Wren's Recipes
A theatre/puppetry piece for families.
Ten-year-old Wren loves cooking Ukrainian dishes with her Gramma. When their beloved recipes vanish, Wren embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery. Guided by secrets from the past, she is drawn deeper into a world of folklore and magic, and ever closer to a sinister presence with plans of their own.
Our Workshop
Looking for a family-friendly workshop for your event or festival in Ontario this year? We've received wonderful feedback about our Paper Creature Workshop - most recently at Ontario Culture Days and Tarragon Theatre's Sally Stavro Family Series, and World in a Weekend: International Puppet Festival, Stratford, ON. This magical workshop will spark spontaneous puppet adventures at home and beyond! We'd be happy to connect with you about bringing it to your event.
About the Collective
Wren's Recipes Collective was founded in 2023 in Toronto, ON. Our work incorporates puppetry, physical theatre, music, and dynamic visual design. We aim to ignite imaginations and reflect real-world experiences. With our shared cultural heritage, our current work celebrates the richness of Ukrainian traditions in folklore, cuisine, and music inspired by cherished relationships with our grandmothers. With our backgrounds in theatre performance - and puppetry in particular - we seek to create characters and visual metaphors to compel our audience into the world of our stories.
Presentation History
August 2025 - World in a Weekend: International Puppet Festival, Stratford, ON
December 2025 - Tarragon Theatre's Sally Stavro Family Series, Toronto, ON
Cocreators
SHAWNA REITER ‐ Co-Creator & Puppet Designer
Shawna Reiter is a designer, writer, and director, specializing in puppetry. Her passion for storytelling has inspired theatre productions, immersive installations, experimental animation, and illustration. As Artistic Director of CLUNK Puppet Lab, Shawna created How I Became Invisible, Fin, The Uneventful Disappearance of Mr. Ogorki, and Gone Fishin', and co-created, designed and directed the puppetry for The Chronicles of Rose and the award-winning Nightfeed. She also co-developed and taught the Humber College Puppetry Intensive and Masterclass Series. Shawna is always rediscovering the magic of puppetry through her daughter, who is forever showing her new ways to play with this beautiful art form.
*LORI NANCY KALAMANSKI ‐ Co-Creator & Co-Sound Designer
Lori Nancy Kalamanski is a writer, performer and sound designer whose international work spans stage, voice-over, film and television. She was a cast member of the original Canadian company of Come From Away (Mirvish/Junkyard Dog Productions), and has originated roles in several new Canadian plays, including The Forbidden Phoenix, e-Dentity, and The Amazing Fox Sisters. Lori creates imaginative, engaging work that blends storytelling, music, and multisensory experiences for audiences of all ages. She lives in Toronto, ON, with her partner and two rambunctious cats, where she also sings and plays ukulele with the award-winning folk-rock band, Sing Along Tim & The Pacifiers.
*GINETTE MOHR ‐ Co-Creator
Ginette Mohr is a playwright, director, performer, and arts educator who seeks to fire up imaginations and cultivate connection through theatre and playful explorations of performance and design. Her productions have received numerous awards, with theatre credits including The Stratford Festival, Young People's Theatre, Neptune Theatre, Theatre Aquarius, Theatre Direct, The Quickening Theatre, Keystone Theatre, SNAFU Dance Theatre, and The Second City. Through her storytelling project Catch Me in the Kitchen, she has written two books and a collection of audio stories for young people. Inspired daily by her children, Ginette is continually reminded of the power of play and imagination to bring people together.
Contributing Artists
*The participation of these Artists in the prior production of this work was arranged by permission of Canadian Actors' Equity Association.
Reviews of Selected Work by the Artists
CATCH ME IN THE KITCHEN STORY ADVENTURES — CATCH ME IN THE KITCHEN
“Catch Me in the Kitchen Story Adventures is a masterpiece of the imagination. They are dedicated to bringing each character to life, not only in the way they speak, but through their physical acting as well — flawless.” ★★★★★ — Shelley Cook, Winnipeg Free Press
“It shows me that these stories not only still have relevance in the lessons they impart, but that there seems to be an enormous range of ways that they can be told! “ — Calantha Jensen, The Jenny Review
“…an entertaining delight that promises to please audiences young and old …a magical showcase — one that makes a perfect introduction to the theatre. “ — Joshua Chong, The Toronto Star
NIGHT FEED — CANVAS SKY THEATRE
“…deeply honest storytelling and the performers keep it profoundly compelling…” NNNNN — NOW Magazine
Winner: Best of Fringe, Toronto
“…hilariously funny, …an ingeniously creative look at a night alone with a new baby.” — Mooney on Theatre
FISH FACE — THE QUICKENING THEATRE
“Writer/performer Ginette Mohr completely enchants us in this imaginative, dark fairy tale about a woman's adventures in a vivid underwater universe.” NNNNN — NOW Magazine
Winner: “Cultchivating the Fringe Award” — Vancouver Fringe Festival.
NOW Magazine Toronto Fringe Critic's Pick for Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance and Outstanding Design.
SNACK MUSIC — SNAFU DANCE THEATRE
“At Snack Music, the party starts as soon as you walk in the theatre.” ★★★★★ — CBC
“Snack Music is an absolute riot and you wish it just didn't have to end.” ★★★★★ — On Stage Ottawa Review
“Bring your best story, smile your biggest smile, and be ready to open your heart to a room full of strangers.” — Mooney on Theatre
“A delightfully whimsical show.” NNNN — Glenn Sumi, NOW Magazine
THE TRUTH ABOUT COMETS — THE QUICKENING THEATRE
“…magical production… three generations of female relatives in a work that's emotionally rich and theatrically inventive.” NNNN — NOW Magazine
“Fast-paced, funny and deeply moving…” ★★★★ ½ — Theatromania
Winner: “Best of Fringe” at the Toronto Fringe Festival
NOW Magazine Toronto Fringe Critic's Pick for Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Direction
HOW I BECAME INVISIBLE — CLUNK PUPPET LAB
“…wonderfully expressive… beautiful to watch and is as tightly choreographed as any ballet.” — Stage Door
“The puppets are exquisite… lifelike and heartbreaking.” — Calgary Herald
THE WIZARD OF OZ — YOUNG PEOPLE'S THEATRE
“Puppets are used brilliantly…” — Theatre Critic Drew Rowsome
MARIA RASPUTIN PRESENTS — FORTE MUSICAL THEATRE GUILD
“Sailing… a number that is not only beautifully sung but wonderfully enhanced by an extremely touching and effective use of puppetry.” — Applause Meter
Nominated for Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Production of a Musical, Betty Mitchell Awards