Get Involved | Live Plays Vancouver

Keith Martin Gordey

Director

Keith Martin Gordey has appeared in over 70 film and television productions to date including such shows as The Order, Watchmen, Center Stage, Supernatural, Alcatraz, Men in Trees, Smallville, The Dead Zone, Flight 93, The 4400, Da Vinci’s Inquest, Cold Squad, Stargate SG-1, A Storm in Summer and many Hallmark movies. Having performed in eight Western Gold shows so far, he looks forward to being in a ninth, Funny Money.

Keith trained in acting at UBC and at the National Theatre School of Canada. He is a Past President of Western Gold Theatre, a Director on the board of the Canadian Senior Artists Resource Network (CSARN), Past President and Past Treasurer of PAL Vancouver, and currently serves on the board of The Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia (which hosts the Leo Awards), Treasurer and Past President of the Union of BC Performers (UBCP/ACTRA), and Vice President of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Televisión and Radio Artists (ACTRA).

Annabel Kershaw

Annabel’s career has spanned many decades and many parts of Canada. For Western Gold, she has joyously appeared in Funny Money, Comfort Cottages, The Learned Ladies, Splitting Heirs, Jack of Diamonds and more. In Vancouver, she has appeared at the Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, and The Richmond Gateway, among others. Favorite shows include, Snapshots, The Thing About Men, My Fair Lady, Private Lives, The King and I, La Cage Aux Folles, A Streetcar Named Desire and Mom’s the Word.

Annabel is a recipient of two Jessie Richardson Awards for Aunt Dan and Lemon and The Elephant Man. Film and television appearances include The Angel Tree and several other Hallmark movies, Get Shorty, Unreal, iZombie, Arrow, Married Life, The L Word, The Client List, Smallville and Jumanji.

Annabel is also a certified 500-hour yoga instructor and lives in Vancouver with her husband and their yoga dog Padma, who does a perfect Downward Facing Dog.

Tanja Dixon-Warren

Artistic Director

Tanja Dixon-Warren has been working as a theatre artist / producer for over 35 + years. Previously, she was the Artistic Producer / Co-Founder of Hoarse Raven Theatre, and from 2009 – 2017, she was Managing Producer of Full Circle: First Nations Performance. She continues to work with them on a consulting basis, mentoring young theatre practitioners. She is the Transition Advisor for Carousel Theatre for Young People.

As an actor, proudly based in Vancouver, she has been seen in a number of Western Gold Theatre productions as well as on numerous stages throughout the city. Film/TV includes a bunch of blink & you’ll miss ‘em plus the occasional role with an actual name!

An active member of the community, Tanja has served on numerous boards and committees including 15 years with the Greater Vancouver Theatre Alliance, where she speared-headed and launched World Theatre Day and the annual Making a Scene Theatre conference. Nominated twice for YWCA’s Woman of Distinction Award as well as a number of Jessie Richardson Awards (for both performance and producing), she is a recipient of the Mary Phillips Award, the Vancouver Board of Trade’s Business and the Arts Award, and the 40 Under 40 Business in Vancouver Award.

Shona Struthers (they/he/she)

Sound Designer

Shona is a UBC Acting Graduate, former Pacific Theatre apprentice, Affair of Honor company member, an actor, Intermediate FDC Actor Combatant, Advanced BADC Actor Combatant, and sound designer. They have sound designed for Arts Umbrella, Affair of Honor, Stone’s Throw Productions, The Show Must Go Online.

Suzanne Ristic

Emelia

Suzanne is thrilled to have the opportunity to time travel through this wonderful play. Who wouldn’t want to relive all that teenage angst after working in the performing arts for almost 50 years? Yikes!

Suzanne most recently performed in the premiere of Driving Me Crazy at Presentation House Theatre, a play she co-wrote with her friend Linda A. Carson, and she last appeared at the PAL theatre in Western Gold’s production of Comfort Cottages. She graduated high school in 1970, Studio 58 in 1984, and has appeared in film and television. Thanks to the men in her life: Jay, Jean, and Max for making the last half of her life a heckuvalot more fun than the first half!

Barbara Clayden (she/her)

Costume Designer

Barbara has been designing costumes and sometimes sets in Vancouver BC for over 45 years. Starting her design career with Tamahnous theatre, a Vancouver-based experimental theatre company of the 1970’s, Barbara has been largely self-taught in the art of theatre design. Working with Tamahnous introduced Barbara to the joys of collaboration with other artists and shaped how she approaches all her design work to this day.

She has designed for both small and large theatre companies and worked in numerous costume departments in film with IATSE 891 . . . always seeking new and exciting methods of approaching various elements of design from those she has the chance to work beside. Selected works in the last few years include Beauty and the Beast 2017 (Arts Club Theatre) Lysistrata 2018 (Bard on the Beach) Coriolanus 2019 (Bard on the Beach) East Van Panto 2018-20 (Theatre Replacement). She has been nominated for over 15 Jessies Richardson Awards and won eight for Outstanding Costume Design. Barbara holds a BA in Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia

Alaia Hamer

Set Designer

Alaia is a theatre designer located in Vancouver, BC. Recent projects she has worked on include costume design for HMS Pinafore, Carmen Up Close and Personal, associate for Amahl and the Night Visitors (VO); Beneath Springhill, The Birds and the Bees, assistant costume design for Sweat, The Humans (Artsclub), costume design for Beautiful Man (PI Theatre), costume for C’mon Angie (Touchstone), assistant costume Romeo and Juliet, Coriolanaus, Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth (Bard on the Beach), set design for She Kills Monsters (UBC), production design for The Drawer Boy (ETC).

She has worked on a variety of smaller shows through Vancouver and has a passion for costuming dance. Alaia is a graduate of the UBC Theatre Design program in 2017 and holds an English literature degree from 2012. A selected portfolio can be found at alaiahamer.com

Eileen Barrett

Lizzie

Eileen has had the privilege to work in theatres large and small over the years, including touring internationally with Green Thumb Theatre many years ago when she actually still looked like a kid. She was last seen onstage in Western Gold’s Escaped Alone. Other projects include: Les Belles-Soeurs (Gateway/Ruby Slippers), Twelfth Night (Western Gold), It’s a Wonderful Life (Arts Club), The Duchess (Ruby Slippers), Scratch (Theatre Plexus), My Mother’s Story (Presentation House), Harvest (Gateway), Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Vancouver Fringe).

Recent Film/TV/Radio/Podcasts: Invisible Women, Love and Sunshine, Web of Dreams, The Good Doctor, The Magicians, Little Pink House, Every Christmas Has a Story, Hector and The Search for Happiness.

Eileen also loves working as a live audio describer (for blind and partially sighted theatre goers) with Vocal Eye Descriptive Arts. She is a graduate of Studio 58, and she recently completed a master’s degree in Liberal Studies from SFU.

Allan Zinyk

Ronnie

Allan moved to East Van from Winnipeg’s North End in the Early 1980s. Since then he has made his living as an actor here, in the city, across Canada, and abroad. Allan would like to take this opportunity to thank the lovely actors, director, designers, stage managers, staff, audiences, donors, and volunteers for the unforgettable 40 years!

Megan Wong

Intimacy Director

Megan is a queer, neurodiverse, Chinese-Canadian Intimacy Professional working primarily in the Pacific Northwest residing on the stolen lands of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples, and the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations (Victoria, BC).

Megan’s primary background includes classical ballet, movement theatre, and psychology (B.A.). She is also a practicing special educator and sexual assault support worker and incorporates skills from those disciplines into her practice from a trauma-informed lens. She has trained in intimacy internationally with organizations including Intimacy for Stage and Screen (UK), Theatrical Intimacy Education (USA), and Principal Intimacy Professionals (Canada) and is a committee member of the National Society of Intimacy Professionals.

Senem Yaman

Scenic Painter

Senem Yaman is an experienced scenic artist and makeup artist. She has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, a diploma in makeup design from Vancouver Film School, and a diploma in stagecraft technology at Douglas College. She recently worked as a scenic artist at Bard on the Beach and makeup designer for Children’s Theatre of Richmond CATS Musical.

Mert Erden Arslan

Audio Technician

Mert Erden Arslan is a Vancouver-based sound designer, editor, and recordist who collaborates working
in Theatre, Film, Audiobooks, and Music Production. He has a diploma in Sound Design for Visual Media from Vancouver Film School and a bachelor’s in Visual Communication Design. Currently, Mert works as a sound designer, audio technician, and recordist for theatre productions and audiobooks in Vancouver, BC.

Natasha Nadir

Dramaturg

Natasha Nadir is a professional director, dramaturg, and playwright based in Vancouver, BC. She has
an MFA in Directing from University of British Columbia and a BA in Drama from Bishops’ University. While Artistic Associate at Gateway Theatre, she directed both new and classical plays (Mary’s Wedding, Burning In, The Grandkid, Brighton Beach Memoirs) and facilitated five seasons of SceneFirst: Staged Readings of New Work. Recent credits include dramaturgy for Burqa Boutique and directing/dramaturgy for View from a Window. She has worked as an acting instructor and creative facilitator throughout her career. She facilitates the Playwriting Circle for Realwheels Theatre and is a member of Playwrights Theatre Centre
and Wet Ink Collective.

Phay Moores (she/they)

Intimacy Director

Phay is an intimacy director/coordinator, theatre director, writer, internationally trained actor combatant, and professional actor who currently lives on the stolen traditional territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlim) Nation.

After starting her training in 2016 with Intimacy Directors International, Phay has trained with organisations and mentors across Canada and North America and helped in the creation of the National Society of Intimacy Professionals.

Phay has supported productions all over the Lower Mainland as an intimacy professional in film, television, and theatre. Past credits include Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again., Machinal, Oil, and Coriolanus (UBC), Cuello (Crazy8s), Superman & Lois s2 (Warner Bros), 2022 Jessie Award Winner Bunny (Search Party Productions), 2021 Leo Award Winner FREYA, and Jason Karman’s Golden Delicious.

Gustavo Febres (he/him/his)

Tom, Ronnie, Mike

Gustavo began his career in his native Venezuela where he started as a journalist, but soon found his place on stage and on screen. Immigrating to Canada almost three decades ago to be with his (still there!) partner, he restarted his career from scratch learning English in part from small roles on the stage. He worked up to bigger roles and has appeared in: Tony and Tina’s Wedding (for seven years), Corpus Christi, Love Valour Compassion, Alley Cats, Antigone, The Frogs, School for Wives, The Impostures of Scapin, A Christmas Carol, Streetcar Named Desire and The Hypochondriac.

Though his first love has always been live theatre, he has appeared in numerous film and TV roles. A gay, mixed-race man, Gustavo loves taking on unexpected roles; he has played characters much older than he is but looks forward to an exciting change – playing a character much younger.

Michael Fera (He/Him/His)

Director

Michael Fera is a director, actor and theatre educator who has been working in Vancouver for over 30 years. Favourite directing credits include the Canadian premieres of Corpus Christi, Molly Sweeney, A Boston Marriage, and Alistaire Elliot’s translation of Medea plus: Taken at Midnight; The Imaginary Invalid; Ghosts; Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Angels in America – Parts 1&2.

