Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Announces Amiel Gladstone as Director of Theatre Arts

Amiel Gladstone Headshot

Amiel Gladstone, Director of Theatre Arts at Banff Centre. Photo by Fabrice Grover.

Banff Centre is excited to welcome Amiel Gladstone as Director of Theatre Arts. Beginning April 12th, Amiel will oversee and guide the many theatre programs that support artists at every career level both on campus, and in their future careers. Amiel is very familiar with Banff Centre, through many fruitful visits as both a playwright and a dramaturge at the Playwrights Lab, a Fleck Fellowship residency, and as stage director for Opera in the 21st Century.

Banff Centre was established in 1933 with a single summer course in drama. Since those early days, artists and technical practitioners alike have found exceptional development opportunities here on the campus in the Canadian Rockies. Banff Centre alumni can be found both nationally and internationally working at dance, music, opera, and theatre companies, and as faculty members at universities and colleges at the most prestigious levels of the arts. Mark Wold is the Dean of Arts and Leadership at Banff Centre and believes Amiel to be a great addition to the Performing Arts team.

“I am thrilled that Amiel has accepted this position, we believe he is perfect for this important role. Amiel brings the qualities of a thoughtful and intentional leader. With his artistic and leadership background, enthusiasm for arts and education, and overall success and vision within the theatre arts fields, Amiel brings the ability to bridge various communities and advance our Theatre Arts programming.” - Mark Wold

Amiel Gladstone is a playwright and director who has worked extensively in new plays and opera produced across Canada and worldwide. He has held Artistic Associate positions, founded theatres, and regularly mentored youth theatre programs at his former home in Vancouver. A long-time board member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada, he has taught at both Langara College and the University of Calgary.

“Banff Centre has always been the most exciting place to travel to and create, throughout my career,” shares Amiel. “I am thrilled to begin the next chapter working with the team to create new programming that will inspire and innovate the artists that come to this special place in the Rocky Mountains. I am eager to take on the challenge of beginning to look at what opera, dance, and theatre can achieve as we begin to gather again.”

Amiel Gladstone Biography
As a playwright and director, Amiel’s productions have been both site-specific in unusual venues and traditional theatres with companies such as Alberta Theatre Projects, Arts Club, Belfry, Caravan Farm, Catalyst Theatre, the Cultch, Factory Theatre, Musical Stage, National Arts Centre, Pacific Opera Victoria, Theatre Replacement, Theatre SKAM, Tarragon Theatre, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre, Vancouver Opera, Vancouver Playhouse, and PuSh Festival. His work has been featured across Canada, and internationally in the United States, France, Romania, and Russia.

His plays have been published by Coachhouse Press, Playwrights Canada Press and Samuel French. He has held Artistic Associate positions at the Caravan Farm and Belfry Theatres. He was a founding member and artistic director of Theatre SKAM and Interim Artistic Director of Touchstone Theatre. He was the leader/dramaturge of the Vancouver Playhouse Youth Playwrights and regularly mentors with the Cultch, Vancouver Asian Theatre and Place des Arts.