Lianna Makuch Ліана Макух
BIOGRAPHY
Lianna Makuch is a second generation Ukrainian Canadian theatre artist based in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 Territory. As a director, playwright, producer, performer, and Artistic Director of Pyretic Productions, she is dedicated to exploring and elevating diverse narratives in the arts. Lianna has traveled several times to Ukraine to research and develop her plays Barvinok and Alina, gaining awards and recognition from both the professional theatre and Ukrainian communities.
Lianna's work has garnered numerous artistic accolades, including the Shevchenko Foundation’s REACH Award, an Edmonton Artist Trust Fund Award, Dora Mavor Moore Awards, Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award nominations, a Gina’s prize finalist position, a 2022 Alberta Playwriting Award finalist position, and recognition as one of Edify Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.
Lianna is a full member of CAEA (Canadian Actor’s Equity Association), Playwrights’ Guild of Canada, and ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists), and sits as Vice President of the Alberta Ukrainian Commemorative Society.
Lianna’s playwrighting has been developed and supported by Punctuate! Theatre, the Citadel Theatre’s Collider Festival, Concrete Theatre, the Banff Centre for the Arts, as well as in Kyiv, Ukraine with Дикий Театр (Wild Theatre), Les Kurbas Centre, and the Izolyatsia Cultural Platform. Lianna received a Dora Award for Outstanding Direction for her directorial debut, First Métis Man of Odesa (Punctuate! Theatre), which has been showcased on stages nationwide including the National Arts Centre (Ottawa), Soulpepper Theatre (Toronto), the Citadel (Edmonton), the Cultch (Vancouver) and more. It also earned Dora Awards for Outstanding Production and Outstanding New Work. She served as Assistant Director for Jane Eyre by Erin Shields and A Christmas Carol by David Van Belle with Artistic Director Daryl Cloran at the Citadel Theatre, and will be directing this year’s production of A Christmas Carol.
Through her artistic work, Lianna has developed a deep passion for activism. Former Edmonton-Strathcona NDP MP Linda Duncan referenced Lianna’s play Barvinok during a House of Commons debate on Operation Unifier, Canada’s mission in Ukraine, calling it “the most powerful presentation” she had seen on the subject. Lianna is a founding member of Canadians in Support of Ukrainian Political Prisoners (CSUPP) and played a key role in creating and circulating a petition urging the House of Commons to demand the release of Ukrainian political prisoners. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, she was a leader in fundraising for “Our Children,” a Ukraine-based NGO that supports families of political prisoners in Crimea. Since 2022, she has continued to advocate and fundraise for direct contacts in Ukraine who are actively involved in the defence efforts against Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Artist Statement
“As a professional theatre artist, I am driven to create work that is visceral, emotional, and contemporary, rooted in the exploration of identity, resilience, and cultural preservation. Early in my career, I hadn’t considered that my Ukrainian identity could be a source of inspiration for my art. However, when I began allowing my identity to be expressed through my work, I experienced something profoundly meaningful—not only for myself but also for my community. This journey deepened my connection to my heritage, grounding me in my personal history and leading to a stronger sense of self. I also believe it strengthened my artistic voice, shaping a vision that remains informed by my Ukrainian Canadian heritage while reaching beyond cultural boundaries.
Through my art, I strive to build meaningful connections across communities and bring a fresh, modern perspective on the Ukrainian experience to Canadian stages—an experience seldom represented. I believe that by exploring themes and topics deeply connected to my identity and expressing my own personal truth, the art I create finds a universal connection and impact.
It is more important to be an artist. Culture and storytelling give us a platform not to tell people what to think, but how to think. I believe the arts are a powerful medium for enlightenment and influence, offering an authentic way to pursue truth amidst disinformation and divisive forces. I am deeply committed to thorough research and investigation as a foundation to inspire and develop my projects. The empathetic experience created through live storytelling can build interest and understanding more deeply than reading an article or watching a news story. It is this belief that has led me to share my voice as a creator, advocate on behalf of community, and uplift others in that same pursuit. I am committed to continuously exploring new ways to create from a place of authenticity, producing work that is deeply emotional and sharing that journey with my community. I am hopeful for a future where storytelling continues to bring us together and allows us to grow."
- L.M.