For nine years Michael was an Artistic Executive for Ailanthus Achievement Centre where he worked closely with inner city youth using theatre as a tool to build character and self-esteem. He currently works extensively with youth, specifically through Theatre Temp where he has directed off and on since 1981. Theatre Temp productions Michael has directed have toured throughout BC and nationally to Ottawa performing for MPs at Canada’s parliament.

Jessie Au (she/her)

Choreographer/Movement Coach

Jessie is Vancouver-based Chinese-Canadian dancer and actor. Her movement journey began at the age of three studying ballet at the Jean M. Wong School of Ballet in Hong Kong. Upon moving to BC, her dance training expanded to include tap, contemporary, jazz, musical theatre, and hip hop. Jessie wears many hats as an arts administrator, dance teacher, choreographer, Special Olympics rhythmic gymnastics coach, group fitness instructor, actor, and model – needless to say, she likes to keep busy!

Her performance and choreography experiences have allowed her to collaborate with many local artists and musicians, and work with organizations such as Vancouver Fashion Week, Vancouver International Puppet Festival, The Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, Moving Mirror Productions, United Players of Vancouver, and The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.

She truly believes that movement is for everyBODY and strives to create an environment that is inclusive, fun and light.

Nimet Kanji

Lizzie

Award winning Nimet Kanji began her career in Nairobi, Kenya. After emigrating to Canada, she continued working in community theatre until she became a professional actor in 2001. Some of her theatre credits include Contractions (Northern Light Theatre), Victim Impact (Theatre Conspiracy), Sultans of the Street (Carousel Theatre), Mrs. Singh & Me (Vancouver Fringe), 9 Parts of Desire (The Maggie Tree), Bombay Black (Vancouver Fringe), amongst others. She also works in TV/Film and Voice. She most recently was in Regina to shoot the web series ‘ZARQA’.

Linda Pollard

Jess

Linda was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. She earned a B.A. “With Distinction” in English Literature and Drama from McGill University. Linda’s first Equity role was as Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest with Northern Light Theatre in Edmonton. She continued to work in Edmonton with Phoenix Theatre, Catalyst Theatre, Workshop West Theatre, and performed in the first Edmonton Fringe Festival. She co-founded Nexus Theatre, Edmonton’s lunch time theatre.

Vancouver is her home now. Her latest stage role was in Nanaimo as Cecile in TheatreOne’s production of With Glowing Hearts. Linda also works in film and TV. She can be seen on screen as Betty the grief junkie in the Canadian feature film With Love and A Major Organ when it is released later this year. Linda is delighted to be working with Western Gold theatre for the first time. She’d also like to mention that she loves to sing and dance.

Stephen Aberle

Tom

Stephen graduated from Studio 58 and has worked in theatre, film, radio, TV, and opera for forty-odd years. Some of this century’s credits include Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof for the Chemainus, Western Canada, and Persephone theatres, Judge Turpin in the award-winning Snapshots Collective production of Sweeney Todd, Zeus in Ann Mortifee’s opera The Mysteries, Uncle Vince in People Like Vince (and last century, Victor in Not So Dumb and Night Light) for Green Thumb, and TV appearances on The Man in the High Castle, The L Word, and Supernatural. Most recently for Western Gold, Stephen curated and performed in Vilna My Vilna, a series of on-line readings of stories by Yiddish writer Abraham Karpinowitz.

Like the characters in Seventeen, Stephen has spent his share (or possibly more) of evenings in parks with like-minded friends in various altered states.

Photo credit: Erin Aberle-Palm

David Bloom (he/him)

Mike

David is a playwright, director, actor, and fight choreographer. He is descended on his father’s side from the Jewish diaspora in Russia/Ukraine. On his mother’s he traces settler/colonist roots back to the Mayflower.

Performances include The Designated Mourner (Felix Culpa), and the premiere of Unity 1918 (Touchstone Theatre). Acting and fight choreography have taken him across the country, including work at Shaw Festival, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Citadel, and dozens of companies in British Columbia. Directing includes Blackbird (One Story Collective), the North American premiere of Howard Barker’s Und, The Monument (Jessie nomination, Outstanding Direction, Large Theatre), and his play Two in The Morning, produced in Vancouver and London, England. He has directed shows in Vancouver, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Kamloops, Thunder Bay, Whitehorse, and London. His plays have also been performed by Green Thumb, Felix Culpa, Studio 58, Carousel, Axis Theatre, and Theatre at UBC

John Webber (he/him)

Lighting Designer

John is honoured to be a back with Western Gold Theatre once again, and to be a part of the production Seventeen. A long-time designer of both sets and lighting, he has had the privilege of working with some of Canada’s most talented and adventurous artists. Past favorites include The Great Leap and Onegin for the Arts Club, and The Marriage of Figaro for Vancouver Opera. Recent credits include Wizard of Oz and Chelsea Hotel at Western Canada Theatre and Kinky Boots for the Arts Club.

Ingrid Turk

Stage Manager

Ingrid is a daughter of settlers, fortunate to live here in the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people, and grateful for their stewardship of the lands and waters here. Ingrid has been a stage manager of theatre, dance, and opera for 35 years. She particularly enjoys doing theatre for young audiences and has been fortunate to work with Green Thumb Theatre many times. She’s a House Manager at Bard on the Beach and an audio-describer for Vocal Eye, the organization that provides description of live performances for patrons with limited vision. She is currently stage-managing The Spongebob Musical at Arts Umbrella and after that, The Triumph of Love for Western Gold.

Maki Yi (she/her)

Emelia, Jess, Lizzie

Born and raised in Korea, Maki came to Canada in 2000, where she found theatre and fell in love with it. After completing a BFA in Theatre Performance at University of Regina and a MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies at Simon Fraser University, she became a permanent resident in 2010. She landed in Regina, then relocated to Vancouver in 2011 for her apprenticeship at Pacific Theatre.

Since then, Pacific Theatre has been her artistic home, where her autobiographic plays, Gramma and Suitcase Stories, have been produced. Maki was part of the touring production of Kim’s Convenience with Arts Club, the extension of a Pacific Theatre production, in the beginning of 2020 until the abrupt cancellation due to the pandemic breakout. She resumed her role of Umma when the play returned to the Stanley Theatre stage in March 2022, then toured to West Canada Theatre in Kamloops and Alberta Theatre Projects in Calgary.

Asstistant Director / Youth Advisory Coordinator

Seamus Fera (He/Him/His)

Seamus is a director, playwright and theatre instructor who works on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples. He holds a BFA from UBC in Acting and currently is on faculty at Arts Umbrella, Place des Arts, and the Anvil Centre. Previously with Western Gold, Seamus Assistant Directed Escaped Alone. Other work includes Charles III (Arts Club), The Imaginary Invalid, Taken at Midnight (United Players), Unity:1918, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and various other projects.

His touring productions of Kindness (Arts Umbrella), The Chrysalids, and The Jungle Book (Coquitlam Youth Theatre) have been seen by over ten thousand youths in the Lower Mainland. He also has worked as an Artist in Residence for the VSB where he had had the opportunity to direct plays, films, and write an audio play. Upcoming: Directing DNA, Pinocchio, and A Doll’s House Part Two.

Michael Molloy

Retired Canadian Foreign Service Officer

As a career Canadian foreign service officer, Michael served in Tokyo, Beirut, Kampala, Minneapolis, Geneva, Amman, Damascus and Nairobi. In 1972, he ran the selection section of the team Canada sent to Uganda to rescue 6,000 Asians under expulsion order from Idi Amin.

From 1976 to 1978, he was the immigration department’s Director of Refugee Policy, and led the design of the refugee provisions of the 1976 Immigration Act, including the Convention Refugee and Designated Classes, and the private refugee sponsorship program. He was senior coordinator of the 1979–80 Indochinese refugee program that brought 60,000 refugees to Canada. He served as Counsellor for Humanitarian Affairs at the Canadian Mission in Geneva and managed immigration and refugee operations in Jordan, Syria and Eastern Africa. After director general level assignments in Ottawa and Toronto, he served as Canada’s ambassador to Jordan (1996–2000) and special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (2000–2003).

Post retirement publications include three books on Jerusalem along with Running on Empty: Canada and the Indochinese Refugees 1975-80 and its Vietnamese translation Cong Lung Van Ganh. He has also published numerous articles on refugees and Middle Eastern subjects and is an Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University.

Photo credit: Len Gilday

Margo Kane

Performing artist, Founder and Artistic Managing Director of Full Circle: First Nations Performance

Cree-Saulteaux Métis performing artist Margo Kane is the Founder and Artistic Managing Director of Full Circle: First Nations Performance. For over 45 years she has been active as an actor, performing artist, and community cultural worker. Her desire to share artistic performance that has meaning for her people is the catalyst for her extensive work, travels, and consultation within Indigenous communities across Canada and abroad.

Moonlodge, her acclaimed one-woman show, an Indigenous Canadian classic, toured for over 10 years nationally and internationally. The Sydney Press (AU) during The Festival of the Dreaming praised it as being in the top echelon of solo performance.

She developed and runs the annual Talking Stick Festival, celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, and numerous programs including Moccasin Trek: Arts on the Move!, Indian Acts, and an Indigenous Ensemble Performing Arts Program in Vancouver.

She has received numerous awards and honors including an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of the Fraser Valley, the Order of Canada from the Governor-General, an International Citation of Merit from the International Society for the Performing Arts, and, most recently, an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Simon Fraser University.

Shafana Mitha

Shafana Mitha is an engaging community builder and facilitator with significant public sector and senior executive experience. She is a strategic thinker and executive leader that supports Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

Shafana has her CPA and Master’s in Business Administration with a greater focus on Strategic Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace. She is one of the few individuals in Alberta with a professional designation as a CCIP (Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional). With her unique partnership of having a background in business and in EDI, Shafana’s niche focus is on bringing that business case and need to organizations with the humanistic and EDI approach providing tangible tools and strategies that are both important to the success of organizations and the engagement and belongingness of Board members, staff, and stakeholders.

Her consulting company aKollage Consulting Incorporated focuses on developing EDI strategies and policies, respectful workplace policies and training, stakeholder and community engagement, employment equity policy and program development, and customized learning and development such as cultural competencies, and anti-racism/anti-oppression.

Shafana currently resides in Treaty 6 territory – Amiskwacîwâskahikan or known to many as Edmonton, where she passionately volunteers in different capacities within and outside her community in leadership positions.

Chris Creighton-Kelly

Interdisciplinary artist, writer and cultural critic

Chris Creighton-Kelly is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and cultural critic. He was born in the UK with South Asian/British roots. His performative, often ephemeral, artworks have been presented across Canada, in India, Europe, and the USA. He has received grants and awards in five countries. His work with issues of racialized art politics is internationally recognized.

Chris is the co-Director of Primary Colours/Couleurs primaires, which uses decolonizing methodologies to centre the art practices of IBPoC artists within the Canadian art system. Chris has been consistently concerned with racialized artists in their cultural contexts—both host and diasporic—as they converge with rapidly evolving media technologies—both popular and esoteric. Chris is persistently interested in questions of absence in the Western world arts discourses . . . whose worldview is unquestioned; who has power; who does not and why?

