ABOUT

Kate Jaskolski has called many places home—California, Texas, New York, New Mexico, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, South Africa, Lesotho, and Papua New Guinea, to name a few. No matter where she is, her work centers on empowerment, education, and inclusion through theatre and performance.

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As a theatremaker, educator, and accomplice in change, Kate creates inclusive communities through theatre workshops and performances that foster opportunity and support for all performers. Before the pandemic, her work spanned pan-African communities—from inclusive street theatre in Nigeria combating disability stigma to creating performances with inmates at South Africa’s post-apartheid Pollsmoor Prison. She has worked in high schools, preschools, universities, professional stages, orphanages, and prisons—always striving to build communities of allies, advocates, and accomplices in change.

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Kate holds a PhD in Applied and Educational Theatre (University of Cape Town), an MA in Educational Theatre (NYU), and a BA in Directing and Design (Pepperdine). Her research focuses on cross-cultural inclusive theatre and neurodiversity. She founded Westside Inclusive Theatre in Houston, served as artistic director of Nigeria’s premier disability theatre, and has collaborated with inclusive theatre companies across Australia, Los Angeles, New York, Nigeria, Lesotho, South Africa, and the UK. She has taught Applied Theatre and World Drama at the University of Cape Town and mentored trainee teachers in creative arts for well-being at Deakin University. Recently, she pioneered a sensory theatre initiative with Fusion Theatre in Melbourne while directing and providing technical support for their ensembles.

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With over 20 years of experience teaching theatre in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Texas, New York, and Los Angeles, Kate balances professional and applied theatre practice, emphasizing both education and performance.

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Kate's happiest place is the Edinburgh Fringe in August. When she’s not teaching or directing, she’s an undefeated amateur boxer, a rescue scuba diver, and a fierce adventurer.