JAN ALEXANDRA SMITH

DIRECTOR | MOVEMENT DIRECTOR

RESUME

BIO:

Jan Alexandra Smith is an award-nominated director whose work spans the full range of Canadian theatre — from mysteries to musicals, classical to contemporary. She has built a distinguished record of return engagements with the country's most established companies, including the Shaw Festival, Theatre Calgary, Vertigo Theatre, The Citadel, The Royal Alexandra, Charlottetown Festival, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Here For Now Theatre, and The Grand.

A graduate of the University of Alberta, Jan brings remarkable versatility to every project — as a director, actor, movement director, and dramaturg — integrating strong physical skills with vocal and emotional range to create work that is kinetically alive. At the heart of her practice is a lifelong respect for narrative embodiment, deepened through ongoing study of physical theatre, movement dramaturgy, and devising, including six months at Accademia Teatro Dimitri in Ticino, Switzerland.

Jan is also deeply committed to mentoring youth and young adults, including many facing economic and cultural barriers — and voices several beloved characters in BioWare's Mass Effect and Dragon Age.