For over 30 years, Chris has also worked as an arts consultant for artists, arts organizations, cultural institutions, and government agencies. In 1989-91, he was a consultant to the Canada Council where his work launched two critical offices—the Aboriginal Arts Office and the Equity Office—that transformed the Council from a European arts agency to one in which multiple art traditions/practices are funded. In 1991-92, he worked at the Banff Centre for the Arts designing and directing an artists’ residency, Race and the Body Politic, which indirectly influenced the establishment of the Aboriginal Arts program. In 2011, he co-authored, along with France Trépanier, Understanding Aboriginal Arts in Canada Today. In 2012, they were co-recipients of the inaugural Audain Aboriginal Curatorial Fellowship awarded by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Chris appreciates his audiences a lot

Zool Suleman

Advocate, writer, cultural collaborator

Zool Suleman is an advocate, writer, and cultural collaborator. He is the Editor of Rungh and the Executive Director of the Rungh Cultural Society. He co-founded Rungh (1991) as a national South Asian focused arts initiative and relaunched Rungh in 2017 as a creative platform for Indigenous, Black, and racialized artist conversations.

As an arts advocate, he protested against the Vancouver Art Gallery’s exclusionary art practices as an active member of the Artists’ Coalition for Local Colour. He was a founding member of the Minquon Panchayat, one of Canada’s first national IBPOC-led artist movements which challenged the lack of anti-racism initiatives in Canada’s artist-run-centres and arts institutions.

Appointed by the BC Minister of Culture, he co-chaired a province-wide Status of the Artist Committee, which was instrumental in the formation of the BC Arts Council. Over the last three decades, he has been involved in various capacities with the Canada Council for the Arts, Heritage Canada, the Province of BC, and the City of Vancouver. In addition to his engagements as a cultural connector, he advocates for immigrants and refugees and has been active in national and local civil society initiatives against racism, racial profiling, and Islamophobia. https://rungh.org/artists/zool-suleman/

David Ng

PhD student at The Social Justice Institute at UBC

David Ng is a PhD student at The Social Justice Institute at UBC. He is a queer, feminist, media artist, and co-founder of Love Intersections, a media arts organization of queer artists of colour. His current research and artistic practices grapple with queer, racialized, and diasporic identity, and how intersectional identities can be expressed through media arts. His interests include imagining new possibilities of how queer racialized artists can use their practice to transform communities. His work has also recently included collaborations with Primary Colours / Couleurs primaires, which is a national initiative to put Indigenous arts practices at the centre of the Canadian art centre through the leadership of Indigenous artists, supported by artists of colour.

His work through Love Intersections has been exhibited at over 40 film festivals worldwide, including the KASHISH film festival (India), AKS Art and Dialogue Festival for minorities (Pakistan), Kansai Queer Film Festival (Japan), Vancouver Queer Film Festival, Image+Nation (Montreal), International Queer Migrant Film Festival (Netherlands), Scotland Queer Film Festival, Leeds Queer Film Festival, Divine Queer Film Festival (Italy), and the Queer Minorities Film Festival (Austria).

France Trépanier

Visual Artist

France Trépanier is a visual artist, curator, and researcher. Her practice is often informed by strategies of collaboration and community engagement. Her artistic and curatorial work has been presented in many venues in Canada, the US, and Europe. France was selected by the Canada Council for the Arts to be part of the first International Indigenous Curators Exchange in Australia, New Zealand, and the Venice Biennale. She was the co-recipient of the 2012 Inaugural Audain Aboriginal Curatorial Fellowship by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

France co-authored with Chris Creighton-Kelly Understanding Aboriginal Art in Canada Today: A Knowledge and Literature Review for the Canada Council for the Arts and is co-director of the Primary Colours/Couleurs primaires initiative. She worked as an arts consultant with a wide range of institutions and organizations such as the National Arts Centre, National Film Board, Cultural Human Resources Council, Banff Centre for the Arts, First Peoples Cultural Council, Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance, OCAD University, Yukon Arts Centre, and BC Museum Association. She worked at the Canada Council for the Arts before becoming a Senior Arts Policy Advisor for the Department of Canadian Heritage. She held a diplomatic post as First Secretary, Cultural Affairs at the Canadian Embassy in Paris. She directed the Centre for New Media at the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris. France was also the co-founder and Director of the artist-run center Axe Néo-7 in Gatineau, Quebec. France is of Kanien’kehà:ka and French ancestry.

Umeeda Switlo

President, Naledo Belize Ltd

Umeeda was born in Uganda to a family of entrepreneurs. Her father managed an insurance company, her mother ran a Montessori school, and both raced cars!

Only fifteen, Umeeda fled Uganda for Canada as a refugee along with her family. Her mother cooked to help keep the stories of ‘home’ alive and instilled in her family a strong sense of social responsibility. Food and social responsibility formed the basis of Umeeda’s future endeavours.

Umeeda first went to Belize to volunteer with the Belizean government through CUSO International to share her business skills with youth. While there, she learned how other Indians’ ancestors had come to the country as indentured servants over 200 years ago. One showed her the turmeric that grew wild on his land, originally brought there by their ancestors. It was the most vivid orange and the best quality she had seen, so she developed a recipe for the world’s first wildcrafted, whole root turmeric paste, called “Truly Turmeric.”

She subsequently built a social enterprise that would support growers to earn additional income, employ youth, improve health around the world, and produce products sustainably. Her company’s name is derived from the district in Belize where the turmeric is sourced, Toledo, and her daughter Nareena’s name. Na + ledo = Naledo.

Shahira Patni-Tejpar

Artist & Retired Immigration Professional

In 1969, at the age of ten, Shahira Patni-Tejpar immigrated to Canada from Mbale, Uganda, 3 years before the mass expulsion of Asians from Uganda. Her family pioneered the establishment of Jamatkhanas (community centres) and a faith-based institutional framework, and also helped the settlement of new arrivals from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.

She returned to Kenya fifteen years later and worked as an Immigration Program Officer with the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi. Her work involved assessing, interviewing and issuing visas to qualified prospective immigrants, students and refugees from 18 African countries that fell under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Visa Office based in Nairobi. After her return to Canada in 1990, she worked as an Immigration Advisor to a major Vancouver law firm. In 1996, she started her own Immigration practice, representing qualified, professional persons from all over the world and assisting them to apply for and obtain work permits or immigrant status for Canada.

She is now retired and focuses her energies on community service, pottery, tennis, squash and cycling.

Taslim Samji

Artist, Poet, Writer

Taslim Samji is a multidisciplinary artist, spoken word poet and writer. She is a change-maker who uses arts and culture as a vehicle to educate and inspire and is known for curating thought-provoking exhibitions showcasing the work of Muslim artists and people of colour, as well as sharing stories of immigration in response to xenophobia. Through her work, she explores identity, diversity and shared perspectives.

Taslim studied at Emily Carr University of Art & Design and also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia, where she majored in Asian Studies.

Over the past several years, she has served on various boards, including the City of Burnaby’s Public Art Advisory Committee, Acquisitions Committee, and currently the Burnaby Arts Council. She is a powerful advocate for the inclusion of BIPOC artists within the local art scene.

In 2017, Taslim received the ‘Women of the Decade in Arts and Leadership’, an international award presented by the Women Economic Forum in Delhi, India.

She is currently writing a cultural criticism/coming of age memoir where she explores cultural conditioning, generational trauma and the impact of colonialism through the eyes of a young South Asian girl.

To learn more about her work, visit www.TSamji.com

Dr. Parin Dossa

Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, Simon Fraser University

Dr. Dossa received her education in Africa, Europe, and North America. Her long-standing interest on displacement and critical feminist ethnography has led her to focus on the interface between social inequality, health, gender, and social palliation.

Based on her research on social suffering and narratives of harm and recovery, Dr. Dossa explores the differential effects of structural violence on the lived realities of largely Muslim women. She grounds her analysis in methodologies that capture reconstitution of lives on the margins of society. This orientation questions the conceptualization of the local and the everyday as discrete from the body politic, paving the way to present an alternative view of the margins as sites for the making of a just world.

Her publications include Social Palliation: Canadian Muslims’ Storied Lives on Living and Dying (2020), co-authored edited book, Transnational Aging and Reconfigurations of Kin-Work (2017) Afghanistan Remembers: Gendered Narrations of Violence and Culinary Practices (2014), Racialized Bodies, Disabling Worlds: Storied Lives of Immigrant Muslim Women (2009), and Poetics of Migration: Narratives of Iranian women in the Diaspora (2004). She has authored over 25 articles, published in national and international journals. Her book, Social Palliation: Canadian Muslims’ Storied Lives on Living and Dying was nominated for New Millennium Book Award, Society for Medical Anthropology, 2021.

Gustavo Febres

Actor

Born and raised in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Gustavo grew up raised and pampered by his grandfather who was a ventriloquist, theatre producer and actor. So there’s no mystery about whom he inherited his love for the stage from.

Gustavo’s first acting role came while he was waiting to enter university to study journalism and theatre. He took English classes at a language school where a group of students happened to be putting together a production of Bertolt Brecht’s Spanish Civil War play, Señora Carrar’s Rifles. He was assigned the role of a priest. From then on, Gustavo has appeared on stage in various productions, in Venezuela and then in Vancouver, including The Trickeries of Scapin, A Doctor in Spite of Himself, A Streetcar Named Desire, A Christmas Carol, The Frogs, Antigone, School for Wives, Corpus Christi, Alley Cats, Love! Valour! Compassion! and, for seven years in a row, Tony and Tina’s Wedding. Though his first love has always been live theatre, he has appeared in numerous film and TV roles and has done commercials and voice overs.

Jalal Jaffer

Lawyer & Author

Jalal immigrated to Canada from Uganda in 1972. He obtained a B.Sc.(Econ) from the London School of Economics, an M.Sc.(Econ) from Queen Mary College and an LLB from UBC Law School. He has subsequently been practicing law in British Columbia since 1978 and, in 2015, was conferred a Queens Counsel by the Government of British Columbia.

Volunteerism being a strong foundational value as an Ismaili Muslim, in this capacity, Jalal has also held various senior leadership positions within his faith-based community in Canada. Most recently, he has published a book entitled Memories of a Ugandan Refugee: A Journey of Hope from Kampala to Vancouver.

Kimira Reddy

Set Designer

Kimira is an accomplished artist gratefully creating and practicing her art on the un-ceded Coast Salish Territories. As an award-winning set designer, you can see her work on theatre stages around BC. She is also the Communications Director of Raven Spirit Dance. By combining her creative imagination and technical expertise, Kimira brings artists’ visions into the innovative world of virtual reality. Originally from sunny South Africa, she holds an MFA in Design from UBC. Credits: Featured artist for Indian Summer Festival, VR Technician for Uninterrupted (Canada Wild Arts Society), set design for Catalina La O (JKJK), Himmat (Theatre Conspiracy), Peace Country (Rice & Beans Theatre), Men Express Their Feelings (Zee Zee Theatre), Ominous Sound at the River Crossing (Touchstone Theatre); In Response to Alabama (Little Thief Theatre), we the same (Ruby Slippers), Like It Or Not (Greenthumb Theatre), Zoning Out (Blackout Theater), No Child (The Arts Club), as well as props for Foolish Operations.

Find out more about Kimira at www.kimirareddy.com

Angela Konrad

Director Mentor

Angela is a director, teacher, and dramaturg who has been working in theatre for more than 20 years. She has directed regularly at Pacific Theatre, where productions include The Cake, Outside Mullingar, Wit, Mourning Dove, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, Grace, Last Train to Nibroc, and Traveler in the Dark. Angela has been nominated for several Jessie Awards, winning once for Outstanding Direction and three times for Outstanding Production.

