For this month's episode of The Culture Shift, I had the pleasure of speaking to Kimberley Rampersad, Associate Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival. A theatre artist, born and raised in Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kimberley is also an actor and she has appeared in various theatres across Canada including Mirvish, RMTC, Stratford and Shaw. Her work as a choreographer has been recognized with two Dora nominations for Passing Strange (Musical Stage/Obsidian) and Seussical - the Musical (YPT), respectively and an Evie Award in 2019 for Matilda – The Musical (Royal MTC/ Citadel/ Arts Club). As a director, Kimberley was featured in the New York Times in July 2019 for directing a full- length production of Man and Superman at the Shaw Festival. Her production of How Black Mothers Say I Love You (GCTC) received a Prix Rideau Award for outstanding production, and her productions of The Color Purple (Neptune and Citadel/ Royal MTC) received Merritt and Sterling Award for outstanding direction and productions. She was the recipient of the 2017 Gina Wilkinson Prize for an emerging female director (Ontario Arts Foundation). In the community she contributes to the work of the Philp Akin – Black Shoulders Legacy Award, Gina’s Prize, and sits on the board of AFC. Kimberley completed her dance teacher certification through the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Political Science, from the University of Manitoba. We spoke about the return of theatre in Ontario, Shaw's 60th anniversary season, her upcoming production of Chitra, and how Shaw have chosen the stories that come to their stage.