Inner Elder

Michelle Thrush has been involved in the arts as an actor, writer, director, and producer for more than thirty years professionally and is most well-known for her roles in film and television - Blackstone, Little Bird, Bones of Crows, Meadowlarks to name a few. If she is not on a stage or working on a film, you will likely find her working across the country with youth and children in Indigenous communities, utilizing the arts and storytelling as a force for healing. Michelle is grateful to carry the medicine of storytelling and clown wherever she goes.

This year, Michelle has taken on a new role – that of a student at the University of Calgary, where she is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Drama.

Michelle is Nêhiyaw (Cree), with some French and Scottish. She was born and raised in Calgary and is the proud mother of two beautiful daughters and a Kookum to a wonderful grandson.

Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Neil grew up in Anishinaabe territory of the Robinson-Huron Treaty. He is honoured to have been part of Making Treaty 7 for the last 8 years, helping amplify the stories, practices and cultures of the Treaty 7 peoples. Neil is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter based in Calgary. Neil is best known for his work at Lunchbox Theatre including - Outside, Anomaly, Security, Last Christmas, The After Party, He Said, She Said (with Glenda Stirling), and Spare Parts (Stage One 2018). Neil is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada, the Past President of the Alberta Playwrights’ Network, and a tenacious winger most mornings between 7-8am.

Neil is also a theatrical designer. Some past design credits include: Napi & The Rock, Okotoks, 509 (Making Treaty 7), Come Home (Urban Stories), Gruesome Playground Injuries (Ground Zero, Hit & Myth), In A World Created By A Drunken God, And So It Goes, Goodness, Bone Cage, (Downstage). A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream (CYPT), The Vajayjay Monologues (Pot of Jam, Urban Curves), Snowblind, Last Christmas, Shopaholic Husband Hunt (Lunchbox Theatre), An Almost Perfect Thing, The Kitchen Witches, The Attic, the Pearls, and Three Fine Girls (New West Theatre).

Dianne is honoured to be on the Inner Elder team and welcomes this opportunity to share this amazing work with a wider audience. She retired from Alberta Theatre Projects (Calgary) in 2021 after almost 40 years with the company.

Since retirement, Dianne freelances as a producer, production manager, and stage manager. Special thanks to Michelle and Neil for being the best touring buddies ever and much love to all the family and friends who have lent their support over the years.