Dramaturgy credits include The Ristretto Proposal, Bride on Credit, Picture This, disPLACE, Upside-Down Christmas, and Black Skin Deep. She is Artistic Director of Dark Glass Theatre, with whom she directed disPLACE, Ruined, and The Amish Project and for whom she curates and hosts the ongoing storytelling series Trespass. Angela is a big fan of Melissa Oei, as an actor and a human, and is delighted to get to walk alongside as Melissa helms this fascinating play.

Find out more about Angela at www.darkglasstheatre.com

Donnie Tejani

Costume Designer

Donnie Tejani is an award-winning costume designer and has been working consistently within the Vancouver theatre community since 2016 primarily in musical theatre. When not designing costumes, Donnie can often be found dressing backstage on shows for the Arts Club or styling wigs for performers and drag queens as, “OMG Wigs.” You may recognize some of his work from the reality competition series, Canada’s Drag Race. Notable credits: The Rocky Horror Show (Studio 58), Like it or Not (Green Thumb Theatre) and Company (Raincity Theatre) for which he won the Jessie Award alongside his mentor, Christina Sinosich. Upcoming: Cabaret (Raincity Theatre), Anne of Green Gables (Gateway Theatre).

Matthias Falvai

Assistant Sound Designer

Matthias is a Multi-disciplinary Creative from Nanaimo, BC. Raised in a Hungarian refugee home, hard work and ambition were instilled at a young age, which he focuses into film-making, acting, and sound design. Past sound design credits include: Act of Faith (Realwheels Theatre), Freedom ’56 (Studio 58), The Winter’s Tale (Carousel Theatre), Jerusalem (United Players), Henry V (East End Boys Club), CLIO – A Giant Clitoris Puppet Learning to Love Herself (Puppets Not Patriarchy), We the Same (Ruby Slippers), and an Off-Broadway production of Reborning (Reality Curve Theatre). Hear his next credit at How to Believe in Anything (Dreamphase Productions). Matthias is a graduate of Vancouver Island University and Studio 58.

Joelysa Pankanea

Composer / Sound Designer

Originally from Kenya, East Africa, Joelysa is an award-winning composer based in Vancouver, BC. A seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in composition, musical direction, and sound design, her music has been featured in multiple theatre productions, short films, chamber orchestras, and choirs. In the realm of theatre, Joelysa has composed everything from large scale musicals to original sound designs. Her most recent score is currently featuring in Romeo and Juliet at Bard on the Beach. Thrilled and honoured to be a part of this beautiful production (that mirrors the reality of her own family history), Joelysa is especially grateful to Salim Rahemtulla for putting this moving story onto the page and stage.

Rebekah Johnson (she/her)

Lighting Designer

Rebekah is pleased to be invited to work on this project for Western Gold! She has been a lighting designer for nearly 40 years and has worked across the country for companies such as Magnus Theatre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, and Persephone Theatre, and, closer to home, Theatre North West, Western Canada Theatre, and Kaleidoscope Theatre. She is currently the General Manager and resident designer for Blue Bridge Theatre in Victoria where favorites include Of Mice and Men and Macbeth directed by Brian Richmond, and Waiting for Godot and A Christmas Carol directed by Jacob Richmond.

Other favourites include Stones in His Pockets for Persephone Theatre—interrupted by the pandemic in March 2020 and returning this fall—and Mamma Mia for the Victoria Operatic Society. She is a sessional instructor and lighting mentor at the University of Victoria and lives in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish, home of the Cowichan Tribes.

Layla A. Jaffer

Cultural Liaison

Following a successful career in the Canadian hospitality and tourism industry, where Layla A. Jaffer developed an influential reputation for new market development, travel destination, and international cooperative marketing, she is currently a multi-media artist, muralist, and designer in fashion, graphics, interiors, and event décor. She seeks opportunities for multi-functionality by re-imagining and integrating recycled materials into her work and her creative style is eclectic, influenced by diverse cultural exposure over the decades.

Layla was born and raised in East Africa and immigrated to Canada as a young adult with her parents and siblings. As a grateful Canadian and Ismaili Muslim with volunteerism a key value, Layla generously gives back to country and community by sharing her expertise, particularly with seniors. She is a natural leader, engaging workshop facilitator, eloquent MC and moderator, and accomplished event planner.

Karen Chiang

Stage Manager

Karen Chiang 蔣家寧, is a trilingual, Vancouver-based theatre artist and translator who is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. She has various experiences in stage management and technical direction. She is especially interested in creating art that surrounds the themes of culture, identity, and justice. Selected credits include: I Swallowed a Moon made of Iron (Music Picnic, PuSh performing arts festival), Funny Money (Western Gold Theatre), Haven (United Players), buto/buto: bones are seeds (National Pilipino Canadian Cultural Centre and Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society).

Rachel Brew

Assistant Stage Manager

Rachel (She/Her) is a technician, stage manager, and creative currently working and living in Vancouver. Since arriving in Vancouver from the UK in 2021, Rachel has worked in many differing roles in both film and theatre with companies such as Rumble Theatre, Warner Brothers, Apple TV, Touchstone Theatre, Playwrights Theatre Company, Presentation House Theatre, Western Gold Theatre, Pi Theatre, and Pacific Theatre. Rachel also has experience working in the UK at Sheffield Theatres, Only Lucky Dogs, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and others. Working and learning in Vancouver has been a fresh and exciting step in her career.

Yusuf Rahim

Dhirendra

Yusef Rahim

Soon to appear as ‘Imran’ in CBC Gem/HBO Max Peabody Award winning show Sort Of, known for the Gemini nominated Jinnah on Crime movies, Dhirendra’s career spans 30+ years.

His theatre credits include Raj in Raj from Edmonton (a one man show), Dr. Aziz in A Passage to India, Dean Rebel in Totterdown Tanzi, Bakha in Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable, Edgar in King Lear and Nitin in Bravely Fought the Queen, Pariag in Dragon Can’t Dance, and Octavius/Lucius in Julius Caesar directed by Roger Rees.

Amongst his copious TV and film credits, Dhirendra has had lead roles in such films as After Midnight, Binodini, Underfunded, and Possession.

He co-founded British Asian Theatre Co. and Star Productions Film/Video Collective in the UK.

He is the voice of Simon in the animation series LEGO Jurassic World, for which he received a Leo nomination in the best male voice performance category, a UBCP/ACTRA Award for the best voice in an animated series, and a SOVAS award for Best Voiceover in Outstanding Animated Program on TV or Web.

Dhirendra is a Co-Chair on the UBCP/ACTRA BIPOC Committee, a firm believer in giving back. He also serves on the Scholarship Committee and the Mentorship Committee.

He is The President of the Medusa Theatre Society Board and also a working Board member on RESO (Racial Equity Screen Office).

Akshaya Pattanayak

Nasser Rahim

Akshaya is an actor and professor based in Vancouver. The name Akshaya means “never ending.” He was born in Montreal, Canada but raised in different parts of India. He graduated in 2019 with an MFA in Acting from the University of Southern California and currently teaches acting courses at the Vancouver Film School. Notable theatre credits include Bad Hamlet, Milkcrate Monologues, and Macbeth. His film and TV credits include the comedy pilot Last Bite and the short film Digby and Glass. He is slated to be the lead in the short film Wellington and his role in an upcoming television show will be announced soon.

Parm Soor

Munir Kassam

Parm was born in Punjab, India and raised in London, England. He went on to study theatre at The University of Winnipeg. Stage highlights include The Arts Club productions of A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Orchard, and The Humans at The Stanley Theatre, and The Men in White at The Granville Island Stage. Additional shows include A Vancouver Guldasta at the Cultch, Macbeth at The Firehall Arts Centre, Romeo and Juliet at Kaleidoscope Theatre, and Coronation Voyage at The National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

He has also appeared in over 40 television shows and numerous Hollywood blockbusters including Watchmen, 2012, Tomorrowland, and Maze Runner.

Sabrina Vellani

Shamira Rahim

Sabrina Vellani is an Indo-Canadian actor, poet, and daughter of Tanzanian Ismaili immigrants. She graduated from UBC’s BFA Theatre Acting program in 2018. She has been in productions such as Killjoy Theatre’s Burqa Boutique (directed by Gavan Cheema & Jamie King), Axis Theatre’s co-production with Babelle Theatre entitled All My Friends Are Animals (directed by Marie Farsi), Brave New Play Rites Festival’s production of Breather (Directed by Rose Paine) and the Pull Festival’s production of (The) Fort (directed by Tai Amy Grauman). She recently played the role of Nafisa in the Arts Club Theatre’s audio production of The Wrong Bashir (Directed by Sherry J. Yoon). You can also find Sabrina’s work in Five Cedar Films’ short film Speak (directed by Shaheed Devji), which premiered in IFFSA’s Virtual 2020 Festival.

Sabrina’s poetry has been published in various magazines and journals across North America and the UK. Her latest writing can be found in PRISM International, The Anti-Languorous Project, Pulp Magazine and New York Quarterly. She is thrilled to be playing the role of Shamira in Salim Rahemtulla’s play 90 Days and hopes you enjoy the show!

Nimet Kanji

Parin Rahim

Nimet Kanji was born in Nairobi, Kenya and began acting on stage with the local theatre company. She emigrated to Vancouver in 1989 where she continued to work on stage. She began her career in film and TV in 2001 and has had the pleasure of working with Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica), Kevin Sorbo (Paradox), John Cusack (Martian Child), and Sitara Hewitt (Little Mosque on the Prairie), amongst other notable names. Her theatre credits include Sultans of the Street (Carousel Theatre), 9 Parts of Desire (The Maggie Tree), Bombay Black (2017 Vancouver Fringe), and Victim Impact (Theatre Conspiracy). She is represented by Lucas Talent.

Columpa C. Bobb

Columpa is a playwright, actor, educator, and activist of Tsleil Waututh and Nlaka’pamux heritage. She has been a theatre practitioner for over 33 years now. She has worked across Canada and the globe. Jumping Mouse (co-written with Marion deVries), a play for young audiences, was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award and a James Buller Award. She’s also an award-winning actor, known for both stage and television work

She is the founding Artistic Director of the Aboriginal Arts Training and Mentorship program as well as Urban Indigenous Theatre Company, a multi-generational troupe creating positive, multi-disciplinary expressions of cultural self-determination.

Victoria Perrie

Victoria Perrie is a Metis and Swampy Cree Lawyer and Artist from Winnipeg, currently living in Nunavut. She has been working in the arts for over 16 years. Victoria approaches her work in both theatre and law from a trauma informed perspective.

Antony Knight

Composer

Antony Knight is a Vancouver based composer, singer and actor. He holds a Bachelor of Music in both Opera Performance and Composition from the University of British Columbia. Antony has written in many different styles such as pop/contemporary, musical theatre, film music, orchestral and opera. Notably, he was awarded Best Score at the Persistence of Vision Film Festival for the film The Knockers (2019), premiered his opera “Oh Alfred!” at the Vernon Proms Classical Music Festival (2021), and had an orchestra piece read by both the Victoria and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestras (2021).

