Run time: 75 mins, no intermission.
Content Flags: Mature content. Foul language. Comedic Nudity. (Recommended for 14+)
About:
Wee Witches and Inside Out Theatre proudly present Allergic to Water, an interactive dark comedy about intergenerational bathtubs, mysterious chronic illness, and a barista with a top-secret brew. Created and performed by Jacqueline Russell, with music by Jeremy Gignoux, this one-of-a-kind theatrical experience blends physical comedy, surreal storytelling, and musical absurdity —featuring an exceptionally talented albatross, running from November 5 - 8, 2025 at Victor Mitchell Theatre in Pumphouse Theatre.
Allergic to Water, created by Jacqueline Russell and performed in collaboration with musician Jeremy Gignoux, tells the story of Melusine, a mermaid trapped in a human body, who develops a mysterious chronic illness that leaves her unable to work or function. As she attempts to navigate the medical system to find answers, her attempts to be a credible witness for her body are dismissed, ignored and pathologized.
Accessibility & Community Care
In alignment with the themes of the show and the values of both presenting companies, Allergic to Water is designed to be as accessible and inclusive as possible:
Semi-relaxed performance environment and Mask Friendly Environment
Audio Description available November 8. 2025
Flexible scheduling options (“Mermaid Tickets”)
Post-show discussion and panel November 6, 2025 with Pam Rocker, Nicola Mosley and Maggie MacKenzie
Mask Friendly Space
All performances are mask friendly/masking encouraged spaces. We mask in an act of collective care, to affirm that all bodies and immune systems are of equal value. Every mask is a love note to our community.
Water Acknowledgement:
This is the land through which the Makhabn, "the river where bow reeds grow” flows into the confluence of Mokintsis "elbow" river. The Bow River Watershed feeds and nurtures all the creatures of Moh-kins-tsis (Blackfoot), Guts’ists’i (Tsuut’ina), Wîchîspa (Iyethka), and Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy). A portion of the proceeds of this production will be offered to Mutual Aid Canada, a space where individuals in so-called Canada can participate in the redistribution of wealth to help meet the basic needs of others. www.mutualaidcanada.ca
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Jacqueline Russell, she/her, Creator/Performer
Jeremy Gignoux, he/him, Composer/Performer
Jessica Buchanan, she/her, Co-Director
Christine Lesiak, she/her, Co-Director/Dramaturge she/her
Sarah Minor, she/her, Production Manager
Emily Parkhouse, she/her, Stage Manager
Michelle Brandenburg, she/her, Wee Witches Producer
Camille Craig, she/her, Inside Out Theatre Producer/Liaison
David Smith, he/him, Set Design
Tauran, she/her, Lighting Design
Hannah Fisher, she/her, Costume Design
Ali DeRegt, she/her, Puppet Builder
Abigail Monarrez, she/they, Set and Prop Builder
Thea Killen-Smith, she/her, Mask Builder
Lindsey Zess, she/her, Design Dramaturgy
-
Description text goes hereJacqueline Russell brings her lived experience of invisible illness to the stage in a work that is as cathartic as it is comedic. She is a director, performer, creator, arts educator, and clown who has taught workshops in clown, physical theatre, and creation across the country, from Comox to Montreal. Jacqueline is a graduate of the BFA program in Acting at the University of Alberta and completed her MFA in theatre at the University of Calgary where her thesis research examined the intersection of clown ways of knowing and feminist ways of thinking. Jacqueline currently teaches for the School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Calgary, Ambrose University, and Inside Out Theatre.
Jacquelinerussell.ca -
We – collective
Wee – small
Weeeeeee- delights
Wee Witches is a collective of Sick/Mad artists who seek to disrupt and disturb patriarchal narratives through the embodied pleasures and possibilities found in a transgressive and rebellious clown energy aimed at breaking all the rules. Their inaugural production, Stigma, Pistil, and Style, garnered three Elizabeth Sterling Hays Award nominations, including Outstanding Fringe Production, and Outstanding Fringe Director – Jacqueline Russell, and won the Sterling for Outstanding Fringe Performance Solo – Erin Pettifor. Their creative process for this production was documented in the article “Dancing in the Chaos: Creating a Feminist Clown Practice” published in German VOICES Magazine Issue on ‘The political in the clown’. (Theater der Zeit, 2024.) Wee Witches Collective is composed of Jacqueline Russell, Michelle Brandenburg, and Erin Pettifor.
-
Based in Calgary, Inside Out Theatre is a Deaf, Disability, and Mad-led company dedicated to artistic excellence, community engagement, and accessibility. They produce works that highlight Deaf and disabled culture, offer inclusive drama programs, and ensure audiences feel welcome, respected, and empowered.
Media Inquiries
For all media and press requests, please contact:
Aldona Barutowicz
Founder, ALDONA B CREATIVE
À La Carte Services
📧 aldonabpr@gmail.com
🌐 www.aldonab.com