photo: Paul Sharman

MANDATE

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades exists to develop and produce potent and provocative theatre, populating our stages with Canadian works as well as pieces from the international repertoire.

We challenge the boundaries of our humanity by creating a theatre of vitality and immediacy. We embrace boldness and practice simplicity.

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades fosters the ongoing development of its artists by supporting and promoting exploration into new endeavors of our theatre practice.

CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

Alexa Devine (formerly Dubreuil)
A founding company member, Alexa's Vancouver theatre credits include: 4.48 Psychosis, The Darling Family, You Are Here (Jessie Award nomination) (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades), Grace (Pacific Theatre and Jessie Award nomination), The Big League (Carousel Theatre and Jessie Award recipient), The Remittance Man (Sunshine Theatre), Melody, Mon Amour (Brown Bike), Henry VIII and Cymbeline (Bardathon), and The Furies (Oresteia Project). While studying and living in NYC, she performed in: Balm in Gilead (ATC), Museum (ATC), Rose Toibin (WOW), Rockshow (HorseTrade Musical) and her former company's production of Death of Frank (SumOfUs Theatre). Alexa was a series regular on Back to Sherwood (FOX/CBC), featured in Traveling, Aliens in America, Helix and Traveler. She holds degrees from McGill University in her hometown of Montreal and Atlantic Theatre Conservatory in NYC and is also a voice artist.

Sean Devine
One of the company’s founding member’s, Sean’s work for Horseshoes & Hand Grenades includes performing in 4.48 Psychosis and in both productions of You Are Here, as well as directing The Darling Family. A graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada, Sean has performed for Infinitheatre in Montreal and Cairo, Winnipeg’s MTC, as well as New York’s La Mama Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Source. Sean’s work in Vancouver includes productions for Bard on the Beach, Arts Club Theatre, Firehall Arts Centre, Western Canada Theatre, Sunshine Theatre and Rumble Productions, for which he received a Jessie nomination for Best Lead Actor for his work in Recovery. He is also a successful film and television actor, and has appeared in a several dozen projects.

Mindy Parfitt
For the company, Mindy Parfitt has directed Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis and Daniel MacIvor’s You Are Here . In Montreal, where she founded SoulfishingTheatre for whom she directed and acted in several award winning productions, she has worked with companies that include Centaur Theatre, Tornado Theatre and Imago Theatre. While living in Toronto she has worked with Theatre Columbus, Dark Horse Theatre and Tarragon Theatre. Since returning to Vancouver she has worked for Studio 58, Bard on the Beach and The PuSh Festival and Playwrights Theatre Centre. In the fall Mindy will begin her MFA in Directing at UBC as well as direct Daniel Brooks’ Insomnia for Horseshoes & Hand Grenades.

ASSOCIATE ARTISTS

Colleen Wheeler
Robin Richardson

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Bloom
Clea Parfitt
Tara Arnett
Marcus Youssef
David Lawson
Rudy Bootsma