Siyam Lee Maracle

Siyam Lee Maracle is the author of a number of critically acclaimed literary works including: Sojourner’s and Sundogs [collected work of novel and short stories], Polestar/Raincoast, Ravensong [novel], Bobbi Lee [autobiographical novel], Daughters Are Forever, [novel] Will’s Garden [young adult novel], Bent Box [poetry], I Am Woman [creative non-fiction], and is the co-editor of a number of anthologies including the award winning publication, My Home As I Remember [anthology] Natural Heritage books. She is also co-editor and contributor of Telling It: Women and Language across Culture [conference proceedings].

Ms. Maracle is published in anthologies and scholarly journals worldwide. Ms. Maracle was born in North Vancouver and is a member of the Sto: Loh nation. The mother of four and grandmother of seven, Maracle was an instructor at the University of Toronto. She was also the Traditional Teacher for First Nation’s House and instructor with the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and the S.A.G.E. [Support for Aboriginal Graduate Education] as well as the Banff Centre for the Arts writing instructor.

In 2009, Maracle received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from St. Thomas University. Maracle also received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work promoting writing among Aboriginal Youth. Maracle served as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, and the University of Western Washington. Celia’s Song [novel], Work in progress Memory Serves and Other Words [creative non-fiction]. She received the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

Ms. Maracle taught for month as a tenured professor for Kwantlen Polytechnic University – Surrey Campus. She has two books that are soon to be published.

Nancy Ebert

Léontine

Nancy is thrilled to be appearing with Western Gold Theatre for the first time and delighted at the opportunity to work with such a talented cast and director. Recent performances include Erma Bombeck in At Wit’s End, and selected characters in The Vagina Monologues, both with Peninsula Productions. Working as a teacher for 35 years, Nancy was also active in the community theatre scene. Since retiring, her favourite roles include Mother Miriam Ruth in Agnes of God, Vera in 4000 Miles, Annie in Calendar Girls, Nana in For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, and Polly Wyeth in Other Desert Cities. Her film and T.V. credits include many roles too small to mention, although she did appear in one movie as Vomit Woman 3.

Jennifer-Juniper Angeli

Léonide

Jennifer-Juniper has been acting professionally for over 30 years in BC, Alberta and Ontario. A graduate of Studio 58, she is excited to be back on stage with this wonderful company, after working primarily in film & TV since becoming a mother 17 years ago. Jennifer-Juniper also performs as elegant, comical, and fantastical characters on stilts, with her children and husband, at festivals & events near and far. Let the fun romp begin!

Vince Metcalf

Harlequin

Vince Metcalfe has performed in theatre film and television for some 50 years in Canada and around the world. He has also survived a marriage, children, a home . . . the full catastrophe! And happily so for 40+ years. You may say a singular triumph of love! He is a graduate of Studio 58.

Anna Hagan

Director

Anna’s long and accomplished career has been honoured with a Jessie Richardson Theatre award for Outstanding Career Achievement, as well as being inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.

She served as assistant director of the Stratford Festival’s Young Company and was mentored by the internationally renowned director Robin Phillips, Anna then went on to be one of three Canadians invited to participate in the International Directors Seminar in London, England.

Favourite directing credits include: Waiting for Godot, The Merry Wives of Windsor, She Stoops to Conquer, and all the OOF productions for Western Gold Theatre!

Her extensive acting credits include: Streetcar Named Desire, The Music Man, Our Town, A Man for All Seasons, and the acclaimed World Theatre production of The Mill on the Floss (Soulpepper Theatre, Toronto). Vancouver audiences will have seen her in A Delicate Balance, Old Goriot, Half Life, Home Child, Three Tall Woman,Vigil, The Dining Room, Red Birds, and Escaped Alone. Anna was the Artistic Director of Western Gold Theatre for a total of 12 years. She now serves on the Board of Directors.

Ishan Sandhu

Agis

Ishan is an actor and writer from India, currently residing on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories belonging to the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. He is a graduate of UBC’s BFA Acting and BA Economics program. Selected theater credits: Men Express Their Feelings (Zee Zee); Commedia Dell’arte, The Wars, and The Changeling (UBC); and The Here and This and Now (United Players). Ishan will be making his debut on Bard this summer in Romeo and Juliet as Paris

Gerry MacKay

Hermocrate

Gerry Mackay is pleased to be back at WGT.He has spent the past 35 years performing in theatres across the country, including at The Stratford festival, Bard on the Beach, The Citadel, The Belfry, Touchstone, and the Arts Club theatre. Gerry lives in North Vancouver with his wife and two daughters. Enjoy the show!

Tracy Jennissen

Corine

Originally from Northern Manitoba, Tracy is a transplant to Vancouver via Toronto and New York. Some previous theatre credits include Beautiful Man (Pi Theatre – Vancouver), The Red Priest (United Players – Vancouver), Call Raul (Alumnae Theatre-Toronto), Alice Au Pays Des Merveilles (Soho Playhouse-NYC), Macbeth (13th Street Rep-NYC), Hamlet (Red Room-NYC), Machinal (Wings Zephyr -NYC) and Brooklyn Bets Alexi (Hudson Guild Theatre – NYC). Tracy is proud to have contributed as a member of Realize Your Beauty, a New York based not-for-profit promoting positive body image through theatre arts: http://www.realizeyourbeauty.org . Tracy is a graduate of Ryerson University & Stella Adler Studio of Acting.

Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph

Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph is a traditionally trained speaker in the Coast Salish Longhouse. He is deeply involved in many Traditional Cultural and Spiritual activities including Tribal Journeys and supporting families in times of loss. Among others, he attributes his teachings primarily to Coast Salish Elders. He worked for Squamish Nation for 40 years, 28 of them as an elected representative.

Dennis is an accomplished musician. He is co-founding member of the rock and blues group Bitterly Divine. A few years ago, he joined the rocking group Whyte Feather, formed in 1968 who currently have a documentary on them in the works. More recently, he formed a group with his Haida Gwaii brother Jamie Thomson whose music is based on their respective Cultures.

Riley Davis

Riley is an actor, writer, and filmmaker based in Vancouver. Selected theatre credits include: Mary’s Wedding (Stones throw/Pacific Theatre), girls! girls! girls! (Excavation Theatre), Lonestar, Love and Information, and Edward II (Theatre@UBC). Selected Film/TV credits: Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, and the feature film Sniper: Assassin’s End, which is now streaming on Apple TV. Riley is a graduate of the UBC BFA Acting program. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Terence Kelly

2022 marks the 60th year of Mr. Kelly’s life as a professional actor. Although based in Vancouver, Terence has played in most of the major theatres across Canada, from Montreal to Victoria. His television and film credits number in the hundreds and span locations from the Yukon to Tahiti. There were also thousands of radio serials and dramas that he contributed to in the early years.

In his own words: “It is a joy to be once again playing with Western Gold Theatre and with the wonderful ensemble of veteran players they bring together for these scripted performances.”

Tanja Dixon-Warren

Tanja was last seen with WGT in Escaped Alone and Jack of Diamonds. Recent theatre includes: Act of Faith (Real Wheels), A Prayer for Owen Meany (ETC /Pacific Theatre), The Wolves (With a Spoon /Pacific Theatre), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (ETC) and Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish (Axis Theatre). Film/TV includes a bunch of blink & you’ll miss ‘em roles, plus the occasional role with an actual name! Nominated for a number of Jessies, she is most proud to have received the Mary Phillips Award.

Tanja is the Artistic Director of Western Gold.

Dave Campbell

Dave is celebrating 20 years acting in Vancouver with his sixth role with Western Gold Theatre. Previously he played Arnold in Jack of Diamonds, Mr Wilson in Harvey, Roger in Comfort Cottages, Sir Toby in Twelfth Night and Officer Welch in Rumors. Dave has also performed with Patrick Street Productions, Itsazoo Productions, Ensemble Theatre Co, Fighting Chance, United Players, Theatre Under the Stars, UBC Players Club and Metro Theatre.

Dave is the host of The Eclectic Lunch on CiTR.ca. He is grateful for the love and support of the amazing Ronaye Haynes.

Jack Rigg

Jack began working in the theatre as a student ASM at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London in 1967. He joined the National Theatre at the Old Vic for a brief period in 1969 and 1970, before returning to Canada to attend Studio 58. On graduating, he worked as an actor in Vancouver in the 1970s. He spent 22 years in the Middle East teaching but managed to return to the UK as Property Master for the RSC in the summer of 1978 and later to attend The Central School of Speech and Drama (Shakespeare and Verse).

He was last on stage (before the plague) playing the Professor in Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem at the Jericho Arts Centre. This is his first production with Western Gold, and he is extremely happy to be playing with old friends and new, in this production of Funny Money.

Bernard Cuffling

Bernard has been a professional Actor/ Director in Vancouver for 45 years. He was born in London, UK but is now [since 1974] a Canadian citizen.

Bernard has appeared or directed in major theatres in Western Canada. As an actor, he has worked on productions at National Theatre in Ottawa and has been seen in more productions at the Vancouver Arts Club than any other actor. Bernard works in TV and movies as well and has just completed a guest star role in the new TV series Reginald the Vampire.

In the year 2000, he was the recipient of the Sam Payne award, presented by UBCP@ACTRA. He received a Jessie award for his lifelong commitment to theatre and is also proud that he is a member of the BC Walk of Fame.

Creative Accessibilities Facilitator

Dr. Julia Henderson

Dr. Julia Henderson is a Postdoctoral Fellow with Concordia University’s Department of Communication Studies and its Ageing+Communication+Technologies Lab. Her body of research considers narratives of aging and old age in contemporary North American theatre, and specifically analyses plays that challenge ageist beliefs and stereotypes. Her work offers insights to theatre practitioners on how dramatic structure, design, staging, performance style, and marketing might influence understandings of age.

Julia works with the Raising the Curtain Project of Gibsons BC, which re-imagines dementia tragedy narratives through collaborative creation with people with the lived experience of dementia. In addition to her training as a researcher, Julia has a background as both a professional actor and an occupational therapist who has worked largely with older populations. Her current roles include a position as Special Projects Manager in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at University of British Columbia.

Julia’s writing about age and theatre has been published in The Journal of American Drama and Theatre, Theatre Research in Canada, Canadian Theatre Review, Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance, Age, Culture, Humanities: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Geriatrics and the Thornton Wilder Journal. In 2019, her paper at the Trent Aging 2019 conference won the joint European Network in Aging Studies & the North American Network in Aging Studies emerging scholar award.

Julia is also the Vice Chair of the North American Network in Aging Studies Governing Council, and is a member of the Canadian Association for Theatre Research’s Anti-racism and Anti-discrimination Task Force. She recently co-guested edited the first special issue of Theatre Research in Canada/Recherches théâtrales au Canada that addresses age as an intersectional identity category to be released in November 2021; the issue features Western Gold’s production of Caryl Churchill’s Escaped Alone on its cover. Julia acted as Senior Access Consultant on Western Gold’s workshop and production of Martin Bellemare’s The Ballad of Georges Boivin.

Cuneyt Sarikaya

Director

Cuneyt is a Business Analyst that contributes to Western Gold with his industrial background. He studied International Commerce in Bogazici University, Turkey. He moved to Canada in 2017 and has been working in the energy industry since then. He received training in energy management and renewables and is a Certified Energy Manager.

