Jake Tkaczyk is an accomplished theatre artist, arts leader, and educator based in Edmonton, with a proven track record of guiding creative organizations through ambitious growth and dynamic change. A passionate advocate for collaborative, community-rooted creation, Jake brings a wealth of experience in both artistic and administrative leadership across Alberta’s cultural landscape.
He is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program and Red Deer Polytechnic’s Theatre Performance and Creation program, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Practice through the Transart Institute and Liverpool John Moores University. Jake has held key leadership positions with renowned organizations including Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Theatre Alberta, and Walterdale Theatre. During his tenure at Banff Centre, he worked across all artistic disciplines, with a focus on dance, opera, music, and theatre—an experience that deepened his appreciation for multidisciplinary performance.
Most recently, Jake served as General Manager of Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre, where he oversaw company operations, financial strategy, and production planning, and helped steward the company through a transformative period of artistic development. During his time with Workshop West, he successfully implemented Alberta’s first year-round Pay-What-You-Will ticketing model—for both subscriptions and single tickets—making the company’s work more accessible and community-driven. As an educator, he has taught for The Citadel Theatre’s Foote Theatre School, Grindstone Theatre, and at the University of Alberta, where he is a member of the Academic Teaching Staff. Earlier in his career, he was an Artist Intern at Northern Light Theatre, and is a recipient of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts’ Young Artist Prize.
Jake is honoured to join Shumka as Managing Director and is excited to help shape the company’s next chapter—supporting its bold artistic vision, international reach, and enduring legacy as a pillar of Ukrainian Canadian culture.
