Alice Nelson

Alice Nelson is a dual-citizen to Canada and the U.S. and has worked as an actor-creator, playwright, director, producer, puppeteer, improvisor, mask maker and clown. She has written and toured solo shows regarding social and political issues and co-created feminist theatre productions. Aside from being a road warrior on the Fringe Circuit, her shows have been produced by the Calgary Animated Objects Society, New West Theatre, Downstage Theatre, Magnetic North Theatre Festival, Handsome Alice Theatre, and Sarasvàti Productions. As an improvisor, she was a company member with Loose Moose Theatre, frequently directing for their Kid’s Season. As a mask maker, she has supplied masks (Commedia and Emotional) internationally for theatre troupes, High Schools and Universities. As an applied theatre practitioner, Nelson has worked extensively as an artist-in-residence, creating original plays with children and youth in educational and community settings. Highlights include creating physical theatre plays with Trickster Theatre and bringing children’s storybooks to life with Quest Theatre. As a clown, she attended expeditions to South Africa, performing and leading workshops with the international humanitarian organization, Clown Without Borders. She was part of national museum tour with Journey of a Lifetime, a performance (both in French and English) representing the stories of Canada’s early immigrants. In 2023, she worked as a Performance Coach on The Shoe Project’s collaboration with Windsor Women Working With Immigrant Woman; supporting women in telling their stories of immigration to Canada. Recently, she performed with the Acting Troupe at Heritage Park, where they address historical racism through live street theatre.
Currently, Nelson has been doing outreach theatre with Windsor Community Living, coaching drama to people with intellectual disabilities. She teaches courses in Drama in Education and Community, TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences), Theatre for Social Action, and Improvisation at the University of Windsor. She has performed several improv and comedy shows with Planet Ant Theatre in Detroit. Nelson holds an MFA (2011) in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre from the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, a BEd (2017) from the University of Calgary and a BFA (2000) in Dramatic Arts from University of Lethbridge.