THE BIRDS

Director/Dramaturg

Christine Lesiak is an Edmonton-based theatre artist, and founder of Small Matters Productions. She is creator/co-creator/performer of all of Small Matters’ shows; the award-winning The Spinsters (2023-25), For Science! (2018-25), Over Her Dead Body (2017), and three red-nosed clown shows; Fools for Love (2012), Sofa So Good (2010) and Why Do Fools Fall in Love? (2008). She is writer and performer of her one-woman shows, The Object of Constellations (2016), and Ask Aggie (2013). She is the winner of the 2018 Alberta Playwright’s Network Playwriting Competition Novitiate Prize for her script, The Space Between Stars, which premiered March 2023.

Christine has created and performed and directed countless short clown works. She facilitated & produced The Small Matters Physical Comedy Lab. She curated and co-produced the Fool’s Gold Cabaret nights (2010-12), a performance series that provided a mentorship program for emerging theatre clown performers. She was the festival director in charge of programming and mentorship for Play the Fool from 2016-24, Edmonton’s festival of clown theatre and physical comedy, and is currently their Rookie Cabaret Program and Mentorship program director.

Christine has been the director and dramaturge of dozens of clown-theatre and physical storytelling works, including Lee Boyes’ Big Business (Edmonton Fringe 2023/24), Rebecca Merkley’s Jesus Teaches Us Things (Edmonton Fringe 2022/23), Jacqueline Russell’s Allergic To Water (Wee Witches and Inside Out Theatre, 2023), and The Oddball Cabaret (Edmonton Fringe 2024).

Christine holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Drama from the University of Alberta where she researched the intersection of clown performance technique with site-specific theatre. She has trained extensively in the Canadian/Pochinko style of clown with Jan Henderson (Fool Moon Productions) and Michael Kennard (Mump and Smoot). She has studied with comedy and physical theatre specialists from around the world, including Aitor Basauri (Spymonkey); Deanna Fleysher (Butt Kapinski); bouffon with Adam Lazarus, Eric Davis (Red Bastard); improvisation (Rapid Fire Theatre, Keith Johnstone); immersive theatre (punchdrunk, UK); and puppetry (The Old Trout Puppet Workshop). She has taught within the Drama Department at the University of Alberta, Opera Nuova, Edmonton Digital Arts College, in public schools, and Small Matters’ classes and workshops . She has worked extensively with Toy Guns Dance Theatre, and is a frequent collaborator with Catch the Keys Productions (Dead Centre of Town, 900 Seconds, The Runcible Riddle). Check out her personal professional page.