Currently, Cuneyt works for a startup IT company in the solar energy arena. In his free time, he likes flying drones over natural areas and producing videos.

Helen Volkow

Helen’s involvement with theatre goes back to the 1960s with VLTA at the old York Theatre on Commercial Drive. Over the past couple of decades, Helen has been involved in stage plays and musicals with Lindberg Academy, Stage 43, North Vancouver Community Players, White Rock Players, Hoarse Raven Theatre, Vancouver Moving Theatre, and United Players, to name a few.

She has also been an award nominee for Best Supporting Role for Yente in Fiddler on the Roof, and an award winner for Neil Simon’s play Fools. It was a real pleasure for Helen to work on The Christmas Carol – A Radio Play with Place des Arts and Western Gold Theatre.

Coquitlam Youth Theatre (CYT)

The Coquitlam Youth Theatre is a performance-based youth theatre company. The teen actors work with professional theatre directors, master theatre artists, and designers. Based out of Place des Arts, an arts centre and music school in Coquitlam, the Coquitlam Youth Theatre Company hone acting, singing, and dancing skills and put on three presentations throughout the season.

A Christmas Carol – The Radio Play Ensemble: Jared Batac Co, Tasha Barham, Norah Rachel Benjamin, Karen (K) Castro, Ryan Coghill, Indah Del Bianco, Yvette Dunham, Mackenzie Hurd and Jaitan Malhotra

Jennifer Burgmann

Jennifer Burgmann has a BFA in Theatre from Simon Fraser University (2004), and is currently enrolled in the Realwheels Acting Academy. She has experience in acting, directing, and writing, and has enjoyed collaborating with artists from various disciplines.

Cadence Rush Quibell

Cadence Rush Quibell, after a long hiatus, is back to the world of theatre with this production of A Christmas Carol – The Radio Play. They grew up doing musical theatre and took some acting classes in college, and are proud to be a member of the newly formed RealWheels Acting Academy. They are really looking forward to any future acting endeavours.

Emily Grace Brook

Script Adaptation / Director

Emily Grace Brook is a Writer/Actor/Producer, trained in The Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program. She has written two short films: Work Bites (2013) and The Specials (2015). Her work on The Specials has been distributed internationally and screened internationally in Austin, Texas. It was also awarded “Best North American Comedy Short” at the 2016 Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival.

Emily made her theatre debut in Real Wheels Theatre’s 2019 production of Act of Faith and last graced the stage in Alley Theatre’s 2021 Docu-theatre/Dance creation, #Whatnow.

Michael Vairo

Michael is a graduate of the professional theatre program at Studio 58 here in Vancouver. It was an absolute pleasure working with the team from Western Gold Theatre, Real Wheels Theatre, and the staff at Place des Arts on this classic Yuletide tale! Thank you, Tanja, thank you, Emily and thank you, Michael Fera. Buon Natale everyone!!!

Don Stewart

Vancouver Jazz singer Don Stewart sings beautiful songs with a unique style and a rich voice capable of great emotional power and also delicate sensitivity. He tells stories of love, hurt, and joy in a memorable and beautiful way that leaves his audiences transfixed.

Don lives in the Performing Arts Lodge and often appears in shows in the theatre. He is well known for his one man show Unforgettable that celebrates the music and life of Nat King Cole.

In Memory of Gerry Lecovin

Past WGT Board Member

Western Gold Theatre dedicates The Ballad of Georges Boivin Gerald Lecovin.

It takes a minute to recognize a special person, an hour to appreciate them, and a day to benefit from their friendship; but it takes an entire lifetime to forget them.

In memory of Gerald Lecovin: a friend, a supporter, a donor, and a longtime Board member of Western Gold Theatre.

Gerald was a lawyer, fisherman, tireless volunteer, and great lover of music and theatre (who was known to grace the stage himself!). He was a true community guy, and we at Western Gold Theatre have much to thank him for. His friendliness, wit, and enormous heart
are missed by everyone.

Glenn MacDonald

General & Production Manager

Glenn trained in all aspects of the theatre at the Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg during the magnificent tenure of the legendary John Hirsch. He has worked as an actor, Stage Manager, Production Manager and Designer for theatres across Canada and in the US including The Vancouver Playhouse, Arts Club Theatre, Stratford Festival, Charlottetown Festival and Studio Arena Theatre (Buffalo, NY). In Vancouver, he produced You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown at Metro Theatre, and co-produced T-Shirts at City Stage and Torch Song Trilogy at the Cultch. In addition he worked in Production Management for Expo ’86 Entertainment Department where he managed a $12M budget. He Stage Managed the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Calgary Winter Olympics and was Operations Director for BC’s MUSIC ’91 province wide music festival. He also works in television and film in set decoration and has over 100 projects to his credit. He is the President of the PAL Studio Theatre Society and sits on the Board of Trustees of PAL Vancouver. Glenn has designed over 200 stage productions including 20 in the last seven years at the PAL Studio Theatre. He is the recipient of the 2016 Jesse Richardson Award for Outstanding Set Design for the production of Annapurna. He has managed Western Gold Theatre since 2012.

Nicola Lipman

Born at Vancouver General Hospital many years ago, I attended UBC and National Théâtre School, since which time I’ve been fortunate enough to work regularly in theatres across Canada. I’m the grateful recipient of four Jessie Awards and am daunted by, and delighted to be, part of this unique and challenging project. This one’s for my mum!

Martin Bellemare (il, he, him, his)

Playwright

A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada’s writing program, Martin Bellemare was awarded the 2009 Gratien Gélinas Prize for “Le Chant de Georges Boivin.” His play “La Liberté” was presented at La Rubrique (Jonquière) in 2013 and in Montreal in 2015, and was scheduled to be staged in Ottawa in 2020.

“Maître Karim la perdrix” (2018 Prix SACD de la dramaturgie francophone, awarded by the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques) will premiere at the Théâtre des Capucins in Luxembourg in 2021. “Moule Robert” (CNL Scholarship, shortlisted for the 2017 Prix SACD de la dramaturgie francophone and the 2018 Michel Tremblay Prize) was produced simultaneously at La Rubrique and at the POCHE/ GVE in Geneva, then at the Théâtre de Belleville in Paris.

Martin is a four-time recipient of the Aide à la création grant from the Centre national du Théâtre/ARTCENA in Paris, and two of his plays are included in the repertoire of the Comédie-Française. Two of his plays for young audiences, “Un château sur le dos” and “Des pieds et des mains,” which was first produced at the NAC, have toured in Canada and internationally.

In 2019, “Extraordinaire et mystérieux” and “Charlie et le djingpouite” were produced, and Cœur minéral premiered at the Francophonies in Limoges. The latter play was scheduled for a Montreal production in 2020. Martin was one of the five playwrights nominated for Canada’s leading theatre award, the 2020 Siminovitch Prize.

Jay Brazeau

Jay is seemingly everywhere. His TV work includes Supernatural, Cold Squad, Stargate SGI, Bate Motel, Rogue, West Wing, The X-Files, 5 Star Xmas, Garage Sale Mysteries, The Exorcist, Cedar Cove, and The Killing. Films include Noelle, Double Jeopardy, Watchmen, Insomnia, Best in Show, Cool Runnings, We’re No Angels, The Possession, Andre, Head Over Heels, Sex After Kids, Gunless, Fathers and Sons, and, most recently, Attic Trunk. Countless voice roles from Sabrina: The Animated Series to My Little Pony, plus voicing the NFB Oscar-nominated The Big Snit and Playtime.

Favourite theatre roles include Man in the Chair – The Drowsy Chaperone (N. A. C., Vancouver Playhouse), Tevye – Fiddler on the Roof (California The Rubicon Theatre,MTC), The Goat (Presentation House Theatre), Urinetown (Firehall Theatre), Boy Wonder – Diddy The Musical (Citadel Theatre, NAC), Tartuffe (M.T.C.), Cyrano (Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival), The Wiz in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s North American Tour of Wizard of Oz, and the wonderful Edna Turnblad in the Canadian premiere of Hairspray.

Assistant Director

Hannah Siden (she, her, hers)

Assistant Director

Hannah is a filmmaker, writer, and actor from Vancouver. Most recently, she wrote and directed the short film Breathing Easy over Zoom, featuring Arts Club regulars Agnes Tong and Anita Wittenberg. She also directed, produced, and co-edited a music video for singer-songwriter David Beckingham in collaboration with Ballet BC, Plastic Wings. Additionally, Hannah co-produced a participatory documentary mini-series about homelessness shot on iPhone, Home Stream, which was distributed by NowThis and Little Dot Studios. She holds a degree in International Development from McGill, an MA in Acting from East 15, and a postgrad filmmaking diploma from the London Film Academy. www.hannahsiden.com

Jack Paterson (he, him, his)

Translator / Director

Jack is an award-winning theatre maker whose work and practice has taken him across Canada, Europe and around the world. His work has ranged from contemporary devising, multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural and multi-lingual projects to new works and texts, contemporary approaches to classical theatre and main stages. He is a recipient of The Ray Michal Outstanding Body of Work Award, The Cole Foundation Award for Emerging Translators, and The John Moffat and Larry Lillo Award for Outstanding West Coast Artist.

In Vancouver, he is the founder of multi-award-winning Mad Duck Theatre Collective for whom he adapted and directed Vancouver’s first female Prospero in The Tempest and the Vancouver premieres of Titus Andronicus, Coriolanus and Shakespeare’s R&J. He is the Co-founder and Creative Producer of BoucheWHACKED! Theatre Collective bridging local, national, and international artists and audience separated by distance, language, and culture (Vancouver). He’s also the co-founder and creative producer of Global Hive Labs., an international network of theatre makers working together in shared creation.

19/20 pre-pandemic projects included: the international access devised creation projects Medusa USA (Steppenwolf Theatre, USA) and Medusa UK (The Pleasance Theatre & remounted at The Cockpit Theatre, London UK); a fusion of traditional Balinese performing arts and contemporary devised creation, Balinese Folk Tales (SENI, Indonesia); the community devised creation lab. Enemy of the People: After Ibsen (Jericho Arts Centre, Vancouver); the Active Access international devised creation Atlantide (Teatro Trieste 34, Piacenza Italy); and 4 months embedded with German innovation incubator flausen+ (theatre wrede+ & flausen+ Network, Germany).

He trained at leading Circle in the Square (NYC, USA), GITIS The University of Performing Arts (Moscow, RU), SENI Indonesian Institute of the Arts (Bali, INA) and received his MFA from the renown East 15 Acting School (London, UK). www.jackpatersontheatre.com

Johanna Nutter (elle, she, her, hers)

Dramaturge / Translation Collaborator

Johanna Nutter (she, euro-settler, multidisciplinary artist) developed her passion for translation through acting: being one of few perfectly bilingual theatre artists, she played leading roles at Centaur (Good People, You Will Remember Me) and La Licorne (Les Événements). The attention of both circles came thanks to the success of her solo my pregnant brother/mon frère est enceinte, which she translated during a residency in Tadoussac, accompanied by Linda Gaboriau. The show toured across Canada and Quebec in both languages, and to the UK and Belgium. Subsequently, she translated the works of Annick Lefebvre (Barbed Wire), Guillaume Corbeil (You’ll Go Looking for Her), and Florence Longpré & Nicolas Michon’s ballet-theatre hybrid CHLORINE, which she also produced and directed at Centaur, with her company creature/creature.

