Jared Matsunaga-Turnbull

Jared Matsunaga-Turnbull is an actor, writer, director and dramaturg based in Edmonton. From 1994 to 2007, he was an Artistic Co-Director of Edmonton’s Concrete Theatre where he helped to create, develop and produce award-winning issue-based, culturally diverse Theatre for Young Audiences. With Concrete, he has been involved as an actor, director, playwright and dramaturg on various projects, and was heavily involved in Are We There Yet?, Jane Heather’s participatory play for 14-year-olds on healthy sexuality and relationships. He continues to be involved with Concrete’s Sprouts New Play Festival as a festival dramaturg. Currently, Jared is the Outreach Program Coordinator with the Alberta Workers’ Health Centre, where he develops, produces and directs plays for Junior and Senior High School students across the province, with a focus on empowering young workers in the workplace. These plays are the long-running Work Plays by Jane Heather and That’s Danger! by Dave Clarke. Jared’s playwriting credits include Near Diamond (Flying Diamonds Co-op), Danny Loves a Girl (co-written with Chris Bullough), and the TYA plays Harusame, the Little Bird (Concrete Theatre); Penelope vs. The Aliens! (co-written with Chris Bullough) (Citadel Theatre, Quest Theatre); Paper Song (Concrete Theatre) and the award-winning Lig & Bittle (co-written with Elyne Quan) which continues to be produced across the country. Jared has also worked as a popular theatre facilitator and drama instructor with diverse and marginalized populations, especially youth and Aboriginal communities. Jared has his BFA in Acting from the University of Alberta, and is a member of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ) Next Generation Committee. He lives in Edmonton with his wife Isabelle, and their two truly excellent kids Claire and Felix.