Each school will have the opportunity to select 1 top student to perform in the All Province Devised Theatre Piece. Students will do a series of Devised Theatre workshop intensives with Susan Bertoia and perform a collaborative devised performance piece at closing ceremonies.
with Susan Bertoia
Susan Bertoia is a professional theatre artist, performer, director, devisor, writer and passionate drama teacher. Susan’s invigorating artistic style with specialization in physical theatre and mask performance make her a well sought-out teaching artist and performer throughout Canada. Her work explores poetic and pedestrian moments while her artistic leadership has been described as [“…engaging, encouraging and disarming”]. She is Adjunct Professor at UBC teaching acting and performance as well conducts numerous creative initiatives with schools through ArtStarts, a government funded agency. Susan facilitates many professional development workshops with the Association of BC Drama Educators and has presented papers at the Canadian Association for Theatre Research Conferences. Recently Susan was awarded the ‘Excellence in Drama Education’ through ABCDE which recognized her years of dedication and innovative work with youth. She is also the recipient of the Vancouver Jessie Richardson’s Professional Theatre Award for Outstanding Performance and The Gordon Armstrong Theatre Artist Award which recognized her creative initiatives. Susan has performed at many venues including: PuSh International Performance Festival, Arts Club Theatre, Western Canada Theatre, Firehall Theatre and Richmond Gateway Theatre. Susan also directs multi platformed shows ranging from youth engaged theatre to professional ensemble productions. Most recently she was commissioned to devise an adaptation of the Ugly Duckling story for a site-specific work at Place des Arts, Coquitlam. She holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Theatre Acting from UBC as well has trained abroad at schools that specialize in Italian mask theatre. She has trained in physical devised theatre with One Yellow Rabbit; Jeremy James and UK’s Frantic Assembly. More on Susan and her work at: www.susanbertoia.ca
