Show Program | Axis Theatre: Where Have All The Buffalo Gone?

WHERE HAVE ALL THE BUFFALO GONE?

SUPPORTED BY PRESENTED BY AXIS

THEATRE

FEBRUARY 22, 2026

2025-2026 FAMILY SERIES

SUPPORTED BY

WHERE HAVE ALL THE BUFFALO GONE?

PRESENTED BY AXIS THEATRE

FEBRUARY 22, 2026

EVERGREEN CULTURAL CENTRE - STUDIO THEATRE

ABOUT THE SHOW

Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? is a love story through the ages. Two star people and a Buffalo, fall to earth and continue to reconnect throughout history. Our play covers seven different periods of Métis history. We bear witness to the emergence of the Métis nations across the plains, the robust colonization that arises from the fur trade, the disappearance of the buffalo and the political uprising of the Métis Association of Alberta. The story begins during creation amongst the stars and ends in the present day.

Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? specifically shares scenarios from the Callihoo family’s stories, incorporating fiddle music, jigging and a life-like buffalo puppet. Inspired by historical events of the Métis people of Canada, this original play for young audiences explores the loves, the losses and the fight of Treaty 6’s Métis people—and their love and kinship to the buffalo.

ABOUT AXIS THEATRE

In the age of “looking down,” Axis draws young eyes up to engage them in interactive experiences that educate, inspire and transform. Audiences experience smart, entertaining interpretations of traditional and cutting edge physical theatre. Axis incorporates combinations of red-nose clown, mime, movement, mask work, puppetry and improvisation to expand the meaning and impact of the stories presented. It is deceptively simple, completely fresh and memorable.

Axis Theatre acknowledges that we live, work, and play on the unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples – sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), selílwitulh (Tsleil -Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam) nations.

TAI AMY GRAUMAN | PLAYWRIGHT

Tai Amy Grauman (MFA) is Métis Cree from Ardrossan Alberta. She is a Callihoo and Beauregard from St. Paul des Metis from her paternal lineage and a Turner from Cutknife Saskatchewan from her maternal lineage. Tai is a writer, actor, director and producer. She has been involved in over 20 theatre productions across the country.

Her work is all about the archival of Metis Women’s stories. Her play You used to call me Marie… has been produced all over Canada and toured Metis communities across Alberta and Saskatchewan while also having productions at the Arts Club, the National Arts Centre and The Cultch. Tai is currently working on her next plays Rose and James, a Métis-Scottish love story which is traveling to Scotland in February for a staged reading and ‘Wiwimaw’ which will have a presentation at Métis Crossing this winter.

AMANDA TESTINI | CO-DIRECTOR

Amanda Testini (she/her) is an ItalianCanadian choreographer and director based on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Amanda has worked with Arts Club Theatre Company, Bard on the Beach, the Cultch, Theatre Replacement, Firehall Arts Centre, Belfry Theatre, Gateway Theatre, Savage Society, Theatre Under the Stars, shameless hussy productions, Neworld Theatre, Studio 58, TheatreUBC, Electric Company, Vancouver Opera, Axis Theatre, the Glimmerglass Festival, and Edmonton Opera.

After working on three iterations of Tai’s You Used to Call Me Marie, she is grateful to be directing Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? with Chris McGregor and Axis Theatre.

CHRIS MCGREGOR | CO-DIRECTOR/SOUND DESIGN

Chris McGregor is the Artistic Director of Axis Theatre and a third generation settler from Scotland and England. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Bishop’s University and a Masters in Theatre in Directing from the University of British Columbia. He has taught physical theatre, Commedia dell’arte, mask and Red Nose Clown at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Bishop’s University and Studio 58.

He has directed more than 60 productions across Canada, has received four Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and been nominated for three Ovation Awards for directing. Chris has adapted the children’s books: THE LITTLE OLD MAN, SOMEBODY LOVES YOU, MR. HATCH, FROG BELLY RAT BONE, CRY, HEART, BUT NEVER BREAK and ZORGAMAZOO into puppets plays for the stage.

KASSANDRA SISON | MARIE

Kassandra Sison is a Métis/Ukrainian actor from Winnipeg, Manitoba — Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Red River Métis — currently based on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. She is deeply honoured to join the team bringing this beautiful script to life. Previous credits include Damion LeClair’s ROUGAROU, Pivot Theatre’s Moonglow (2024 Theatre BC Mainstage Award for Best Supporting Actress), Doin’ Time at the Alamo and Aboveboard (North Van Community Players), and Five Alarm (Deep Cove Stage Society).

