MADDY HOOSON-KIRSTEIN 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.
SJ VALIQUETTE General Manager
SJ Valiquette (they/she) is an actor-combatant, photographer, and poet from Treaty 7 Territory. They’ve studied with RC-Annie/the British Academy of Dramatic Combat, Banff Centre for the Arts, Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Inc., Guildhall School of Music and Drama, The Honeybee Centre, and the University of Victoria.
SJ has worked with GVSF on and off since 2016 in such capacities as assistant director, intimacy director, fight director, actor, educator, weapon builder, and Covid safety officer. Previous credits include Twelfth Night, A Winter’s Tale, Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Cymbeline, Much Ado About Nothing, and Romeo & Juliet.
When not at the festival SJ feeds horses, keeps bees, narrates queer YA audiobooks, and is doing their masters in Counselling Psychology.
CIARÁN VOLKE Consultant
Ciarán Volke (he/they) is a performing artist, director, writer, and producer based in unceded Lək̓ʷəŋən Territory. He is the co-founder of the award-winning comedy duo COWBOY, and the co-founder of the Three Cheese Institute, a theatre company based in Calgary.
Ciarán is the recipient of the 2021 OUTStages Residency in 2021, where he began creation on his solo-musical Saturn Return. He also participated in Downstage Theatre's StageIt Producing Mentorship in 2022, and Impulse Theatre's Admin Cohort in 2024. He has toured across much of Western Canada, and is excited to go beyond Manitoba… eventually.
Ciarán has worked with the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival in a multitude of capacities, including performer, volunteer, and most recently as a staff member. He is beyond grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting this festival, and to bring it forward into a new radical future.
His favourite Shakespeare play is King Lear, which he would love to play literally any character in (it's that good).
KARIN SAARI Director
Karin is a Quw’utsun (Cowichan Valley) based theatre director. They began their theatre career as an actor and have worked and studied in Vancouver, London, New York, Toronto, St. John’s, Victoria, Edinburgh, and Edmonton. Karin is committed to building creative spaces that prioritize safety, equity and transparency; believing that provocative and empowering art can be achieved through generosity, collaboration, and kindness.
Karin is incredibly grateful to be working with GVSF again and thankful to have been given so much creative freedom and support.
R. Davey Stage Manager
Davey (she/they) is a Canadian stage manager, livestream artist, and writer from North Vancouver - locatedon the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Victoria. Recent backstage credits include: Maanomaa, My Brother and Belfry 101 Live! (Belfry Theatre), Origins of the Coast (Alectioria Productions), Romeo and Juliet (GVSF), and Twelfth Night (Phoenix Theatre).
Davey strives to bring curiosity and creativity to all aspects of her work and life. When not at the theatre, you can find them learning new skills, pouring latte art, and exploring the natural world around them. She is delighted to be working on A Midsummer Night’s Dream with GVSF during their 2026 season!