2023–2024 Season
Annual Report
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ REPORT
We have much to celebrate!
In 2023/24, our productions demonstrated the company’s exceptional range and versatility. Each play exemplified well-crafted scripts, bold direction, and inventive design, and was brought to life by passionate and committed actors. Each show resonated with audiences and prompted conversations about issues both timely and timeless.
We had many sold-out performances thanks to our loyal subscribers and an increasing number of first-time audience members. Ticket sales were supported not only by our artistic achievements, but by two key policies: Pay What You Want and Pay it Forward. These innovative policies are reducing barriers, growing our audience, and supporting revenues. I am also exceedingly grateful to report that generous contributions from donors and sponsors surpassed our targets. Our partnerships with public funding agencies also led to a significant level of support. These contributions are all critical to our operations.
I cannot discuss our financial success, though, without also mentioning our Director of Finance, Patricia O’Brien. After forty years of exceptional service, Pat is leaving the Belfry to enjoy a well-earned retirement. I cannot adequately express how grateful we are for all that Pat has given the theatre. I am still firmly in denial that I will no longer have ready access to her depth of knowledge and her fabulous, hilarious, and loving presence.
Though there were many highs, last year also held challenges and lessons. We faced a serious decision regarding The Runner, a play about an Israeli man facing a religious and cultural dilemma. The context within which the play would be presented and witnessed had changed entirely. We listened to members of our community, including those with ties to both sides of the conflict. Our concern was that putting The Runner onstage would further polarize our community, rather than fostering healthy dialogue.
For clarity, the decision was initially discussed with the board and many considerations were raised, including the long-standing principle that artistic programming decisions are the purview of the theatre’s Artistic and Executive directors. The board recognizes that staff carefully considered this decision and fully supports Michael and Isaac.
I can only begin to imagine how painful these events have been for those directly affected and I want to thank every community member that wrote, called, and met with us to share their thoughts, feelings, and stories – both those that supported our decision and those that strongly disagreed. I am truly grateful to learn from you all and we at the Belfry will continue to listen.
I would like to congratulate Michael Shamata and Isaac Thomas for delivering an exceptional season and for leading the theatre with integrity and kindness. Michael, as always, you touched our hearts profoundly with your skillful work. And Isaac, your dedication and tenacity have both supported our artistic excellence and strengthened our community connections. Thank you both. I would also like to thank the entire Belfry staff. I wish I could list you all. I have never encountered such a passionate and committed group of people. The success of the 2023/24 season is the direct result of your work.
Finally, I would like to thank the Directors of the Society for their steadfast support. I am humbled and honoured to serve and be surrounded by such a depth of knowledge and experience. I would also like to thank Joan McArthurBlair, Cathi Charles Wherry, and Stephen Tax, for serving on the board. I will sincerely miss your presence and guidance but am very grateful for the time, energy, and insights you have shared with us.
I am very excited for the year ahead and hope to see you all soon at the Belfry!
With gratitude,
Alison Watt
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT
2024 was something of a milestone for me personally. Having started my career on the stage crew at the Shaw Festival in 1974—2024 was my 50th year in professional theatre.
And it turned out to be one of the most rewarding artistically-and also one of the most challenging.
The Belfry Theatre’s 2023-2024 Season was a season to be proud of.
From an artistic point of view, it was one of the strongest seasons of my tenure.
Our remount of I Think I’m Fallin’: The Songs of Joni Mitchell; our presentation of A Wonderheads Christmas Carol; our premiere of As Above—a play that we commissioned and workshopped; and our production of The Lehman Trilogy were artistic successes of which everyone on staff can be very proud.
Our remount of the Joni Mitchell show was a joy to work on. Whereas we were building the show during the rehearsal process for the first production—and that was incredibly fun—this second production gave me the opportunity to refine the original and to direct an existing piece of work. The result was even better than the first time around. And once again, our cast—comprised of three of the original performers and two new cast members—were exemplary colleagues and sublime musicians and actors.
