Director The Tempest

Chelsea is Co-Artistic Producer of ITSAZOO Productions and Associate Artistic Director of Neworld Theatre. Favourite ITSAZOO directing credits include The Pipeline Project, Hidden, The Competition is Fierce, Killer Joe (Jessie Richardson Award winner for Outstanding Production), The Flick, Mojo, Chairs: A Parable, Robin Hood, Grimm Tales and Death of a Clown.

Other directing projects include: The Day Before Christmas (Arts Club Theatre), Jabber (Green Thumb Theatre/Neworld), Shop Talk (Theatre SKAM), Dead Metaphor (Firehall), Doost (Neworld Theatre), The Dining Room (Western Gold Theatre), The North Plan (Upintheair Theatre), Stationary (Delinquent Theatre), Mr. Marmalade (Latchkey Coop), Gruesome Playground Injuries (Pacific Theatre), Rhinoceros (UBC Masters Thesis project) and Faust is Dead (UBC).

Chelsea has an MFA in directing from UBC, a BFA with a specialization in Applied Theatre from UVic. She is the recipient of the Sydney J Risk award in directing, the Ray Michal award for outstanding body of work by an emerging director and a one-time winner and three-time Jessie Richardson Award nominee for Outstanding Direction.

*The participation of this Artist is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance-Opera-Theatre Policy

Director Pericles

A graduate of the Playhouse Acting School, Christopher has played on stages in Europe and Canada, and is a founding member and past Artistic Associate of Bard On The Beach. This is his second season with GVSF, having directed Romeo & Juliet in 2015. Other directing credits include Waiting For Godot, Kaspar Theatre, Prague; Henry VI: The Wars Of The Roses, Bard On The Beach; Arden Of Faversham, Artists Collective Theatre; Sally Go Round The Moon, Black Box; The Rimers Of Eldritch, Canadian College of Performing Arts. Christopher has written several plays, including a hit adaptation of Gulliver’s Travels for Kaleidoscope Theatre and the upcoming Victory Square.

In 2005, he received the Edmund Kean Sword Award from Bard On The Beach. He has been nominated for various awards, including a nod for Outstanding Direction for Richard II, and in 2017, he received an NCRC award for sound design/production of The Charles Campbell Story. As founder/owner of Shakescenes, he teaches acting workshops across the continent, and has taught at the Canadian College Of Performing Arts since 2000.

*The participation of this Artist is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance-Opera-Theatre Policy

Movement Director Pericles

Thaisa in Pericles
& Miranda in The Tempest

Nicole is extremely blessed to be a part of GVSF's 28th season. She loves adding new colours to her artistic palette, and as a recent graduate from CCPA, she has dipped her paint brush in playwriting, choreography and stage management! Past credits include Cabaret, Beauty and the Beast and Under Milk Wood.

Gower in Pericles
& Gonzolo in The Tempest

Cam has been an active actor with this festival since its early days downtown. Favourite roles have been Petruchio, Dr. Caius, Egeus, Fairy in pink, Camillo, Porter/drummer, Holifernes, Edmund/Edgar and now Gower/Gonzalo. He is currently president of the GVSS board. Cam played Sir Toby Belch (Launch Pad Theatre) this year and will be playing Koko in Mikado (Gilbert and Sullivan Society) this coming fall. As his day job, Cam teaches ELL at UVic, music at Lifetime Networks and later this summer will co-direct Disaster! at the Fringe Festival (SMUS Highschool Music Theatre Intensive). He holds a Masters in Theatre in Education, and often gives workshops on DELL (Drama in English Language Learning).

Chorus in Pericles

Kaden fell in love with acting — and Shakespeare — at age eight in a school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and has since acted in Henry V, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, and Macbeth in Bard on the Beach’s Young Shakespeareans Program.

Marina in Pericles
& Ariel in The Tempest

Lara is thrilled to be a part of GVSF this year! She is a recent graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and will be joining the Company C Studio Ensemble next season. Favorite credits include Maggie Holmes from Working: The Musical, Hermia from A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Chip from Beauty and the Beast.

JACK HAYES

Pericles in Pericles

Jack Hayes couldn't be happier to join GVSF's production of Pericles for his first outing with the company. A recent graduate of UVic's acting program, his most recent credits include Sunday in Sodom (Spark Festival), Open Face Beholding (Vino Buono Productions) and War of the Worlds (Bluebridge Repertory Company). Hope you enjoy this wild and wonderful show!

