Chelsea Preston
Chelsea grew up on Vancouver Island, the Land of Plenty, and now lives in Tkarón:to. They bring stories to life as a performer, songwriter, choreographer and costume designer. Selected Theatre Credits: Roxie in Chicago (Stratford Festival); Sandy in Grease, Amber in Hairspray, Cinderella in Cinderella:The Panto (Drayton Entertainment); Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show (Magnus Theatre); Hair, The Last Resort, Cabaret, Hairspray, The Wedding Singer, Chicago (Mayfield Theatre); Spamalot (Citadel Theatre). Selected Film & TV: Gaby in Fortescue (Dir: Rebeccah Love), Station Eleven (HBO), What We Do In The Shadows (Hulu FX), and Frankie Drake (CBC). Instagram: @preston.chelsea
Where are you in your artistic journey at the moment? What are you excited about now that you are accepted into the Academy? What do you hope to learn during your time at Soulpepper?
"Right now, I’m at a place where I’m reconnecting with the core of why I love storytelling. After being away from theatre and working both in front of the camera and behind the scenes in costume design, I’ve been learning how to trust my voice more — both as an actor and as a creator. I feel like I’m moving out of survival mode and into a space where I can be more creative and playful with my work.
I’m excited to be part of this community. The idea of growing alongside other artists who are just as curious and committed gives me a lot of energy. I am extremely grateful for the privilege of having the time to do so. I’m also excited to have a container where I can challenge myself — not just in terms of craft, but in the way I collaborate and lead.
I’m really curious about the structure and process of developing a play or musical. As a folk singer-songwriter, I’m used to creating solo work, and I’m excited to explore how my voice will translate and evolve in a theatrical context. Alongside that, I hope to deepen my technique and discover new ways of approaching character and text."