The Wonderheads is a company that recently relocated to Victoria from their original home in Portland, Oregon. Their unique and extraordinary masks are stunning and amazingly expressive. And their version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol contains a number of very clever changes to the original—making it even more powerful and emotional. I have directed my own adaptation of the story about 20 times—and I still can’t believe that they are able to convey its nuances without a word of dialogue. Our audiences were enthralled.
Christine Quintana’s play As Above was commissioned by the Belfry pre-pandemic. Christine—an award-winning and in-demand playwright—had worked in the Box Office at the Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver. Noting how many of their ticket-buyers were mature women—and how few plays are written for that segment of the population—when I approached her about writing a play for our audience—she decided to address this artistic gap.
We workshopped the play in 2022—with director Meg Roe and a cast that included Gabrielle Rose and Hrothgar Matthews. All three were part of last season’s beautiful and moving production. Gabrielle in particular gave a stunning performance—and the play definitely struck a chord with our audiences. Unfortunately—a family tragedy and a case of COVID-19 forced us to open a week late—thereby losing a week of performances for a show that sold extremely well. I suspect that this play will soon be seen on stages across the country.
Our closing production—Italian playwright Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy—adapted by British playwright Ben Power—was a three-hour-plus examination of the American Dream gone wrong. And, much to my amazement—it was whole-heartedly embraced by our audiences. It featured outstanding performances by our three actors: Brian Markinson, Nigel Shawn Williams, and Celine Stubel, and a stunning design by Shawn Kerwin that redefined this stage—creating the impression that our plaster back wall had been eliminated.
I have to make a special mention of Celine Stubel’s work. As the first female-identifying actor to play one of the three Lehman brothers, she managed to make us all believe that she was a man with no perceptible impersonation of “maleness.” She is—without a doubt—one of a handful of truly exceptional actors. Our rehearsal process was a delight from beginning to end and—despite the rigorous demands of this lengthy play—the actors loved every minute of it.
Reflecting on our ongoing commitment to Indigenous Mainstage programming—we realized that we had fallen into the trap of confining Indigenous artists to plays by Indigenous playwrights. We therefore programmed Kat Sandler’s YAGA as the first production of the season—with an Indigenous director and two Indigenous actors in the threeperson cast. The production hit its stride in the second week of performances—and by the final week was selling out. I believe in expanding opportunities for artists to work on a variety of scripts—and we will continue to look for future opportunities to explore this approach.
The Belfry drew attention from the national press this season—not for any of the work that we produced—but for a production that we chose not to present. Our decision to cancel Christopher Morris’s play The Runner—and the controversy that followed—created the most challenging period of my 50 years in Canadian theatre. The Runner had been programmed as part of our 2024 SPARK Festival.
The decision that Isaac and I arrived at after much soul searching has been frequently misinterpreted as a response to widespread protests. The truth behind our decision was our belief that proceeding with this particular play at this particular time in this particular political climate would cause harm—inflaming an already divisive situation within our community.
I want to commend the Board of Directors for standing behind our decision.
And I thank our colleagues across the country who empathized with our situation. And I can honestly say that I would not have wanted to go through this stressful situation with anyone other than Isaac Thomas. He is a man of great intelligence and integrity, and the Belfry is incredibly lucky to have him as its Executive Director. I am personally fortunate to have him as my partner.
In closing—my thanks to our audiences, our donors, and our volunteers—especially our Board of Directors. And I take my hat off to the incredible staff at the Belfry. We could never accomplish the things we do—at the level at which we do them—if we weren’t for every one of them.
The notion that Pat O’Brien is leaving/has essentially left—is too much to even contemplate—! I shall therefore carry on with the belief that she is still here—!
Thank you—
Michael Shamata
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
2023 – 2024 will be a year to remember for many reasons.
We had an exceptionally strong mainstage season. Tickets and subscriptions hit new post-pandemic highs. In the midst of it all we dealt with Covid and other unforeseen cancellations during As Above. And eventually the show went on! The response to all of our shows exceeded expectations.
Pay What You Want (PWYW) continues to surprise me. We continue to offer tickets and subscriptions at any price point our patrons choose. This makes our work the most affordable theatre in town, and given the quality of our work, I would argue the most value for anyone’s money in this country. Many choose to pay above our suggested price in acknowledgement both of the work we do, and the benefit PWYW offers to all in our community. I have read deeply moving statements from those who use it, and from those who choose to support the model. Its success is unique to Victoria and the Belfry. We remain committed to the model as I can see no other practical method to ensure complete financial accessibility. More importantly, PWYW is an investment in our future audiences as well as being our investment in the community to ensure the arts can be an integral part of our lives.
We continue to support the broader arts community. We offer free or subsidized theatre rentals, throw in staff support for our event rentals, and younger artists and administrators consult with our senior staff. New work development is continual through commissions, dramaturgy, as well as writing and production workshops. Many of the next generation of artists, stage managers, assistants, and technicians get invaluable experience at the Belfry.
Alison and Michael have addressed The Runner. I echo their thoughts. I will only add that Michael and I firmly stand by our decisions. Given the heightened feelings around the global situation, we recognized that presenting it would only have deepened rifts within our community. That would have served no useful purpose to Victoria. Our art seeks to unite.
We bid farewell to our director of finance, Patricia O’Brien, who after forty years at the Belfry is retiring. She is an institution within the Belfry. She has an enormous breadth of knowledge, but more than that, a keen, critical eye, and an incisive mind with wonderfully creative solutions to all of our issues. Plus, of course, her deeply irreverent sense of humour is so refreshing. We will all miss her tremendously.
I thank the Board for their support and their appreciation of the subtleties and nuances of organizational management. My heartfelt thanks to the staff who, through this entire year, remained committed to the work and to the organization. It is their dedication and perseverance that lifts the Belfry. I particularly thank Michael who remained open to all perspectives, is willing to challenge me, and is equally willing to be challenged. This would have been a very hard year without our completely open conversations. This year has profoundly strengthened our partnership. Above all, I thank our audiences, donors, partners, and volunteers, who remained steadfast supporters of the Belfry. This year’s success is a testament to you. Let us build on it!
Isaac Thomas
With the support of our audiences, public and corporate funders, and the careful management of resources, we maintained a healthy balance sheet, an operational surplus and a positive cash flow.
Total revenues increased over the prior year, mainly due to increases in earned revenues and private fundraising. Our audience base continued to grow and change, with strong ticket sales and many sold out performances, and donor and sponsor support for a variety of our programming and fundraising activities increased. Public funding decreased over the prior year, however the complement of our public funding partners remained consistent and we are grateful for their loyal support. The BCAC Arts and Culture Resilience Supplement funding received last fiscal year continues to support us through the deferral of revenue for future years.
Total expenditures increased over the prior year mainly due to inflationary pressures and increased costs. Staff and management continued to limit costs and maintain budgetary efficiency through careful planning. Over half our expenses directly supported programming, with the majority of the balance invested in activities that support our programming. Capital investments were made in a new HVAC system, upgrades to roofing and lighting, as well as a new website.
Our operating fund returned a surplus of 7% on revenues just above $3M for this financial year.
Looking forward, we will continue to manage our resources efficiently and invest in our programs and infrastructure through careful planning, all with a view to maintaining long-term financial sustainability and flexibility to operate in an ever-changing landscape.
Our successes are due to the generosity and steadfast support of so many individuals and organizations. We express our sincere appreciation to our patrons, donors, sponsors, funders, as well as our talented and dedicated leadership, staff and volunteers.
Before I sign off, one individual in particular deserves special mention and recognition. Our Director of Finance, Patricia O’Brien, will soon be retiring after 40 years of service. Pat is a consummate professional who has run a tight financial ship and helped keep operations running smoothly, all with grace and integrity, as well as a cheeky sense of humour! On behalf of everyone in the extended Belfry family, thank you Pat for everything and for being your wonderful self.