Paul Beckett

Paul Beckett has been out of the theatre scene due, in large part, to the pandemic. But over this time, Paul has been finding his way with writing. Please keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for he and his partner’s one-act play, The Village Girl and the Frog King, which will be airing in a radio production on Vancouver Co-operative Radio, CFRO. The play, which probably brought Paul his greatest attention, was a one-man show about the late 19th century Parisian artist Henri de Toulouse Lautrec. That had to be about thirty years ago. Currently, Paul is working under CAEA contract to workshop the translation of Quebec writer Martin Bellemare’s piece, Western Gold: The Ballad of Georges Boivin, about four men, seniors, driving from Montreal to Vancouver in search of a long-lost love.

John Innes

John Innes was an early graduate of the National Theatre School (’67). He has performed in every major regional theatre in Canada, including 12 seasons with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival where he received a Tyrone Guthrie Award twice. He has also performed in regional theatres in the United States including three seasons with the Denver Center Theatre Company. In all, he has been a working actor for over 55 years.

Allan Morgan

Allan Morgan has been a professional actor for more than 30 years, with his home in Vancouver. He is currently one of the artists in residence at the Massey theatre in New Westminster. Allan’s acting work has taken him across the country, and he has been the recipient of numerous awards for his work. He has also written two one-person shows: Pride for the Young Gay, the Un-Gay and the Jaded Queen in All of Us, as well as, I Walked the Line.

Salim Rahemtulla

Salim Rahemtulla was born in Kampala and moved to Canada in 1974, after graduation in Computer Science from the University of Manchester, England. Retired in 2019 and with encouragement from his children, he has found the time to pursue his passion for creative writing. His first foray into theatre was playing “Whale” in Jonah and the Whale at the Aga Khan School Kampala in the late 1960s. He has just finished the script of his first play, 90 Days, which is about the traumatic 90-day period in which all non-indigenous countrymen of Uganda were expelled by dictator Idi Amin. It draws on Salim’s memories of growing up in Uganda in a modest family of nine siblings who became separated after the expulsion. He is also currently writing short stories that he hopes to publish soon. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and four children.

Michele Fontana

Member

Michele has worked extensively in the arts and culture sector, always striving to engage and inspire communities with interactive and participant-centred initiatives. He founded a theatre company, Trigono Teatro, which he led and managed together with two associates that shared enthusiasm and responsibilities. In Canada, he worked with The Cinematheque as Learning & Outreach Manager, leading the creation and delivery of more than 60 film education programs annually.

Currently, Michele works as the Manager of Realwheels’ Acting Academy, leading the design and development of a professional acting program completely devoted to people with disabilities. Since 1998, he has worked in national and international artistic productions as creator and producer in a few countries around the world. In 2007, he won the “Prova d’Attore” Italian National Contest for theatre actors. Michele holds a PhD, an MSc, and has received professional training in theatre and education. He is a first-generation immigrant and part of a multicultural family.

Tania Carter

Tania has a Master’s degree in theatre, which was written in poetry and dance. She was guided by the late Leonard George. She has a BA in World Literature and is a part author of Hope Matters. Her poetry has been published in several reviews and anthologies, and she attended Enowkin International School of Writing and Spirit Song theatre School.

THE HITCHHIKERS

Jamie Thomson (Haida Nation) Dennis Joseph (Squamish Nation) have joined forces to form The Hitchhikers. Performing original music inspired by the blues, their lives, and their culture, Jamie leads the way on guitar with Dennis adding melodic highlights on harmonica. The duo has years of performance experience in bands like Bitterly Divine, White Feather, & Intellifunk. They debuted The Hitchhikers for the summer 2019 festival circuit.

Melissa Oei

Melissa Oei is a theatre actor and director. She is a graduate of Studio 58’s Conservatory Acting program, Langara College’s Film Arts program, and Capilano University’s Theatre Arts program. Melissa has performed with dozens of companies across Western Canada, most recently in the one-person show The Twelve Dates of Christmas with Arts Club Theatre. Melissa is a recipient of the Antony Holland scholarship from Studio 58, the Aida Broadbent Award from Theatre Under the Stars, the Best Performer award from Langara’s Unlock the Vault film festival, an Ovation Award, and is a two-time Jessie Richardson Award nominee.

Melissa was born, raised, studied, works, and lives in Vancouver on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Melissa Oei: Curatorial Statement

When Artistic Director of Western Gold Theatre Tanja Dixon-Warren approached me about curating programming for Western Gold Theatre’s Virtual Gold series for Asian Heritage month, I felt a spark of excitement that I hadn’t felt in a very long time. The next feeling was confusion—what was my job exactly? All Tanja said was, “Your job is to dream.” Wow, and I thought I already had the best job in the world.

During a year when all jobs as a professional stage actor had disappeared, my opportunities for joy were few and far between. Though I had never curated anything before, besides my Instagram account, something about this project really spoke to me. I have had so many mentors during my professional career give me opportunities as an artist, and I was excited to do the same for others of both my artistic and cultural community. And in a year when anti-Asian sentiment and violence has been on a disturbing rise, it felt especially important to highlight the experiences of Asian artists and create Asian visibility.

Because I love plays, the first thing that came to mind was to present a script by an Asian playwright, and because part of Western Gold Theatre’s mandate is to mentor emerging artists, I hoped that we could help a new playwright to workshop and present their work.

When considering an idea for a workshop, I was immediately struck by the idea of shadow puppetry. My father grew up in Jakarta, and I remember clearly two Javanese shadow puppets that used to hang on my grandmother’s kitchen wall. I was always fascinated by their delicate and intricate forms. I was lucky enough to get in touch with Annie Rollins and procure her services to teach us more about this beautiful art form.

Lastly, but perhaps most profound for me, is the roundtable discussion. When the fatal attack of eight spa workers in Atlanta, six of whom were Asian, once again shed light on the rising incidents of Asian hate crimes over the past year, I knew that I wanted to hold a bold and honest discussion with Asian theatre artists from our community. And because of the Western Gold Theatre’s mandate, I especially wanted to feature senior artists. I wanted not only to create visibility for our Asian artists but also highlight their stories and experiences, both the challenges and the victories. My hope is that by creating visibility and deepening understanding of our experiences, we can keep working towards more opportunities, appreciation, and equity for Asian artists in our community.

I hope that you enjoy this programming for the Virtual Gold Series this May as much as I have enjoyed dreaming it up!

Annie Katsura Rollins

Annie Katsura Rollins is a researcher, theatre and puppetry artist, and practitioner of Chinese shadow puppetry, studying as a traditional apprentice since 2008. Rollins has received a Fulbright Fellowship, the Confucius Institute Joint PhD Research Fellowship and a Canadian SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship for her research. She was recently named valedictorian for her dissertation at Concordia University’s Interdisciplinary Humanities PhD program on the precarity of safeguarding traditional puppet forms. Selected venues for exhibitions, lectures and performances include The Art Institute of Chicago, The Montreal Botanical Gardens, The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Bucknell University, Luther College, the Linden Center in Yunnan China, and the Rietveld Academie in the Netherlands. Annie has published articles in Puppetry International, Asian Theatre Journal, Manip, and Anthropology Now and created the first comprehensive Chinese shadow puppetry site in English at www.chineseshadowpuppetry.com.

Howard Jang

Howard R. Jang

In 2018, Howard joined Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity as Vice President Arts and Leadership where he is responsible for Arts, Leadership and Presenting Programs

Prior to Banff, Howard was Professor of Professional Practice in the School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU and was the Director of the Woodward’s Cultural Unit. There, he developed a Creative Entrepreneurship Program in the School for the Contemporary Arts and was responsible for the public Cultural and Community Programs at the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts.

Howard has been a member of several volunteer boards and committees, most notably for the Canadian Arts Summit, Orchestras Canada, Manitoba Arts Stabilization, the Canada Council, BC Arts Council Music, City of Vancouver, Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture, Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, and the Vancouver Foundation’s Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee.

Howard is a member of the Board for the Dancer Transition Resource Centre and Chair of the Advisory Board for the Vancouver Chinatown Storytelling Centre.

Trained as a musician, Howard has served as the Executive Director for the Arts Club Theatre Company in Vancouver (2000-2014), Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (1997-2000), and Ballet British Columbia (1993-1997) following work as Orchestra Manager in Vancouver and NYC.

Melody Anderson

Melody’s career as a theatre artist includes the creation of more than 3,000 masks for over fifty productions.
She was a member of the collective that created The Number 14, which toured internationally for 20 years for Axis/Touchstone Theatre Companies.
Melody is the recipient of six Jessie awards and five nominations for both design and collective creation. Her masks are used for actor training across North America.

Seamus Fera

Literary Manager

Seamus Fera (He/Him/His) is an emerging director, playwright and actor who holds a BFA in Acting from UBC. He is currently the Literary Manager of Western Gold Theatre and Assistant Directed Escaped Alone. He has worked for companies including The Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, Carousel Theatre for Young People, The Only Animal, Promethean Theatre, Eternal Theatre Collective and United Players. During the pandemic, he has written three commissions- Curiouser, Persy’s Phone and Shakespeare in Translation. He is currently working on his original play The Wives. Seamus also works as an arts educator. He is on faculty at Arts Umbrella, The Anvil Centre and is the director of The Coquitlam Youth Theatre. He is excited to continue to create meaningful and important performances through this unprecedented period of our history.

Marilyn Norry

Marilyn is a professional actor who has lived in the Vancouver area for 30 years. Favourite stage roles include Heidi Holland in The Heidi Chronicles (Vancouver Playhouse), Hagar Shipley in The Stone Angel (Firehall Theatre), Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter (United Players). On screen she has worked with directors Steven Spielberg (The BFG), Gillian Armstrong (Little Women), Brian De Palma (Mission to Mars), and with actors Johnny Depp, Sam Shepherd, Leonardo di Caprio and the many, many great actors who live and work right here. She is also the creator and producer of My Mother’s Story, a multimedia campaign encouraging people to write the story of their mothers’ lives so women’s history is valued, saved, and shared. www.mymothersstory.org

Tom Pickett

Tom Pickett, a Jessie Award-winning actor, has toured the US and debuted in London’s West End with the Hal Prince production of Show Boat. He has lent his voice to many Arts Club productions, most recently The Matchmaker. Tom portrayed Gerald in Elephant and Piggie: We are in a Play and puppeted Winnie the Pooh in House at Pooh Corner (Carousel Theatre for Young People), and has appeared in several Vancouver Moving Theatre productions, including East End Blues/All That Jazz, Bah Humbug (co-production Simon Fraser University) and We Are the People. Tom’s most recent TV projects were Hallmark’s The Angel Tree and Five Star Christmas, as well as an episode of the Turner and Hooch remake. Tom is a powerful vocal artist who can soothe the heart and arouse an audience with an eclectic repertoire of jazz, blues, R&B, funk, soul and gospel and is transitioning into spoken word artistry. He dipped his “Big Hairy” toe into an audio teaser for Carousel Theatre for Young People with an adapted reading of The Thing at the End of the Bed.

