Allyson McMackon

Allyson McMackon

(she/her)

Allyson is a director and educator who has been working in the Toronto theatre community for 35 years. In 1998, she founded Theatre Rusticle whose physically robust work has been seen in partnerships with Theatre Passe Muraille, Harbourfront Centre, The Theatre Centre and at the Magnetic North and SuperNova Theatre Festivals. Since 2013, Theatre Rusticle has had a home at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre showcasing original work and ground-breaking productions of The Tempest (2024), Midsummer Night’s Dream (2020) and Our Town (2017). Theatre Rusticle has received 16 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations. Other collaborations include work with Zata Omm Dance Projects, Blue Ceiling Dance, Eclipse Theatre and Soulpepper. She has taught at The Centre for Indigenous Theatre, Sheridan College Musical Theatre, George Brown Theatre School, The University of Toronto and four seasons at the Globe Conservatory in Regina. Contract faculty at York University since 2008, she has taught devising, physical theatre and movement in Theatre Studies and the BFA/MFA conservatories. She has guest directed at George Brown, York, Sheridan and led Master classes for the Director’s Lab North and Factory Theatre’s Training Enhancement Programme. She was three times nominated for the KM Hunter Artists Award, received Dora nominations for direction and production (April 14, 1912/Theatre Rusticle) and choreography (Sunday in the Park with George/Eclipse Theatre), and was Harolded in 2008.  She has mentored with Buddies’ Young Creator’s Unit and the Paprika Festival. She has an MFA in Acting from York University and a BA in Drama and English from the University of Toronto.