Where Have All
The Buffalo Gone?

Written by TAI AMY GRAUMAN
Co-Directed by CHRIS MCGREGOR and AMANDA TESTINI

A powerful story inspired by Historical Events of the Métis People of Canada


January 29 - February 1, 2026 • Charlie White Theatre
This Production is Now Closed

About the Show

Two star people and a Buffalo, fall to earth and continue to reconnect throughout history. Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? explores seven different periods of Métis history, beginning during creation amongst the stars and ending in the present day, sharing stories from the Callihoo family, and incorporating fiddle music, jigging and a life-like buffalo puppet. Inspired by historical events of the Métis people of Canada, this original play for young audiences explores the loves, the losses, and the fight of Métis people of the Treaty 6 area – and their love and kinship to the buffalo.

  • Age Recommendations: Ages 10+
  • Running Time: ~50 Minutes with NO Intermission

Show Resources
Cast and Creative

Get Directions to the Charlie White Theatre

Performance Schedule

  • Thursday, January 29 – 10am
  • Friday, January 30 – 7:00pm
  • Saturday, January 31 – 2:00pm
  • Sunday, February 1 – 11:00am
  • Sunday, February 1 – 2:00pm

Are you a School Group? Visit our Educator Page to book tickets for our special day-time School Matinee program, or contact our Education Department for all the details.

Indigenous Community Tickets – Kaleidoscope is pleased to offer 50% off all tickets for Indigenous Community Members. Learn More >

 

*All Kaleidoscope MainStage productions and presentations are created, managed, presented, and performed by adult professionals.

Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People and Axis Theatre Company are members of the Professional Association of CanadianTheatres and engage professional Artists who are members of Canadian Actors’Equity Association under the terms of the jointly negotiated Canadian Theatre Agreement. 

*Content Advisory

Production Trailer

Cast and Creative

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Chris McGregor

Co-Director
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Chris McGregor

Co-Director

 Chris is the Artistic Director of Axis Theatre and a third generation settler from Scotland and England. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Bishop’s University and a Masters in Theatre in Directing from the University of British Columbia. He has taught physical theatre, Commedia dell’arte, mask and Red Nose Clown at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Bishop’s University and Studio 58. He has directed more than 60 productions across Canada, has received four Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and been nominated for three Ovation Awards for directing. Chris has adapted the children’s books: THE LITTLE OLD MAN, SOMEBODY LOVES YOU, MR. HATCH, FROG BELLY RAT BONE, CRY, HEART, BUT NEVER BREAK and ZORGAMAZOO into puppets plays for the stage. 

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Amanda Testini

Co-Director
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Amanda Testini

Co-Director

 Amanda Testini (she/her) is an Italian-Canadian choreographer and director based on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Amanda has worked with Arts Club Theatre Company, Bard on the Beach, the Cultch, Theatre Replacement, Firehall Arts Centre, Belfry Theatre, Gateway Theatre, Savage Society, Theatre Under the Stars, shameless hussy productions, Neworld Theatre, Studio 58, TheatreUBC, Electric Company, Vancouver Opera, Axis Theatre, the Glimmerglass Festival, and Edmonton Opera. After working on three iterations of Tai’s You Used to Call Me Marie, she is grateful to be directing Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? With Chris McGregor and Axis Theatre. 

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Kassandra Sison

Actor - Marie
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Kassandra Sison

Actor - Marie

 Kassandra is a Métis/Ukrainian actor from Winnipeg, Manitoba — Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Red River Métis — currently based on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. She is deeply honoured to join the team bringing this beautiful script to life. 

Previous credits include Damion LeClair’s ROUGAROU, Pivot Theatre’s Moonglow (2024 Theatre BC Mainstage Award for Best Supporting Actress), Doin’ Time at the Alamo and Aboveboard (North Van Community Players), and Five Alarm (Deep Cove Stage Society). 

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Izzy Bull Bear

Actor - Jean
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Izzy Bull Bear

Actor - Jean

Izzy is very excited to be playing Jean/Ensemble. They are originally from Treaty 7 territory, Mohkinstsis (Calgary, Alberta) belonging to the Siksika Nation. They’re also a Studio 58 Graduate, with credits including: TomorrowLove, Cerulean Blue, EVERYBODY, The Rocky Horror Show, and their play Old Man Little Man. Since graduating they have had the pleasure of working on a couple of projects which include, a tour of The Mixolydian, with Green Thumb Theatre, a tour of Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, with Axis Theatre and the world premier of Echoes of the Homesick Heart, with Western Canada Theatre. 

