“Alison DeRegt is a puppet maker, a sculptor, a painter, a fabricator and an animator. She masters the multiple creative skills required to craft character-like puppets that are both magical and accessible. The humanity that is so central to her work is evident not only in the objects she creates, but also her growing desire to share her skills with others as a mentor.”
— 2026 Emerging Artist Jury
– Emerging Artist adjudicators
Ali DeRegt (she/they) is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist based in Mohkinstsis/Calgary. Born and raised in Lethbridge, Ali has a lifelong passion for contributing to the ecology of arts on the prairies. Their practice draws on eco-punk aesthetics, often utilizing found and reclaimed items, transforming everyday objects into living, breathing creatures. She strives to reveal the inherent stories lying dormant in discarded items. They hold an MFA from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London, where they co-founded HOT TRASH! Theatre, a devised theatre company that focuses on DIY mentality, physical storytelling, and general nonsense. As the curator for live performance at the Festival of Animated Objects, Ali is responsible for bringing internationally celebrated puppetry to Calgary audiences. Ali is a recipient of the Duval Lang Emerging Leader Award, a Saskatoon and area Theatre Award for Excellence in Design, and an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement in Theatre for Young Audiences.
Alison DeRegt brings a pure sense of joy to her work. Where there is joy attached to art making the end results are something shared not only by the artist, but all those who come in contact with their work. It has been said that the audience is the final step in all creative processes and that the audience itself embraces the moniker of ‘artist’. Ali’s work makes a multitude of artists in her community. A multitude of joyous artists!
Peter Balkwill
Co-Founder: Co-Artistic Director, Old Trout Puppet Workshop
2013 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist
