What do you hope for the future of theatre?

Locally, I hope that the decision-makers elected in this city prioritize Arts and Culture Funding because growth in the sector means growth in everything else. From the restaurants down the street to the communities who see their stories represented on the stage.

My hope is that enough funding will make admissions economically accessible, bringing more locals through various venue doors so that the activity of attending a live performance becomes part of their everyday-life, especially for young people.

The city has a huge potential in the live-performing arts industry at multiple scales. We have a thriving, uniquely Vancouver, indie theatre scene presenting shows in unconventional venues. In a world where homogeneity occurs in fashion, interior design, and movies, I like that the Vancouver indie theatre scene is a little weird, it’s part of the urban culture we are creating together.

I hope that the municipality will appreciate and sees that value of theatre at all scales.

What first drew you to working in theatre?

I used to be a wrestler and had a shoulder injury. To rest and recuperate, I wanted to continue the practice of “action-reaction” my wrestling coach (the late Doug Corbett) encouraged us to cultivate for our reflexes. He likened a good wrestler to a good actor so I signed up for an intro to acting course at SFU. After my first year, the great Patti Allan convinced/ pressured/ forced me to audition for the theatre acting program and the rest was history.

What part of the creative process do you enjoy most?

Tech week is my favourite time of the process. As an actor, it’s that time where the lines and blocking choices are clicking into place in collaboration with the design. As a director, the ideas you’ve talked about for hours and hours with your collaborators are all coming to life. It can be stressful sometimes but it is so satisfying when the team problem solves with you in the dark theatre with those empty seats around you. The days are long and packing your food becomes an art in itself. The noise from the outside world is a little quieter and your whole reality is the show.

What keeps you motivated?

The legacy and the trail-blazed paths that my previous mentors and other arts leaders have left for us. A generation before me, a woman of colour has had to put up with worse so I didn’t have to. I have different obstacles that will be uniquely mine to figure out but I get to stand on someone’s shoulders so I can get a better point of view. The achievements and hard work of my predecessors keep me motivated.