ABOUT Olesia Shewchuk

"OIesia's the real deal. She has loads of natural ability, and is exceptionally passionate and motivated to learn more, dig deeper, and reach higher. She has access to a deep reservoir of emotions, an ability to play a wide range of characters, and a versatile physicality. She's a joy to direct... and is a 'good vibes' type of person to be around."

- BEN RATNER

Director & Acting Coach

ABOUT

Olesia Shewchuk is a TV actor, a classically-trained singer & pianist & dancer, a scriptwriter & story editor, composer & conductor, and an award-winning filmmaker.

She has been in TV roles on Netflix, NBC, Fox, TLC, ABC, Bravo, Freeform, CW and Global. Olesia won a Best Actress in a Feature Film Award for her performance in the feature film Prof at the World Premiere Film Awards. She has performed in 24 musical and theatre productions including lead roles of Guinevere in Camelot, the title role in The Merry Widow, Girl in the musical Once.

As a soprano soloist, Olesia has sung with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, New Westminster Symphony Orchestra, Vivaldi Chamber Choir & Orchestra, and The Vancouver Folk Orchestra.

Olesia has directed over 20 short films that have played in film festivals around the world. She is also an experienced story editor and film editor. In 2022, Olesia created The Short Film Lab, teaching and mentoring aspiring filmmakers to make short films from A to Z. She also hosts virtual weekly Writers drop-ins (Write on the Clock) and Goals drop-in (Goals on the Clock).

With collaborator Carlos Vela-Martinez, Olesia co-founded Vibrant House Productions. Together they perform live concerts and recitals, write and produce short films, sing and act together. Olesia edited, composed, co-wrote, co-produced, and acted in their award-winning short film The Perfect Spot. She also co-wrote their award-winning script Beyond Blood.

Olesia dances ballet, jazz, tap, and folk. She trained at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and specializes in Ukrainian folk dance. She danced with the Rusalka Dance Ensemble, and taught and choreographed for seven years at the UNF School of Dance. She has also choreographed a number of theatre shows & musicals.

Olesia currently arranges music and is the Choir Conductor for the Barvinok Folk Choir. She also composes music for short films and musicals.

Olesia graduated with an Honours Degree in Chemical Physics from the University of Winnipeg. She currently resides in Vancouver, BC.