ABOUT
About
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
MANDATE
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Theatre is drawn to where the political and the personal intersect – the politics of everyday life. We explore stories of idealism, corruption, compassion, love, violence and redemption, both within the individual and their communities. We tell under-told stories, and we create theatre that reveals a vulnerability of heart and doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations. We do this through a collaborative process that supports boldly imaginative concepts, new forms of theatre and an inclusive definition of theatre artist.
Under the co-artistic leadership of Mary Ellis and Kyle Ahluwalia, our vision moving forward is to promote the diverse perspectives in our contemporary society and to further their contributions to vital dialogues.
History of Productions
Daisy (2020 & 2021 – Ottawa)
Building the Wall (2017)
Daisy (2016 – Seattle)
Re:Union (2015)
Suit Up (2015)
This Stays in the Room (2014)
Except in the Unlikely Event of War (2013)
Re:Union (2011)
Palace of the End (2009)
4.48 Psychosis (2008)
The Darling Family (2005)
You Are Here (2004 & 2005)
OUR TEAM
Artistic Director – Mary Ellis
Mary has worked extensively as an actor, director and teacher, and has been a very active member of the Ottawa theatre community for many years. Her acting and directing work has encompassed everything from brand new work to Shakespeare. As an actor, she has worked at GCTC, undercurrents, A Company of Fools, Plosive Productions, Third Wall, and New Theatre of Ottawa, among others. Her directing work has been seen with Parry Riposte Productions (in the UK and Canada), A Company of Fools, Theatre Wakefield, Three Sisters and Third Wall. She has received numerous awards and nominations for her work, as both an actor and a director. Mary has also inspired countless students over the years, teaching at St. Lawrence College in Brockville, at Carleton University, and at The Acting Company. She is an alumna of the University of Ottawa.
Artistic Producer – Kyle Ahluwalia
Kyle is a bilingual technical director and jack of most backstage trades in Ottawa. After completing a degree in international relations, Kyle did an MA in Theatre Theory at UOttawa (2013) and has been working in live performance for the last decade. Kyle was with Théâtre Catapulte from 2014-2019 and is currently the Technical Director at GCTC. Kyle is also a freelancer, a part-time instructor in technical theatre at UOttawa, an active member of Means of Production. Some favourite past freelance designs include Trust (10 Gates Dancing) (2016), Building the Wall (HHG) (2017) Les Protagonists (Théâtre Tremplin) (2018), Love and Other Things: a drama for flower, clay and bone (10 Gates Dancing) (2018), Empty Time Empty Space (Ottawa Dance Directive) (2022). Kyle has also done freelance Technical Direction, Tour Direction or Production Management for Horsehoes & Hand Grenades, Théâtre Français de Toronto, Théâtre Catapulte, Théâtre de la Vieille 17, le Fâcheux Théâtre, 9th Hour Theatre, 10 Gates Dancing and others.
Founding Artistic Directors
Sean Devine (2004 – 2019)
Alexa Devine (2004 – 2014)
Mindy Parfitt (2004 – 2014)
Past Artistic Directors
Brad Long (2019-2021)
Board
Teri Loretto
Kristina Watt
Griffin McInnes
Chelsey Fawsett
Supporters
Thank you to the City of Ottawa, Ontario Trillium Foundation and Canada Council for the Arts for their continued support of HHG.