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Samantha Kerr

Actor - Buffalo
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Samantha Kerr

Actor - Buffalo

Samantha is thrilled to be a part of Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? with Axis Theatre! She is grateful to be living and working on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Sam has been passionate about performing since she was a toddler, using every opportunity to express herself through acting, singing, movement and music. Since graduating from the Acting program at Studio 58, she has produced original theatre productions and films, and is excited to continue crafting original work for the stage and screen, empowering the female voice. Recent theatre credits include: BFF-less (Roomie Productions), Blood Wedding, and The Tempest (Studio 58). 

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Evan Ren

Stage Manager
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Evan Ren

Stage Manager

Evan is a stage manager based in Vancouver. Graduated from UBC theatre production and design in 2020, her selected stage management credits include: Frozen (ASM, the Arts Club); The Frontliners (vAct); Primary Trust (ASM, the Arts Club); Shape of a Girl (Green Thumb Theatre); Guys and Dolls (ASM, the Arts Club); Parifam (vAct); Still·Falling (Green Thumb Theatre); Beautiful: the Carole King Musical (ASM, the Arts Club); Forgiveness (ApSM, the Arts Club); Ride the Cyclone (Bluebridge theatre);‘Da Kink in my hair (ASM, the Arts Club). 

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Tai Amy Grauman

Playwright
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Tai Amy Grauman

Playwright

Tai Amy Grauman (MFA) is Metis Cree from Ardrossan Alberta. She is a Callihoo and Beauregard from St. Paul des Metis from her paternal lineage and a Turner from Cutknife Saskatchewan from her maternal lineage. Tai is a writer, actor, director and producer. She has been involved in over 20 theatre productions across the country. Her work is all about the archival of Metis Women’s stories. Her play ‘You used to call me Marie…’ has been produced all over Canada and toured Metis communities across Alberta and Saskatchewan while also having productions at the Arts Club, the National Arts Centre and The Cultch. Tai is currently working on her next plays ‘Rose and James: A Metis Scottish love story which is traveling to Scotland in February for a staged reading and ‘Wiwimaw’ which will have a presentation at Metis Crossing this winter. 

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Dusty Hagerüd

Production Designer / Props Designer / Puppet Designer
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Dusty Hagerüd

Production Designer / Props Designer / Puppet Designer

Dusty Hagerüd, a member of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket people of the Lower East Kootenays, has been obsessed with the animated object from childhood. A puppeteer, puppet designer and fabricator at Color Sound Lab, Dusty has been performing and designing in Puppetry for 25 years in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver in theatre, advertising, film and television. He was brought on Nickelodeon’s “The Barbarian and the Troll” as Puppet Wrangler and On Location Puppet Fabricator. He followed that in the same roles with The Jim Henson Creature Shop on Fraggle Rock Back To The Rock (which he received an Emmy for in 2025). 

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Alaia Hamer

Costume Designer
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Alaia Hamer

Costume Designer

Alaia is a Vancouver theatre designer originally from the Gulf Islands. Recent projects she has worked on include costume design for Million Dollar Quartet, The Cull, Beneath Springhill, The Birds and the Bees (Artsclub), The East Van Panto: Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid (Theatre Replacement), HMS Pinafore, Carmen Up Close and Personal (Vancouver Opera), costume design for Beautiful Man (PI Theatre), set design for God Said This (Pacific Theatre), Seventeen (Western Gold). She has worked on a variety of smaller shows through Vancouver and has a passion for costuming dance. Alaia is a graduate of the UBC Theatre Design program in 2017 and holds an English literature degree from 2012. 

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Amy Harris

Set Builder / Scenic Painter
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Amy Harris

Set Builder / Scenic Painter

Amy has an absolute passion for her craft, with skills ranging from designing, puppet making, scenic carpentry, scenic painting and prop manufacturing. Originally from South Africa she has gained extensive experience touring internationally with world-renowned Musicals, including Jersey Boys, Singin’ in the Rain, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Chicago the Musical which has taken her across the globe. Amy obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts Technology (Cum Laude) at the TUT, South Africa. She recently won an Ovation Award for the puppet build of Audrey 2 in The Little Shop of Horrors at the Arts Club Theatre Company. 

