Since 2014, we’ve created space for independent theatre in Fort McMurray.
About Theatre; Just Because
Who We Are
Theatre; Just Because (TJB) is a registered non-profit and 100% volunteer-run independent theatre company based in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo.
TJB works to develop unique opportunities for local artists to create meaningful and impactful theatre experiences, and to foster ongoing artist growth in our local context. We strive to make theatre accessible to all, and we are constantly exploring new venues and ideas to continuously support local performance arts through mentorship, encouragement, and by challenging artists to develop and enjoy their craft.
How We Started
Theatre; Just Because was founded in 2014 by theatre artists Michelle Thorne-Speir and Danna-Rae Evasiuk during the 2014 Alberta Drama Festival Association One Act Festival. Since then, TJB has proudly been a part of the creative landscape of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, offering development opportunities, workshops, performance opportunities, educational programs, and more to the people who call this community home.
Meet the team
Bailey Yarkie
Artistic Director & Chair
Samson Nand
Company Manager & Secretary/Treasurer
Chase Gargus
Communications Coordinator & Vice Chair
Emma Carter
Communications Manager
& Director-at-Large
TJ Carabeo
Director-at-Large
Acknowledgements
Theatre; Just Because (TJB) acknowledges that we live, work, and create on Treaty 8 territory, the ancestral territories of the Dene, Nêhiyawak, and the land of the Métis Peoples.
We take time to recognise the stories that have been shared and created on this land in the past, the knowledge and stories that we share in the present, and the groundwork we lay for stories to be shared in the future. We remember and acknowledge those who came before us, and work to create an accepting, resilient, and welcoming space for those to come.
We offer this acknowledgement as a step towards Truth and Reconciliation, and we remain continuously committed to our reconciliation journey.