Kathy Veldhoen, MSc, CPA, CMA
Revenue $1,228,979
Funding $1,144,950 Private Fundraising $ 723,633 O ther and Amortization $151,875
Total Revenue $3,249,437
Programming Costs $1,583,447 Total Expenses $3,125,143
Marketing & Engagement $457,528 Audience Services $291,174 Fundraising $149,226 Administration $327,666 Facility Operating and Amortization $316,102
The Belfry Theatre is located on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen peoples, also known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live, create, and perform on this territory.
HISTORY
The Belfry Theatre was founded in 1974 (as the Springridge Cultural Centre) as an alternative venue for touring productions, concerts and community arts events. Renamed the Belfry Theatre, it began producing plays in 1976 with a focus on contemporary work, especially Canadian plays. The Belfry is one of the most respected professional theatre companies in Canada.
The company resides in a former Baptist church built in 1892. From the company’s inception until 1991, the Belfry rented the main theatre space in the building and shared the complex with a homeless shelter. In 1991, then-owners, The Cool-Aid Society relocated, and the Belfry began the first capital campaign to buy and restore the building. Initial interior and exterior renovations were completed in 2000 with the restoration of the exterior. Further renovations of the lobby area, theatre and studio seating were completed in 2016. The building is listed in the heritage registry and has won a number of awards for its restoration.
In 2009, Chair Emeritus Patrick (Paddy) Stewart made an extraordinary contribution of $250,000 to the Belfry, which was matched with funds from Arts Sustainability Victoria, enabling the Belfry to pay off its building mortgage.
MANDATE VISION AND MISSION
The Belfry has played an important role in the cultural community of the Greater Victoria region for 48 years. The Belfry’s Mandate is:
• To promote the theatrical arts through the year-round professional production of plays from the contemporary repertoire with an emphasis on Canadian plays.
• To develop new Canadian plays and encourage a high standard of writing for the stage through an active and ongoing play development program.
• To serve both our community and Vancouver Island as a theatrical resource centre, providing both rental space and professional workshops to a wide range of community groups.
• To provide Greater Victoria with professionally staffed and managed rental venues, available to both touring and community-based organizations.
Our vision is to achieve excellence in the production and presentation of innovative contemporary theatre in our heritage home.
Our mission is to enrich our community by inspiring and entertaining audiences with theatre that is nationally recognized for excellence, while maintaining our commitment to artistic development, professionally integrity and financial sustainability.
In addition to the plays presented on stage, we offer a number of ancillary activities designed to enrich the theatre-going experience for young people and the general public, provide professional development opportunities for local artists, and attract as wide a community as possible to the theatre.
TODAY
The original five-person staff from 1976 has grown to more than 40 including seasonal employees and contract workers – plus actors, directors, designers, and technical staff. The annual budget has grown to more than 2.7 million dollars.