Wild Blue Herons

Wild Blue Herons (WBH) are Bill Sample, Darlene Cooper and a group of stellar Vancouver based musicians who play mostly groove-oriented jazz. It’s a little bit hip, a bit cool, a bit smoky, a bit bluesy. But very much ACCESSIBLE. They perform original songs and select standards, ranging from funk to blues to R & B but with a jazz twist and a definite gospel influence. Their songs are filled with themes of love and social consciousness.
Wild Blue Herons have played in numerous festivals (the Filberg Festival, Ft. Langley Jazz and Arts Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival) as well as various Jazz Clubs (Frankies Jazz Club; Pat’s Pub – Jazz at the Pat series, Vernon Jazz club, to name a few). They have been featured with such artists as Eric Bibb, Marcus Mosely and the Marcus Mosely Chorale (MMC), Shari Ulrich and debuted their show “The Great Ladies of Jazz” at the historic Columbia Theatre in 2019. Bill and Darlene began working together in 2011 as music directors for the Vancouver based MMC. In writing songs and arrangements for the choir, they discovered they had a unique affinity for song writing, and so began their musical partnership which gave birth to the ensemble known as WBH. In 2018, they released their first album, “On the Outside”, which they feel describes themselves – “in music and life, the ‘outside’ is where you are when you are different. Good things can happen there”. They have started preproduction for their 2nd album, which will be released to the world in 2021.
Here’s what David Foster had to say when he came to hear WBH at Frankies: “I had the great pleasure of getting to hear my dear friend and colleague, Bill Sample, and the band WBH a couple of months back. It was a treat from beginning to end – great vocals from Darlene – incredible musicianship from everyone on stage and unique but very musical and thoughtful arrangements on every song!! The album doesn’t disappoint at all and a perfect reflection of who they are live. If you get a chance – please give them a listen – you will thank me” – David Foster (Grammy award winning producer)
www.wildblueherons.com
www.wildblueherons@gmail.com

Jenn Griffin

Jenn is grateful to live, work, and play on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples. As a playwright, Jenn was awarded the Sydney Risk award for best emerging playwright with her first play Drinking with Persephone. While an Associate at Playwrights Theatre Centre, Jenn created a multi-disciplinary play, The Long Call. In 2017, Jenn received an Arts Club Silver Commission for a new comedy entitled House and Home which premiered at The Firehall Arts Centre in 2020. Amongst her many roles as an actor, Jenn played “Vi” in Western Gold’s acclaimed production of Caryl Churchill’s Escaped Alone in 2019.

Liesl Lafferty

Liesl recently graduated from UBC with an MFA in Creative Writing and Theatre. She is a scriptwriter, dramaturg, and Jessie award-winning director focusing mainly on creating new works. Liesl is the facilitator for scriptwriting workshops for Wet Ink Collective, empowering women writers, and Realwheels Theatre, creating opportunities for people with disability. At Realwheels, she was the dramaturg for their inaugural Playwright in Residence in the fall of 2020. With enhancement of the online world due to the pandemic, Liesl has mentored more than sixty writers from Alaska to LA, Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island, and Paris to Nigeria.

Alen Dominguez

Director

Alen is a Latinx theatre artist who trained as an actor at the University of British Columbia. He has since expanded his work into producing and directing with several companies across Metro Vancouver. He is the Executive Producer for award-winning companies like Royal City Musical Theatre in New Westminster and Tara Cheyenne Performance in East Vancouver. He is also a cofounding member of the Canadian Latinx Theatre Artist Coalition (caltac.ca) and a proud alumnus of Western Gold, where he performed in The Dining Room (2015) and Quills Don’t Tweet (2019).
Other Credits: Anywhere But Here (Electric Company), Berlin: The Last Cabaret (City Opera Vancouver), Coriolanus (Bard on the Beach), Marine Life (Ruby Slippers), Sweat (Arts Club, Citadel), The Audience (Arts Club), Cornwall’s All Inclusive Cancun Christmas (Chemainus), Rent (URP), West Side Story (TUTS), The Idiot (Neworld).

Russell Roberts

Russell was born and raised in Wales and emigrated to Canada in 1973 with his parents. He graduated from the Old Vic Theatre School, Bristol, England in 1978. Russell has been a working actor since that time throughout Canada as well as in New York and Los Angeles. He settled in Vancouver in 1986 and married fellow actor Colleen Winton 1990. Their two sons, Sayer and Gower, are also in the business. He has performed in over 300 plays, musicals, films, TV and radio shows to date, and will continue to do so until the stage hook comes out.
Local theatre audiences may have seen him with Western Gold, Vancouver Playhouse, Rumble Theatre, Touchstone Theatre, The Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, and TUTS. He has performed A Child’s Christmas in Wales many times with The Vancouver Chamber Choir, and they produced a CD A Dylan Thomas Christmas in 2014. Russell, Colleen and pianist/composer Brian Tate have presented CCIW in The Red Dragon, Cambrian Hall, for the Vancouver Welsh Society for over a dozen Christmases, which are “round the sea town corner now and out of all sound except the . . . “
Wishing all ‘Nadolig llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda’. Russell

Joy-Anna Leggasee

Head Hog of Fundraising!

Joy-Anna is over 65 years old and hails from New Westminster. Recently retired from her long career working with young people, teaching fiscal management and the importance of saving (every penny counts!) she has a long history of successful fundraising in support young people’s passions – be it Beanie Baby / Cabbage Patch Doll acquisitions , and /or post-secondary education. She has created investment portfolios from car washing, paper routes, baby sitting, pocket money, weekend chores, part time jobs and Christmas cheques from the grand folks. As a financial advisor – she is focused on the realization of dreams.
She now steps away from her usual perch atop a chest of drawers to join Western Gold as the new Head Hog of Fundraising. You will see her at every show! A foodie at heart, her favourite meal is loose change.

Donnie MacDonald

President

Donnie MacDonald is a designated Chartered Professional Accountant and a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (FCA, FCMA). She was the Vice-President of Finance with Westminster Savings Credit Union until retiring in July 2015. Currently she is a member of the AGLG Audit Council. Active in the community, she is currently Chair of the North Shore Crisis Services Society and is as a board member and Chair of Western Gold Theatre. In addition to her community work Donnie also enjoys travelling and hiking which has taken her to many interesting parts of the world. When at home she can be found enjoying live theatre (has been a loyal fan for over 30 years) and having fun with her friends and fellow book club and hiking group enthusiasts.

Gerald Lecovin

Director

Info coming soon

Kathryn Aberle

Director

Kathryn is a retired communications and public relations professional. Over a 25- year career she worked as a radio producer in Current Affairs for CBC Radio – Vancouver, as manager of employee communications for BC Tel (now Telus) and as director of media and public relation for Simon Fraser University.

She currently sits on the board of Green Thumb Theatre . She has also served on a number of other boards over the past 20 years including those of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, the Universal Gospel Choir and the Canadian Public Relations Society.

Kathryn sings in a 50-voice auditioned choir. She acts as the choir’s producer for up to three concerts each year. She also manages the choir’s social media presence and runs the online ticketing and box office for concerts.

She has a life-long interest in theatre as student and performer in the distant past, producer for a couple of shows, and enthusiastic audience member. She also has family connections to the theatre through her husband Stephen (actor) and daughter Rachel (actor, playwright, associate artistic director at Green Thumb).

Kate Lancater

Creative Marketing Manager

Kate is a marketing and communications specialist with in-depth knowledge of British Columbia’s creative industries and over 15 years of experience working in arts administration. Kate began her career in the arts as a performer, working in theatre, film and television during the 80s and 90s. In the early 2000s, she returned to school to study professional writing and, upon graduation, worked as a marketing and editorial assistant with Anvil Press/SubTerrain Magazine.
For the past 12 years, Kate held the position of Communications Coordinator for Place des Arts arts centre in Coquitlam, where she was instrumental in developing and building the centre’s brand, increasing enrolment in its many and varied programs and spreading the word about its many events, gallery exhibitions and performances.
Kate is thrilled to be working with the extraordinary artists at Western Gold Theatre and looks forward to helping the company build a strong brand and a bright future.

Diana Sandberg

Secretary

Diana has been a working singer and director in many years. She’s performed with United Players, Vagabond Players, The Metro, Dragon Diva Opera Company, Applause ! Musicals, North Shore Light Opera , The Shakespeare Center, PALS Chorus, and TUTS, as well as in numerous coffee houses and other dives. Back in the dawn of time, she worked with cuneiform and abacus as a computer programmer. Her proudest achievement was to usher two splendid young women into the world without messing it up too badly. She is very fond of dogs, cats, frogs, reading, swimming, single malt whisky, and travel, and persists against all odds in the attempt to learn French.
Diana firmly believes that the arts in general, and theatre in particular, are essential to humanity, noting that our most ancient ancestors, scraping a precarious existing from a harsh world, still made time for art – cave paintings, music, storytelling. They could not do otherwise. Without art, we have no hope of reaching out of our individual isolation to form community, and humans cannot survive long without community.

Louise DeVita

Treasurer

Louise has enjoyed a 38 year career in the Finance Department of a local Credit Union, retiring as the Vice President, Finance.
Volunteering has been a big part of Louise’s life, spending numerous hours volunteering with her children’s various sports teams and schools, church and a domestic abuse services organization. Served six years as a Board of Director for The North Shore Crisis Services Society, including holding the office of Treasurer.
Louise enjoys theatre from a seat in the audience and is thrilled to be on the Board of Western Gold Theatre and appreciates the love and dedication of all those attached to theatre.

Bonnie MacKenzie

Vice President

Bonnie is a retired executive from the Federal Public Service who is currently active on several Community Not For Profit Boards, including: the West End Community Centre; The Opera Club; and Western Gold Theatre (WGT). She participates as the Community Representative on three Medical Research Ethics Boards: Providence Health Care; Coastal Health; and Fraser Health.

She assists WGT with Volunteer Co-ordination and Donor Participation/p>

Stephanie Hargreaves

Casting

Stephanie was the Artist Liaison at the Arts Club Theatre Company for 25 years and facilitated the casting of hundreds of artists since 1998. Previous positions at the Arts Club include Campaign Administrator for the restoration and re-opening of the Stanley Theatre, and Tour Coordinator for the Arts Club Theatre for whom she sent out over 30 shows to 25 venues across BC and Ontario. Stephanie was also the Festival Manager for CIAO! (Children’s International Arts Organization), an international children’s theatre festival, in Bracknell and Oxford, Southwest England from 2004 – 2010. An active community member and volunteer, Stephanie has served on the Boards of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, Jesssie Richardson Theatre Awards Society, British Columbia Touring Council, Rumble Productions and the Rachel Davis Foundation. Stephanie is a graduate of the University of British Columbia with a Master of Arts in English Literature. Stephanie is frequently asked to adjudicate auditions and to give workshops on audition techniques.

Ellie O’Day

Publicist

Ellie O’Day has worked in music, performing arts and cultural industries for nearly 40 years. She was one of North America’s first female DJs in the 70s, a columnist for the Georgia Straight in the 80s, and Executive Director of Pacific Music Industry Assn in the 90s. For 17 years, her O’Day Productions provided media relations to The Cultch, festivals (PuSh Festival, Children’s Festival, VIFF, VIBC, Sonic Boom, KickstArt, Sound of Dragon), theatre companies, special events, CD launches and more. She has served on numerous boards, including twice as a Director of PAL Vancouver.

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