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About

Cassie Holmes (she/her) is a theatre artist, designer, scenographer and collaborator based in Mohkinstsis (Calgary). Her work spans all areas of design but she primarily works as a set and lighting designer.

As a set designer, Cassie specifically focuses on the intention of the work, drawing from other artists, cultures and traditions to bring a show to life. Cassie is passionate about pushing the envelope and creating sculptural worlds that speak to the world of the play. Her designs are bold, bright and something new.

As a lighting designer, Cassie begins every process by working from the actors skin tones. Her MFA thesis focused on lighting diverse skin tones, her research is one of a handful of papers on the topic (you can read her work here). This exploration has been transformational to her practice, shaping the world of the play around the actors themselves. She harnesses this research to create a colourful onstage world that makes everyone shine. Cassie has a passion for bold, colourful designs that compliment the set, costume, sound, actors and direction.

Beyond her primary disciplines Cassie is a passionate advocate for the queer, racialized and disabled communities. She strives to bridge the worlds of advocacy and art in everything she does. Every artist despite who they are, deserves to be seen and heard on stage and Cassie works to advocate for everyone in all spaces.

Cassie’s work in accessibility has taken may forms, working as an Accessibility Coordinator, Accessibility Consultant, Technical Translator, Public Speaker, and Audio Describer. Cassie has worked in these capacities for National accessArts Center, Inside Out Theatre, Festival of Animated Objects, Calgary Animated Objects Society and the University of Calgary. She has traveled to Seoul, South Korea as an accessibility support where she was able to connect with and see the work of international disabled artists. Cassie’s work at the National accessArts Center in the role of Technical Translator, is a unique, non-traditional role where she listens to the artists perspective and translates it into the world and design of the show. She has an innate ability to communicate with people, despite their level of communication, to make their thoughts and views visible.

Being a queer artist her work inherently showcases the queer community. Her designs for shows often have a queer lens that she perceives the world through. You can see that queer perspective in her designs of With Bells On, Buy Me a Drink, Joe and Kisapmata. Her work on With Bells On specifically incorporated local drag artists into the design, this effort included 45 different local drag artists. Cassie was on the podcast “Queer in Alberta” where she discussed her queer identity and how she experiences the world through that lens. You may have also seen her perform in drag locally as Struggle Bussy (he/him).

Beyond theatre Cassie is also a visual artists. She is passionate about showcasing her lived experience as a queer, disabled woman through her art. Cassie has brought this visual art to her work as a costume designer, painting clothing and shoes to help bring her vision to life. She also has experience painting murals and large scale artworks.

Cassie believes that art is a way of life, she brings all of herself to every project. She hopes to keep advocating and working to have an inclusive, more equitable theatre scene, that creates space for everyone.