The Belfry has more than 250 dedicated individuals who volunteer as ushers, ticket-takers and bar staff. Many of these volunteers have been with the theatre for years, including a few who have been volunteering since the theatre’s inception. The Belfry Theatre, like all charitable, not-for-profit organizations, is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Charitable Registration 110215549
2023-2024 ARTS LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
Interns:
Sandra Espinola (Victoria) Interned with Victoria Symphony
Xiao Han (Saskatoon)
Interned with Ukrainian Museum of Canada
Daniel Hudson (Saskatoon)
Interned with Saskatoon Symphony
Zanifa Rasool (Winnipeg)
Interned with Theatre Projects Manitoba
Steven Sobolewski (Edmonton)
Interned with Edmonton Fringe Festival
Seminar Participants:
Filsan Dualeh (Calgary)
Andrea Folster (Saskatoon)
Francis Matheu (Victoria) Elowynn Rose (Victoria) Shanae Sodhi (Vancouver)
Participating Organizations: Arts Club Theatre (Vancouver) Belfry Theatre (Victoria) Canadian College of Performing Arts (Victoria)
Centre for Socially Engaged Theatre, University of Regina Electric Company Theatre (Vancouver) Globe Theatre (Regina)
National Arts Centre (Ottawa) Pacific Opera Victoria Persephone Theatre (Saskatoon) Prairie Theatre Exchange (Winnipeg) Theatre Projects Manitoba (Winnipeg)
Vancouver Opera Victoria Symphony
The Master List Workshop February 2024
Cast:
Craig Erickson
Marlene Ginader
Nathan Kay
Jennifer Lines
Brenda Robins
The Master List Workshop June 2024 (a Belfry Theatre commission)
Written by Rachel Aberle Dramaturgy by Michael Shamata at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity
Cast: Geoffrey Simon Browm, Karen Hines, Duval Lang, Jane Macfarlane, Alice Wordsworth
In A Nutshell Workshop (a Belfry Theatre commission)
Written & Directed by David Ferguson Cast:
Michael Bell
Cathy Fern Lewis
Lynda Rayno
Jacob Richmond
Camille Stubel
16 Saturdays Reading
Written by Andrew Sabiston, Barry Cook, and Mike Petersen
Directed by Glynis Leyshon
Cast:
Tony Adams
Elijah Bell
Amanda Lisman
RJ Peters
Barbara Poggemiller
David Radford
Celine Stubel
Active Commissions:
Scott Button
Jacob Richmond
David Ferguson
Rachel Aberle
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Thanks to the following Community Partners for collaborating with us on many of our initiatives throughout the season:
Auntie Collective
Black History Awareness Society
Canadian College of Performing Arts
CANOO
CFUV Radio (UVic)
City of Victoria
Community Engaged Learning (UVic)
Family Caregivers BC
Here In Canada
Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria
Iyé Collective
Memory Café
Pearson College
Projeto Ciranda
University of Victoria (Departments of Theatre, Writing, and Indigenous Education)
Vancouver Island Hispanic Network Society
Vancouver Island Brazilian Cultural Association
VocalEye
DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Arts Club Theatre
Broken Rhythms LASHBASH
Cahoots Theatre Company
CCPA
Central Middle School
Chemainus Theatre Festival
Christ Church Cathedral
Colwood Elementary School
Cook St Village Activity & Wellness Centre
Crohn’s & Colitis Canada
Dance Victoria
First Unitarian Church of Victoria
Gordon Head Middle School
Island Prostate Centre
Lakehill Preschool
MJ Emily Carr Chronicles
MODO Co-op
Our Place
Pender Island Lions Society
Red Cedar Café
Rotary Club of Oak Bay
Sooke Family Resource Society
Sooke Rotary Club
St Patrick’s Elementary
Story Studio
Story Theatre
Strawberry Vale Co-op Preschool
Theatre Inconnu
Urban Ink Productions
Victoria Brain Injury Society
Victoria Grandmothers for Africa
Victoria Hospice
Victoria Hospitals Foundation
Victoria Pride Society
Victoria Symphony
Victoria Women’s Transition House
BELFRY STAFF
Box Office Clerk
Box Office Clerk
FOH Supervisor & Box Office Clerk
Box Office Clerk
Manager of Community & Artistic Connections
Box Office Supervisor
Director of Marketing & Communications
Head of Wardrobe
Director of Production & Operations
Audience Services Manager
Head Technician & Systems Administrator
Producer
Front of House Manager
Head Scenic Artist
Graphic Designer
Technical Director
Director of Finance
Head of Props & Scenic Carpenter
Master Carpenter
Box Office Supervisor
Artistic Director
Scenic Painter
Director of Development
Executive Director
Box Office Clerk
Associate Artist & Flame Facilitator
Custodial Celena’s Cleaning Co.