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Eloi Homier

Jig Choreographer
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Eloi Homier

Jig Choreographer

Born and raised on traditional Algonquin territory, Eloi Homier usually dances, canoes, and stargazes on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations. Everything Eloi undertakes – from dance and theatre, to storytelling canoe adventures, to sash-weaving, to astronomy – has its raison d’être in his search for authentic identity. 

With family lines stretching back 400 years and beyond on the territory now called Québec, Eloi is on a lifelong journey to weave his distant Gallic origins with his sprinkling of Wendat, Abénaki, Algonquin, and Nipissing roots in a way that gives a voice to his ancestors. 

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Jack Goodison

Lighting Designer
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Jack Goodison

Lighting Designer

Jack (He/Him) is a Sound and Lighting Designer originating from the UK, living on the ancestral, stolen lands of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh nations. He works to create an atmosphere that immerses the audience into the world of the show, letting them escape reality and lose themselves in theatre. 

In Canada, Jack has designed for Axis Theatre (Where Have All the Buffalo Gone?), As and When It Happens (Willilish’d), Rumble Theatre (Las Pasiones de Don Pasquale) (Douglas College (Orlando; Mad Forest), Vancouver Opera (The Pearl Fishers), Massey Theatre/UBC (We Deserve to Work), Jeb Beach Productions (Terminus). 

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Kathleen Nisbet

Fiddle Player
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Kathleen Nisbet

Fiddle Player

Kathleen Nisbet is a fiddle player, multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer from Vancouver, BC. Classically trained early on, she returned to her Métis roots, pursuing more traditional folk music. Since then she has worked with artists in a variety of genres. A regular accompanist with V’ni Dansi, Métis traditional dance, credits also include work with the Arts Club, Pacific Theatre, Mortal Coil, Citadel Theatre and Mascall Dance. Kathleen is an active member of Vancouver’s thriving bluegrass, old time and folk scene. She performs and tours internationally with her band Viper Central and is known for her live music productions including the East Van Opry. 

Why We Chose This Story

When Axis Theatre's Artistic Director, Chris McGregor, first told me about Where Have All The Buffalo Gone?, I knew it was something special. It’s a story that spans centuries, but it’s told in a way that feels immediate, personal, and deeply human. Through moments of love, resistance, and rediscovery, it invites audiences to connect with key moments in Métis history.


This play is written for young people, and that’s what makes it so powerful. It doesn’t shy away from hard truths, but it presents them through vivid storytelling, humour, and imagination. It opens the door for young audiences to ask questions, to listen deeply, and to see themselves reflected in complex and meaningful ways.


Axis Theatre has long been a leader in creating theatre that is both accessible and artistically rich. Their work engages young audiences without talking down to them, and this piece is a beautiful example of that.


I chose this production because it speaks to young people with respect and honesty, and because it helps us all better understand the world we live in—where we come from, and where we’re going.


- Pat Rundell
Executive & Artistic Director

- Kitsilano Secondary School

Axis Theatre’s Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? proved to be a thrilling and engaging production. As a music/theatre performer myself, I admire the effort put forth by all three actors. Their dynamics together were lovely to watch. Not only was it the first time I had watched a performance with only three actors, but I also learned a lot about Métis culture, arts, and history. The story is told so audiences can hold onto the rich knowledge. Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? is an intricately thought-out play with charm and knowledge, and I hope it can reach a bigger, broader audience

- Norma Rose Point Elementary

My class absolutely loved the show - the story, acting, puppet, lighting and set have all been talked about in our debriefs! They enjoyed all of the magic you created. Thank you as well for the Q&A at the end. Very enriching for our young audience.

- Vancouver College

Thank you for sharing your gifts, talents and story with us. It was awesome!



Resources

Pre-Show Activities


Visual and Patron Guide (Coming Soon)
*Content Advisory
Parent & Caregiver Guide
Axis Theatre's Study Guide Guide
Colouring Sheet
Word Search

Post-Show Activities


Post-Show Colouring Contest
Post-Show Discussion Questions