Mind of a Snail is a shadow theatre duo currently based out of Vancouver B.C. Canada, on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlil̓wətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Since 2003, Chloé Ziner and Jessica Gabriel have been developing a multilayered style of visual storytelling using handmade projections. Their performances play at the intersection of puppetry, visual arts, clowning & music. They have recently been integrating live video and interactive live-streaming into their tool kit.

As artistic collaborators, they love exploring beyond the boundaries of traditional theatre, and creating magical immersive experiences for their audiences. Mind of a Snail’s shadow theatre is like an early animation created live before your eyes.

They have created original work for Vancouver Art Gallery, Telus World of Science, Persephone Theatre and numerous other organizations. They have also performed in theatre & arts festivals across Canada such as Wildside Festival in Montreal, rEvolver Festival in Vancouver, Summerworks in Toronto, Casteliers International Puppetry Festival in Montreal, Festival International des Arts de la Marionnette à Saguenay and more.

International highlights include a tour of Taiwan in 2017 & performing on the main stage of the Puppeteers of America Festival in Minneapolis in 2019 with their show Caws & Effect.

During covid, they quickly pivoted to an interactive online format and have performed live virtually for a number of festivals across Canada & internationally, including Festival Internacional de Teatro de Sombras in Brazil and Red Pearl Clown Festival in Finland.

Caws & Effect

Their show Multiple Organism won the Critic’s Choice Innovation Award at the 2018 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards. They were nominated for Outstanding Projection Design for Persephone Theatre’s production of “Matchstick” at the 2015 SATAwards.

Their shows “Multiple Organism”, “Curious Contagious”, “Caws & Effect” & “Against Gravity”  have won dozens of awards including “best of fest” “artistic risk” and “patron’s pick” at Fringe Theatre festivals across Canada and the U.S. Mind of a Snail gave puppetry direction and dramaturgy for So.Glad Arts “Something in the Water ” that won Best Theatre Award at the 2021 Adelaide Fringe.

Multiple Organism (18+)

Recent projects include: facilitating a two week puppetry workshop for members of the disability community with Real Wheels Theatre ; creating Improv in 5 Dimensions a hybrid live-digital show with a team of five remote improvisers for Vancouver Improv Festival ; and projection design for Rodney Decroo’s “In the Belly of the Carp” that premiered at the Shadbolt Centre in Nov 2024.

Improv in Five Dimensions

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