About SATCo & Our Team
Our Mandate
The Student Alternative Theatre Company (SATCo) is a student driven theatre company that works to reinforce the teachings of the University of Victoria Theatre Department, as well as assist in the development of new work, and provide quality opportunities to emerging artists while upholding a strong artistic vision.
The main principle of SATCo is to provide opportunities for students to use the skills they learn throughout their degrees. Many students rely on SATCo to gain experience in areas such as directing, stage management, design & acting. Since SATCo is a learning environment, it’s a great way to get practical experience in a safe, supportive, and professional environment.
Our Season
Every fall and spring semester, we put out a call for students to submit short plays, 30-50 minutes in length. We choose three of these plays to produce in each season. Then, teams of students are put together for each play: directors, designers, stage managers, & technical teams. Auditions are then held by the directors to cast their productions. It’s a very quick process; each show has 1-4 weeks to rehearse, depending on their slot in the season, followed by three performances. The shows are performed in the Barbara MacIntyre Theatre at the Phoenix, a little black-box studio theatre that offers flexibility for student designers.
Events
Throughout the school year, SATCo also hosts some events such as SATCo Roundtables and a 24-hour play festival.
SATCo Roundtables is a networking event to meet other artists in the department. We group people based on shared interests and give out some free snacks in the MacIntyre during a lunch period.
In 2023 we debuted a 24-hour play festival where teams create a whole show from start to finish in 24 hours. This is a low-stakes event designed to get people involved and pumped for the season ahead.
Our Staff and Board
The SATCo Staff Board
SATCo is run by a staff and board comprised entirely of students which changes every year. There are usually 9-12 board members; the number varies as some positions can be held by two people, or someone may take on an assistant.
Staff and board members get to experience the administrative side of theatre and learn how a theatre company is run. This hands-on experience isn’t offered anywhere else to the same extent, and it can be a great stepping stone to further opportunities.
A new and important distinction is that between staff and board, where staff take on roles involved with producing shows and running the company. Year reps sit in on meetings and help with season selection, but do not administrate within SATCo or work on shows as a head of department. Both staff and board may participate in shows and they all frequently appear in our show credits, although there are many policies in place to avoid giving out unfair opportunities from within. One exception is hiring staff positions within SATCo, which are always offered internally first. This priority does not apply to show creative teams and casting.
Co-General Managers: Carson Schmidt and Matthew Gordon
The general managers are responsible for the overall function and artistic vision of the company. This includes supporting board members and creative teams and making final decisions on issues that arise during the season. They love to brainstorm ideas in collaboration with the rest of the board on how to improve the company and keep it new and exciting for the creative teams!
Carson (he/him) is a fourth-year student at the Phoenix and an aspiring technician and designer. He would describe SATCo as “dedicated”.
Matthew is in fourth year, involved in performance, directing, and writing. They have written two shows for SATCo in the past. Matthew would describe SATCo as “opportunity”.
Assistant General Manager: Thomas Moore
The assistant general manager is responsible for documenting the goings-on of the SATCo board, including the organization of SATCo communication and files. They also help the general managers with some of their responsibilities. The person holding this position is often multi-talented and ready for anything!
Thomas (he/they) is a third year self directed student with interests in directing and design. If Thomas had one word to describe SATCo it would be “passionate”.
Financial Manager: Annalyn Kind
The Financial Manager handles the financial side of SATCo, managing donations and creating a budget for the season. Our Financial Manager ensures all the shows have the resources they need to create the best work they can!
Annalyn is a fourth-year performance student at the Phoenix with several SATCo performance credits under their belt.
Co-Marketers: Ella Macdonald and Spencer McCairns
The marketers are primarily responsible for the overall aesthetic of the marketing materials for each season. They run our social media accounts to keep everyone updated on shows and events, create posters, and take pictures at each dress rehearsal.
Ella (Any pronouns) is a third year self-directed student at UVic Theatre. She’s interested in performance, design, and stage management.
If they could invent a new chip flavour it would be taco salad.
Spencer (he/they) is a third year self-directed student interested in design, directing, and playwriting.
Co-Technical Directors: Lauren Lypkie and Nadia Myroon
The technical directors are responsible for all technical work done here at SATCo. They create schedules, attend production meetings and installs, and clear sound, lighting, and set pieces with higher-ups in the department.
Lauren is a fifth year designer and technician at the Phoenix.
Nadia is a third year designer and technician at the Phoenix
Assistant Technical Directors: Jack Storwick and Sasha Pisiak
Jack is a fourth-year student here at the Phoenix focusing on performance. His interests include acting, directing, and sound design. Most recently, Jack had a blast offering sound design for the SATCo production of “A Stranger Remains”.
If Jack could describe SATCo in one word it would be “refreshing” as he is always proud to see the amazing and diverse work the student body can create.
Liaison: Holly Layman
The liaison serves as a link between the creative teams and the board. They convey information between the two parties, act as a support for the show teams, and ensure that rehearsals are conducted in a safe and productive way.
Front of House Manager: Stevie Welsh
Our front-of-house manager is responsible for the audiences that attend each show. They deliver an informative speech before each show, ensure that the audience experience is comfortable and safe, and handle emergencies that take place during a performance.
Stevie is a third year student at the Phoenix with interests in design and direction.
Assistant Front of House Manager: Eric Barnes
Eric is a third year performance student at the Phoenix.
Year Representatives
The year representatives are a connection between the board and each year cohort of students. Each year rep is responsible for communicating information about SATCo to their year, answering questions, and bringing student concerns to SATCo’s attention.
First Year: Liv Skidmore
Liv is a first year student here at the Phoenix theatre.
Second Year: Emma Beadman
Emma is a second year student with interests in production and management.
Third Year: Annie Lucas
Annie is a third year performance student and this is her first year on the SATCo board. She mostly is focused on performance but also is interested in writing and directing. She’s excited to represent her student body for the next two years!
Fourth Year (and beyond): Mo Hatch
Mo is a double-major at UVic, studying theatre and writing.