2023) As one of the three Co-Artistic Producers, they hope to push the Festival forward by challenging preconceptions about how Shakespeare should be done, and facilitating as many opportunities for under-represented and inexperienced artists to learn and hone their craft as possible.
MADDY HOOSON-KIRSTEIN Co-Artistic Producer
Maddy Kirstein (any/all) is a queer settler based on lək̓ʷəŋən territories (also known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations) and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples’ unceded and stolen land. As a self-proclaimed artistic goof of all trades specializing in community-centered stage management and immersive storytelling, they wish to create spaces that give artists the strength and support to share their art. When they’re not working on their next crazy experimental project, they spend most mornings hiking as a canine pack leader, and their evenings turning leftovers into new funky meals.
In 2018, they created the Alectoria School of Magic, an immersive live-action roleplaying camp that built a safe space and unleashed creativity in youth all across Vancouver Island. The camp focused on teaching youth that believing in magic frees your voice in carefree and unexpected ways.
Their theatre credits involve assistant stage managing GVSF’s 2023 All’s Well That Ends Well, working as the resident stage manager for iuvenis Production’s 2023 season, and stage managing Collectivus Theatre’s “Summer Bucket List”.
They are most excited to help support the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival by facilitating theater spaces that grow radical community and bloom vibrant self expression.