
2023 Teaching Artist Bios
KENDRA BIDWELL
Kendra [she/her] is an actor, dancer, singer and musician from Victoria, BC. After graduating from Company C at the Canadian College of Performing Arts she has had the privilege to stage manage, portray Disney princesses with Enchanted Fables, tour with Jubilations Dinner Theatre in Buddy Holly’s Happy Days, and perform shows with Theatre SKAM aboard the pop-up truck. Kendra’s teaching journey began in high school where she assisted musical theatre classes, continuing on to teach at the McTavish Academy of Art, and now with Theatre SKAM. She hopes to share her passion for performing with everyone!
Kendra can be contacted at kendra@skam.ca
DIANA BUDIACHENKO
Recently arrived from Ukraine, Diana holds a Master of Performing Arts degree and directed five theatre productions as part of her graduate work in Kyiv. With two degrees in international relations, Diana has directed events in Romania and Odessa, Russia, and taught English in China using drama techniques for three years. An experienced art director, producer, and stage director who has also represented Ukraine in international pageant competitions, Diana is excited to share her love for folktales and theatre with the students of SKAM in her own adaptation of a beloved Ukrainian fairytale, Mavka and the Forest Song.
CORINA FISHER
Corina [she/they] is an multidisciplinary creator and educator based in unceded Coast Salish Territories. A graduate of UVIC (BFA theatre 2021), they currently work as a forest education mentor. Recent theatrical projects have include producing to be them/to be us at SKAMpede festival 2022, set design for Untitled Theatric’s The Crime on Goat Island, costume design for The Rocky Horror Show (Victoria Operatic Society 2022) Molecular Landscapes (Impulse Theatre 2021) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Green World Theatre co 2021).
CHELSEA MACEWAN
Chelsea [she/her] is a local theatre artist from Sidney, BC. She graduated from The Canadian College of Performing Arts’ Company C program in 2020. It was at CCPA where she found her own artistic voice, which led her to write and direct award-winning mini-musical “BRUNCH: The Musical”. She has worked across BC, most notably in Kelowna and the Kootenays. Chelsea has taught theatre camps as well as classes for SKAM and currently teaches dance at Elevate Dance Centre. She is passionate about giving students a creative outlet and igniting a love of theatre in students of all ages!
Chelsea can be contacted at chelsea@skam.ca
Matthew Payne
Matthew Payne is a founding member of Victoria’s Theatre SKAM and served as the innovative company’s Artistic and Managing Producer until 2023. He has played numerous roles in SKAM’s 29-year history, including Louis in Louis and Dave, and Hamlet, Macbeth, and others in The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) and has created dozens of original plays. Previous teaching experience includes: SKAM School, Kaleidoscope Theatre, and working in elementary schools with artsREACH, whose mission is to send arts professionals into
elementary schools for 90-minute classes to teach their craft.
Matthew can be contacted at matthew@skam.ca