Jamie Anderson
Castor Angus
Alison Bendall
Claire Cacheux
Matilde Cervantes
Helena Descoteau
Mark Dusseault
Linda Findlay
Mike Ford
Ian Gibson
Keith Houghton
Valerie Houle
Nora Kidston
Carole Klemm
Jeff Kulak
Jeremy MacLeod
Pat O’Brien
Peter Pokorny
Dale Pudwell
Sophia Radford
Michael Shamata
Lara Shepard
Susan Stevenson
Isaac Thomas
Cian Waldron
Deborah Williams
Celena Cook
BELFRY SUPPORT STAFF
B4Play Host
Belfry 101 Coordinator
Belfry 101 Instructor
Gregor Craigie
Dave Morris
Nicole Malcolm
B4Play Technician Aidan Dunsmuir
Venue Technician/Props Support
Venue Technician
Stitcher
Hannah Abbey
Miriam Dumitra
Shannon Carmichael
Props Assistant Marissa McClymont
Props Assistant
Scenic Support
Lighting Crew
Jamie Anderson
India Walter & Sam Estok
Alison Bendall, Grace Carmichael, Miriam Dumitra, Ella MacDonald, Leigh Robinson, Carson Schmidt, Andrew Sheperd, Branden Sugden, Theon Winn
Photographers
David Cooper, Emily Cooper, Jo-Ann Richards, Peter Pokorny, and Don Craig
The Belfry Theatre engages professional artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.
ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS
Thank You!
ShirleyAnderson,CharleneAbbott,Ilka Avril,ErinPatriciaBallard,EdBancroft, Bancroft,Janine Bandcroft,AlisonBaxendale, WayneDonnaBell,TeriBembridge, Bembridge,EileenBennett, JanetBesler,JaneBirkbeck,JaneBond, PaulineBrazier,LorettaBressan,Barb Burdge,Broster,FrancineBuck,MargBuckland,Jessica CathyBurke,EricBurkle,DebbieByron, BarbaraCampbell,AndrewCarter,RosiCaulder, ChristopherCauston,ElizabethCauston,Lily Cohen,Cave,AndresChorney,DianaClark,Julie Cooper,AltonCole,MaureenColgan,Winnie D’Appolonia,HeatherCornall,BethCruise,Shelley ShannonDavis,TheoDavis,Joan deTurberville,AriDoughty,KarinDuchene, Durham,JessicaDuncan,ChistineDunsmoor,Mary VeraEpp,Libery Evans-Agnew,Robert EdwardFerguson,AmyFischer,JoeloffFitsimmons, Frost,Fong,DonForsman,LizForsman,Rex SusanFrost,KellyGesner,PatGibbs, BarberaGolder,ChristineGolder,MartinGolder, Grainger,MichaelGolder,MargaretGoodwin,Jane DianneGregg,JoanGreig,Judith Griffin,HeidiGuest,SusanHall,LizHansen, DavidHansen,SueHara,MegHarriganLee, LynnAllysaHawes,LeannaHayes,JudyHaynes, Hunter,Henderson,CelinaHo,SueHodder,Sheila Iverson,KoichiroIto,SuzanneIverson,Kristen Jentink,BrenaJanke,AnnieJensen,Miriam HainikaJessen,LouiseJullion,Joan Kennedy,IreneKhurana,CoreyKowal,Savanta LaMar,NaomiLang,GaetanneLeduc,Suzanne Lee,ÈliseLemoine,ValerieLesage,
WendyLeyland, Shirley MacEachern, Irmamackay,Ann Maffey,JenniferMargison, SuzanneMarion,Kathryn Martell,NancyMartens,Sheryl Masters,RuthMcAllister,Lesley McCallum,TraceyMcDonnell,PatMcGuire, SheilaghMcIvor,CarolMcMehen,Cayenne McPayne,BarbaraMessenger,KathleenMilaney, LindaMills,FrancoisMilly,BarbaraMitchell Pollack,RussMoir,Elaine Montgomery,Lynne Moorehouse,GigiMossman,ShannonMurphy, FrancesNickerson,Dennis Normandin,Lizowen,PeggyPallan,PennyPattison,NancyPearson, JoanPeggs,ZoraidaPhilp,TamaraPlush,Donna Prelypchan,MarvellaPrestonBain,Norma Quinn,MerinaRael,SharonRaePowell,Brent Ransom,IngeRantzinger,MartinReigh,Darlene Reigh,KateRhodes,ShirleyRichardson,Gloria Riggington,DonaldaRossman,KarenRosson, Emily-AnneSalkeld,TrishSand,JoanSaunders, IngridSchmidt,BarbaraSchuster,JudithScott, maureenSherlock,SengaSimpson,JillSinkwich, GloriaSnider,JudithSpice,LynneveStewart, KevinStinson,PaulineStuart,FaroSullivan, DuncanSutherland,SusanSwaak,AnthonyTaylor, JaneTaylor,MaureenTaylor,LeanneTeron,Erica Thomas,FinkaToevs,JacintheTremblay,Brian Twohig,ClaudetteVallieres,YvanVallieres,Penny VanderValk,DeevanStraaten,AdeleVey,Susan Walker,MicheleWaters,KyleWells,SandyWilson, SheilaWilson,AnneWong,JuneWong,Virginia Wong,DebraYoung.