IZZY BULL BEAR | JEAN

Izzy is very excited to be playing Jean/Ensemble. They are originally from Treaty 7 territory, Mohkinstsis (Calgary, Alberta) belonging to the Siksika Nation. They’re also a Studio 58 Graduate, with credits including: TomorrowLove, Cerulean Blue, EVERYBODY, The Rocky Horror Show, and their play Old Man Little Man. Since graduating they have had the pleasure of working on a couple of projects which include The Mixolydian, (Green Thumb Theatre), Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, (Axis Theatre) and the world premier of Echoes of the Homesick Heart, (Western Canada Theatre).

SAMANTHA KERR | BUFFALO

Samantha is thrilled to be a part of Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? with Axis Theatre! She is grateful to be living and working on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Sam has been passionate about performing since she was a toddler, using every opportunity to express herself through acting, singing, movement and music. Since graduating from the Acting program at Studio 58, she has produced original theatre productions and films, and is excited to continue crafting original work for the stage and screen, empowering the female voice. Recent theatre credits include: BFF-less (Roomie Productions), Blood Wedding, and The Tempest (Studio 58).

EVAN REN | STAGE MANAGER

Evan Ren is a stage manager based in Vancouver. Graduated from UBC theatre production and design in 2020, her selected stage management credits include: Frozen (ASM, the Arts Club); The Frontliners (vAct); Primary Trust (ASM, the Arts Club); Shape of a Girl (Green Thumb Theatre); Guys and Dolls (ASM, the Arts Club); Parifam (vAct); Still·Falling (Green Thumb Theatre); Beautiful: the Carole King Musical (ASM, the Arts Club); Forgiveness (ApSM, the Arts Club); Ride the Cyclone (Bluebridge theatre); ‘Da Kink in my hair (ASM, the Arts Club).

DUSTY HAGER ÜD |

PRODUCTION DESIGNER/PROPS/PUPPET DESIGNER

Dusty Hagerüd, a member of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket people of the Lower East Kootenays, has been obsessed with the animated object from childhood. A puppeteer, puppet designer and fabricator at Color Sound Lab, Dusty has been performing and designing in Puppetry for 25 years in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver in theatre, advertising, film and television. He was brought on Nickelodeon’s The Barbarian and the Troll as Puppet Wrangler and On Location Puppet Fabricator. He followed that in the same roles with The Jim Henson Creature Shop on Fraggle Rock Back To The Rock (for which he received an Emmy in 2025).

ALAIA HAMER | COSTUME DESIGNER

Alaia is a Vancouver theatre designer originally from the Gulf Islands. Recent projects she has worked on include costume design for Million Dollar Quartet, The Cull, Beneath Springhill, The Birds and the Bees (Artsclub), The East Van Panto: Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid (Theatre Replacement), HMS Pinafore, Carmen Up Close and Personal (Vancouver Opera), costume design for Beautiful Man (PI Theatre), set design for God Said This (Pacific Theatre), Seventeen (Western Gold). She has worked on a variety of smaller shows through Vancouver and has a passion for costuming dance. Alaia is a graduate of the UBC Theatre Design program in 2017 and holds an English literature degree from 2012.

AMY HARRIS | SET BUILDER/SCENIC PAINTER

Amy has an absolute passion for her craft, with skills ranging from designing, puppet making, scenic carpentry, scenic painting and prop manufacturing.

Originally from South Africa she has gained extensive experience touring internationally with world-renowned Musicals, including Jersey Boys, Singin’ in the Rain, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Chicago the Musical which has taken her across the globe. Amy obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts Technology (Cum Laude) at the TUT, South Africa. She recently won an Ovation Award for the puppet build of Audrey 2 in The Little Shop of Horrors at the Arts Club Theatre Company.

ELOI HOMIER | JIG CHOREOGRAPHER

Born and raised on traditional Algonquin territory, Eloi Homier usually dances, canoes, and stargazes on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy əm, Sḵwxwú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations. Everything Eloi undertakes – from dance and theatre, to storytelling canoe adventures, to sash-weaving, to astronomy – has its raison d’être in his search for authentic identity. With family lines stretching back 400 years and beyond on the territory now called Québec, Eloi is on a lifelong journey to weave his distant Gallic origins with his sprinkling of Wendat, Abénaki, Algonquin, and Nipissing roots in a way that gives a voice to his ancestors.

KATHLEEN NISBET | FIDDLE (RECORDED)

Kathleen Nisbet is a fiddle player, multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer from Vancouver, BC. Classically trained early on, she returned to her Métis roots, pursuing more traditional folk music. Since then she has worked with artists in a variety of genres.

A regular accompanist with V’ni Dansi, Métis traditional dance, credits also include work with the Arts Club, Pacific Theatre, Mortal Coil, Citadel Theatre and Mascall Dance. Kathleen is an active member of Vancouver’s thriving bluegrass, old time and folk scene. She performs and tours internationally with her band Viper Central and is known for her live music productions including the East Van Opry.