Trends in the International Performance Market

Join us for an engaging conversation on “Trends in the International Performance Market,” where we will delve into the evolving global landscape of theatre and live performance. 

Our panel features distinguished guests, Cecilia Kuska (Rosa Studio) & Kris Nelson (Sydney Festival) and will be moderated by Indrit Kasapi (Theatre Passe Muraille).

Together, we will explore current global performance trends, highlight some of the most exciting artists touring internationally, and examine how these shifts may inspire and inform your own work in live performance. This conversation promises to offer fresh insights and broaden your perspective on presenting live performances on a global scale.

If you haven't received one please contact Program Manager, Patricia Cerra at patriciac@pact.ca

This event is organized by the PACT International Relations Committee.

GUEST BIOS

Cecilia Kuska is a dynamic cultural worker (creative producer, curator, and artist manager) specializing in interdisciplinary collaboration and fostering cultural diversity across continents. With roots in South America and a current base in Europe, she actively bridges both regions through innovative projects. Cecilia is dedicated to holistic, supportive professional development for artists and teams, creating inclusive spaces for connection and collective growth, and understanding the challenges that this entails. Known for her collaborative approach to international projects, she champions female representation in institutional spaces and amplifies marginalized voices, infusing each initiative with her commitment to equity and transformative impact. Her career spans directing, producing, and curating large-scale cultural programs globally, she was guest curator of institutions like Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, International Festival Santiago a Mil, Carlow Arts Festival in Ireland, International Festival of Sao Paulo MITsp, and CASA London’s Latin American Arts Festival. She co-founded PRÓXIMAMENTE, a platform and festival in Brussels with partners in Latin America to foster equitable cooperation between Latinx and European artists and institutions. In 2020, she established a studio to support artists and projects from the global south, related to human rights, inclusive representation and/ or migration.

Kris Nelson has a 20+ year career as a festival maker, curator, producer and theatre artist. His commitment to festival-making, innovative and daring artistic work and cultural mobility has led him to work across the world in some of the planet’s most exciting contexts, currently as Festival Director of Sydney Festival for the 2025-2029 editions. Kris was Artistic Director/CEO of LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre) from 2018-2024. His LIFT milestones include steering LIFT through the pandemic, leading the biennale to two festival editions in 2022 and 2024, with presentations of Sun & Sea (Lapelyte/Grainyte/Barzdziucaite), as well as works by Marlene Monteiro Freitas, Nadia Beugré, Cliff Cardinal, Chiara Bersani and others. In 2023, LIFT co-presented The Second Woman (Breckon/Randall), a mesmerising 24-hour performance starring Ruth Wilson with the Young Vic. He commissioned and co-produced world and UK premieres from British artists Sonia Hughes, Cade & MacAskill and Clean Break and leading international artists The Nest Collective, Nassim Soleimanpour/Omar Elerian, Janaina Leite and Lara Duarte and more. With a lifelong commitment to artist’s mobility and internationalism, Kris launched the Concept Touring initiative, a new commissioning programme for international collaboration with little to no travel (2021). Kris was Festival Director of Dublin Fringe Festival, Ireland’s largest multi-disciplinary arts festival, from 2013-2017, guiding hundreds of artists towards world premieres. He founded the innovative Canadian performing arts touring agency, Antonym. From 2008-2013, Antonym secured tours and co-productions in over 45 cities on 4 continents for artists such as Theatre Replacement, Public Recordings, Frank Cox-O’Connell & Evan Webber and 2boys.tv. Kris initiated innovative curatorial platforms like PushOFF with Joyce Rosario (Vancouver) and Spark with Miriam Ginestier (Montreal) connecting artists to international touring opportunities. Kris was Encounters Curator for Magnetic North Theatre Festival and has been a dramaturg for theatres across Canada. He is a Clore Leadership Fellow and a graduate of Studio 58.

Indrit Kasapi was born in Albania, Indrit has made Tkarón:to his home since 2000. He is the Founding Artistic Producer for lemonTree creations and Artistic Producer for Theatre Passe Muraille. lemonTree creations focuses on queer works, and Indrit has produced, acted in, choreographed and directed several critically acclaimed and award winning productions, including a national tour for MSM [men seeking men]. As the Artistic Producer of Canada’s original alternative theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Indrit continues to develop exciting new theatrical voices while also focusing on national and international touring for the company.
As a performer, Indrit has had the privilege to work with many talented writers, directors, designers and companies in a myriad of projects that more often than not are interdisciplinary in nature making use of both his ability with movement and text. Most notably he has been a company member of the award winning dance theatre company CORPUS and toured extensively with them in Asia, Europe and North America. He’s an Acting graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, a 2018 Harold Award Winner, 2020 Dora Nominated performer and was most recently nominated for the 2025 Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize (The Johannas).