Clelia Scala

Clelia Scala is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Drama at Queen's University's Dan School of Drama and Music. She specializes in mask and puppet design, costume design, shadow puppetry, installations, collage, and illustration. Her interdisciplinary work explores themes of the fantastic, uncanny, and human interaction with nature. Scala has collaborated with institutions such as Carousel Players, Odyssey Theatre, Yale University, and the Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta. She has been honored with the 2019 Established Artist Award from the City of St Catharines and supported by grants from the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and others.

Her research interests blend theatrical design with visual art, emphasizing metamorphosis and storytelling. Recent projects include Jars (a puppet play about eating) and Pataphysical Masks: Faces for a Possible Future. Scala teaches design courses at Queen’s University and leads community workshops on puppet-making and large-scale installations. Her work has been exhibited in galleries across Canada and the U.S., including the Woodstock Art Gallery and the Center for Puppetry Arts.

Scala’s creative practice spans film, theatre, and visual art. Notable works include Mr. Elephant’s Party, Birds (Aristophanes adaptation), and Goatsong: a Meditation, a shadow puppet film addressing childhood trauma and societal cruelty. She is also a sought-after collaborator for experimental theatre and puppetry productions, such as Xperimental Puppetry Festival and Voix de Ville.