What began as a “dumb food project” for Edmonton-born Punjabi food writer Ramneek Singh became a two-year, fifty-restaurant chase through the city’s butter chicken spots. Beneath the laughs and disasters sits a story about immigrant trauma, assimilation, and trying to find yourself in the meals people carry across oceans. The Butter Chicken Odyssey premieres at the Edmonton Fringe in August, 2026.
THE BUTTER CHICKEN ODYSSEY
Acacia Hall
10433 83 Avenue
Creative Team
Ramneek Singh
Ramneek Singh is an Edmonton food writer, most known for his Butter Chicken Odyssey, a two-year project documenting the city’s Indian and Pakistani restaurants. Singh also organizes the Butter Chicken Bash, and the ’90s Bakra Party, events celebrating South Asian culture while supporting local restaurants. His work has appeared on CBC, CTV, CityTV, and PBS. Two Edmonton restaurants have dishes named after him.
Playwright/Actor
Collin Doyle
Collin Doyle is an Edmonton based writer. Previous writing credits include: The Mighty Carlins (Workshop West Theatre), Routes (Concrete Theatre), Let the Light of Day Through (Theatre Network), Slumberland Motel (Shadow Theatre), and Terry and the Dog (Edmonton Actors Theatre). He is a four-time winner of the Alberta Playwriting Competition. In 2018, Newest Press published a collection of his plays, The Mighty Carlins and Other Plays. Collin is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.
Director
Gina Moe
Gina Moe is a professional Equity Stage Manager with over 30 years of experience in mounting live theatrical productions. Her work has included Contemporary Plays, Classical Productions in Shakespeare and Opera, Musical Theatre, Dance (Modern & Ballet), Theatre for Young Audiences, Touring, Outdoor Festivals and Events, Working in Rep, New Play Workshops, and Live Events such as Galas, Concerts and Award Shows. Gina has also worked as a full-time lecturer and instructor in Stage Management at the University of Alberta’s Drama Department.
Stage Manager
Dave Clarke
Dave Clarke is an Edmonton-based sound designer, composer, writer and actor. Recent theatre sound credits include Monstress (NLT/Vertigo Theatre), Murder on the Orient Express (Royal MTC), The Woman in Black (Persephone Theatre), Shipshow! and Paloma & Joy (Edmonton Fringe), Museum (Theatre@Cue), String (Citadel Young Company), After Mourning - Before Van Gogh (Shadow Theatre) and An Oak Tree (Theatre Yes).
Sound Design
Trent Crosby
Trent Crosby is an Edmonton based artist and arts enabler with a specialty in activating non-traditional performance spaces. A graduate of Grant MacEwan's Theatre Production program and The Banff Centre for the Arts, Trent has spent the last 16 years as a Lighting Designer, Production Manager, Technical Director, Entertainment Programmer, Site Manager, and Theatre Technician.
Lighting DesignPRESS
PHOTO BY GREG SOUTHAM /Postmedia
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