Fight Director Pericles & The Tempest

Helicanus/Alex the Fisherman/Pirate in Pericles
& Caliban in The Tempest

Since graduating from UVic's theatre program in 2007, Trevor's life has been enriched acting internationally with a wide diversity of talented artists. On the west coast, Trevor has been on stage with the Belfry, Kaleidoscope, Blue Bridge, Atomic Vaudeville, The Electric Company, Itsazoo, Launch Pad, Giggling Iguana and the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival. After The Tempest and Pericles you can catch Trevor playing Sherlock Holmes during Outpost 31's fringe production of 'Sherlock Homes and the Curse of Moriarty'.

*The participation of this Artist is arranged by the permission of the Canadian Actors' Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy

Music Director Pericles & The Tempest

Nurse/Daughter/Philoten in Pericles
& Chorus/Violin in The Tempest

This is Finn’s first season with the festival, and they are thrilled to be music directing and acting in The Tempest and Pericles. Finn fell in love with Shakespeare when they did a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at CCPA earlier this year, and they’re excited to share this season’s shows with you.

Boult in Pericles
& Stephano in The Tempest

Taylor is a UVic Theatre and Canada's National Voice Intensive alumnus in his third GVSF season. Stage credits include Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream (GVSF), Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (Capitol Theatre), and Abby in Footprints (Victoria Fringe). He also writes and performs in Victoria's Atomic Vaudeville Cabaret.

Nurse/Chorus in Pericles

Olivia Macdonald is a student at Esquimalt High School and is very excited to have this opportunity to perform in the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival. She would like to thank her voice teacher, Joanne Hounsel and her musical theatre teachers Tara Britt and Keahlen Allison for their support and wisdom.

Dionyza in Pericles
& Prospera in The Tempest

Wendy holds a BA in Theatre from McGill and completed 2 years of stage training at each of Dalhousie University and Montreal’s Dome. Theatre Credits include: Jocasta Regina (Theatre Inconnu), LEER (Outpost 31), Humble Boy (Langham Court), Snowfrog (Vino Buono), Ten 2 One (Theatre SKAM), Old Lady’s Guide to Survival (Bēma Productions), and Calling Home (snafu dance theatre). Her performances earned Victoria Fringe Best Drama Awards in 2016 and 2017. This is Wendy’s first season with GVSF, and first Shakespeare since university. She is most astonished to be involved.

Ceres/Chorus in The Tempest

Since the age of 7 Kai has loved drama. He has studied at several acting schools, including Kate Rubin Theatre and Drama Studio (Now Theatre Skam) with Erica Parker Petty, Theatre Inconnu with Tim Gosley, Kaleidoscope Theatre with Pat Rundell, Tarlington Training with various teachers, and is currently studying with Jessica Van der Veen at the CCPA. His past theatre experiences include Waiting for Godot (Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre), Joan (Theatre Skam), and Macbeth (GVSF 2017). Kai is now 14 and is very happy, and grateful, to be here for his second GVSF season.

Thaliard/Pirate in Pericles
& Iris/Chorus in The Tempest

Emil is excited to be a part of GVSF for his first time! He has been involved in musical theatre in Victoria for the past eight years and is going into the Company C program at CCPA this fall. Past credits: Working, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Beauty and the Beast (CCPA).

Dancing Nymph/Chorus in The Tempest

Juliana Monk is ecstatic to be performing with GVSF for the 2nd year! Previous credits include Disconnect (29 Takes Production), Sense and Sensibility (Langham Court), Macbeth (GVSF), This Little Light (Belfry) and a few others. She would like to thank the amazing cast and crew as well as her family for their generous support.

Assistant Director Pericles

Lychorida/Pirate in Pericles
& Antonio in The Tempest

Frankie is a performer, stage manager, and graduate from The Canadian College of Performing Arts. Selected performing credits include: This Little Light (The Belfry Theatre), Our Town and Two Gentlemen of Verona (CCPA), Winter's Tale (GVSF) and The Sound of Music (The Citadel Theatre). In her free time Frankie enjoys snacks, rapping, poetry and math.

Boatswain/Juno in The Tempest

Teddy invites you into the magical world of Shakespeare. He is studying Acting at UVic’s Phoenix Theatre and has a keen interest in bridging cultures through performance. Previous credits include The Madwoman of Chaillot and Comedy of Errors. Catch him at the Phoenix in November as Robert in The Drowsy Chaperone.

