Welcome! If you’ve been wanting to get to know our team better, you’ve come to the right place.
We are a group of art-loving folks who are passionate about creating space for emerging artists in Edmonton/amiskwacîwâskahikan (ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ), Canada, and all across the globe. Our team, along with the amazing Theatre Network team, is here to help usher in the next generation of creators, producers, and artistic risk-takers.
Did you know? A majority of us are Nextfest Alumni, meaning that we got our start in the same place that all Nextfesters start, in the spotlight or dancefloor of the Roxy Theatre. Learn more about our journey on our About Us page.
Our Staff
We have a small team of passionate staff members that make Nextfest happen each and every year. If you’ve been to Nextfest before, you might recognize their faces as they practically live in the Roxy during the first week of June every year.
UPDATE COMING SOON…
Ellen Chorley
Festival Director/Theatre Curator
Ellen Chorley (she/her) is Nextfest’s Festival Director and Theatre Curator. Ellen has had many “first times” with Nextfest including her first time in High School Nextfest (in 2001), her first time as a professional playwright (in 2003), her first time roving as a character (in 2007), her first time performing burlesque (in 2010) and her first time curating High School Nextfest (2012-2016). When not being the Festival Director the BEST EDMONTON FESTIVAL THIS SIDE OF SUMMER, Ellen is a playwright, producer, performer, director, and theatre educator.
Ellen teaches acting and playwrighting through the Citadel Theatre and is an Artistic Associate with Northern Light Theatre. Ellen believes that arts education is vital to the development of young people and she is passionate about using the medium of theatre to create community and belonging. Ellen also believes that both ranch and pineapple belong on pizza and that the best book ever written is “Wuthering Heights” (Ellen has 107 copies of the book-weird collection, I know).
You can learn more about Ellen on her website www.ellenchorley.com or shoot her an email at ellen@nextfest.ca
Reanna Pilkington
Outgoing Marketing & Communications Manager/Artist Liason
Reanna (she/they) is the Marketing and Communications Manager and Artist Liason for the Nextfest Arts Company. By day Reanna works in the communications industry in Amiskwaciwâskahikan and at night they immerse themselves in local art in any way they can. Their first experience with Nextfest was back in 2012 when they submitted their first play, Aquilegia, as part of NEXTNextfest (Fun Fact: Ellen was their curator).
They are an introverted Sagittarius that loves Tarot, cross-stitching, cows, poetry, and good espresso. Have questions about the festival, want to get in touch about our communications/marketing, or have a haiku that you’d like to share? Email me at reanna@nextfest.ca.
Jenn Galm
Festival Photographer
Jenn (she/they) is the Nextfest Photographer. Their photography interests include portraiture, cosplay, candid, advertising, event, and theatre photography. She had a honour of capturing experiences of Nextfest with their camera in 2019 and 2021 and is so glad to be back.
In her day-to-day life she is a communications specialist and is currently training to be an intimacy director for theatre and developing unique educational experiences and enrichment opportunities for youth and young adults in theatre. In their spare time, they are a writer, photographer, traveller, ukulele player, theatre geek, volunteer, lifelong student, and avid cosplayer. You can see some of their work on their Instagram @jenngalmphotography (https://www.instagram.com/jenngalmphotography/)
Our Curatorial Team
A small but mighty team, these arts experts choose the art that appears in each year’s festival. They provide mentorship and guidance for our emerging artists every step of the way. If you’ve seen a performance or work that you love at Nextfest, give one huge round of applause for the artist who created it and the curators who make it happen.
Their teamwork makes the dream work.
Jennifer Peebles
High School Curator
Jen (she/her) gets to work with and showcase the inspiring, vibrant, passionate and vocal new works by high school-aged up-and-coming emerging artists from around the city (and further). Every year she is astounded by the art that students bring to this festival. She LOVES seeing these students shine, share their passion, stand proud of their accomplishments and inspire others.
Outside of Nextfest Jennifer is an Artistic Associate for Kompany Family Theatre, a Storytelling Artist for Trickster Theatre and an occasional substitute teacher. She enjoys thinking up artistic lesson plans, playing in the moment and devised creation almost as much as a cold crunchy baby dill pickle. Most days you can find her outside, toddler in tow, looking for the best puddles, the squirmiest worms, the squishiest snow and the smoothest rocks.