Lord/Leonine in Pericles
& Ferdinand in The Tempest

Douglas is a UVic Phoenix Theatre student going into his fourth year. He is grateful for all of the love and support that this cast and crew has brought to every rehearsal. Past credits include Antipholus of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors (UVic) and Horatio in Hamlet. (SATCo)

Trick/Pilch in Pericles

Chris started performing in middle school and hasn’t stopped since. He performed in various community theatre productions on Salt Spring Island before moving to Victoria to attend CCPA. Favourite credits include playing Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream (CCPA), Jack in Into the Woods (Exit Stage Left Productions), Joe in Working (CCPA).

Patchbreech in Pericles
& Trinculo in The Tempest

Danny Saretsky is extremely excited to be a part of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival. A student at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, you may have seen him in March with the Victoria Symphony in Broadway Lights as Thernerdier in Les Miserables, or in the CCPA production of Working at the McPherson Playhouse.

Antiochus/Cleon/Lysimachus in Pericles
& Alonso in The Tempest

For over 20 years Richard Stroh has worked as an actor, director, producer and instructor, spanning across Canada. Richard has appeared in over 70 plays, films and television shows. He is co-founder (2008) and artistic director for Squidamisu Theatre, an award-winning company based in Vancouver. This is Richard’s first season with the GVSF.

*The participation of this Artist is arranged by the permission of the Canadian Actors' Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy

Sebastion in The Tempest

Mary is a recent graduate from UVic’s theatre department with a specialization in acting. Mary’s previous credits include Berowne in Love’s Labour's Lost (GVSF 2017), Chick Boyle in Crimes of the Heart (UVic Phoenix), and The Ragpicker in The Madwoman of Chaillot (UVic Phoenix). Mary is very excited to be back for this year’s festival and hopes you enjoy the shows!

Cerimon/Chorus in Pericles
& Chorus/Percussion in The Tempest

Hilary is thrilled to return for her second season with GVSF! A selection of her theatre credits from the past year include Macbeth and Love’s Labour’s Lost (GVSF), Foundation (SATCo), Les Belles Soeurs (Langham Court) and Comedy of Errors (Phoenix Theatre). She thanks her fan club for their never-ending love.

Bawd in Pericles

Candace Woodland is delighted to return for her fifth season performing with the GVSF, and her first as General Manager. Graduate of the CCPA, co-founder of RKO Productions, and current Sociology student at UVIC, Candace has played roles such as Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Constanze in Amadeus, and Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show.

Production Stage Manager

Emily is excited to be spending her first summer in Victoria and with the Shakespeare Festival. Past stage management credits include, Undivine Comedy (Aventa New Music Ensemble, 2018). The Madwoman of Chaillot (University of Victoria, 2017) and Barkerville’s Theatre Royale (Newman and Wright Theatre Company, 2016).

Production Coordinator & Lighting Design

Carolyn is thrilled to be participating in her second season of GVSF as Production Coordinator. Carolyn is a stage manager, sound designer, and technician in Victoria. She has worked with many local companies, including Intrepid Theatre, Theatre SKAM, William Head on Stage, and the Belfry Theatre. Upcoming projects include sound design for Theatre SKAM's Concord Floral, and stage management for William Head on Stage. Carolyn's dream is to one day own her own label maker.

Production Designer

Carole Klemm has been a professional set designer and scenic painter in Canada for 30 years. She has worked with The National Arts Centre, The Manitoba Theatre Center, the Belfry Theatre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Chemainus Theatre, Theatre SKAM, Blue Bridge Theatre, Kaleidoscope Theatre and WHoS (William Head on Stage), among others. She is the head scenic painter for the Belfry Theatre and the Victoria Operatic Society. Her last work with GVSF was the production design for The Merry Wives of Windsor in 2013. Her most recent work as set designer is with the Belfry Theatre’s Taking Off, Feb 2017. 

Colleen Blunt is the Costume Loft Manager at Langham Court Theatre. Costume credits include Les Belles Soeurs and Proof at Langham Court, Jesus Christ Superstar with Company P, A Murder is Announced with St. Luke’s Players, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Metamorphoses with the Canadian College of Performing Arts from which she graduated from the Company C program in 2015. Thank you to Callie and Clara, and always Peter.

Production Assistant Stage Manager

Cierrah is grateful to be in her second season with the GVSF. She has a ten-year history with theatre, including acting, improv, lighting/sound design, stage-managing, directing, teaching/coaching, and more! She could list her credits but would rather give a shout out to her old friend, Shakespeare: Hiya buddy - "There's many a man hath more hair than wit" - but you were not one of them.