2023-24 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Alison Watt
Vice President Gillian Wood
Secretary Mik aila Mauro
Treasurer
Kathy Veldhoen
Past President Richard Brownsey
Directors
Cathi Charles Wherry
Dr. Joan McArthur-Blair
Kini McDonald
Daniela Pinto
Joni Steinman
Stephen Tax
HONORARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair Emeritus
Patrick Stewart
Sherri Bird
Barbara Greeniaus
Rober t Johnston Q.C.
John Keay
Joan Snowden
Dr. Brian Winsby
Michael Ziegler
PATRONS BY HOUSEHOLD
BY
MUNICIPALITY 2023–2024
Ladysmith
Courtenay/Comox
ONLINE PLATFORMS
Video
- 93 days, 7 hours, 27 minutes, 29 seconds
Video
18 days, 1 hour
dropped followers, as many did when Elon Musk bought Twitter
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but as Google changed their Analytics and we lost some of that data.
September 12 – October 8, 2023
YAGA
By Kat Sandler
Starring
Nicholas Nahwegahbow
Tracey Nepinak
Anastasiia Ziurkalova
Director Jani Lauzon
Set Designer Stephanie Bahniuk
Costume Designer Jeff Chief
Lighting Designer Ksenia Broda-Milian
Composer & Sound Designer Wayne Kelso
Stage Manager Bradley Dunn
Apprentice Stage Manager Grace Carmichael
Intimacy Director Treena Stubel
Fight Director Simon Fon
Dialect Coach Adrienne Smook
Cultural Advisor
and Directing Intern Diana Budiachenko
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
SEASON SPONSORS
Total attendance: 7,124 2023-2024
October 31 – November 26, 2023
I THINK I’M FALLIN’: THE SONGS OF JONI MITCHELL
Conceived by Michael Shamata & Tobin Stokes
Starring
Jonathan Gould
Linda Kidder
Anton Lipovetsky
Hannah Mazurek
Chelsea Rose
Director & Co-Creator Michael Shamata
Co-Creator Tobin Stokes
Musical Director Anton Lipovetsky
Set Designer & Costume Designer Cor y Sincennes
Lighting Designer
Alan Brodie
Assistant Lighting Designer Keith Houghton
Sound Designer Jeremy MacLeod
Choreographer Treena Stubel
Stage Manager
Apprentice Stage Manager
Dianne Woodrow
Jamie Anderson
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
SEASON SPONSORS
Total attendance: 8,230
December 2 - 23, 2023
The Belfry Theatre presents A WONDERHEADS
CHRISTMAS CAROL
By the WONDERHEADS
Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Starring
Kate Braidwood
Jessica Hick man
Sarah Robertson
Pedro M. Siqueira
Emily Case
Co-creator, Director, Set & Puppet Designer Andrew Phoenix
Co-creator, Assistant Director, Mask and Sound Designer Kate Braidwood
Dramaturgical Collaborator Peter Balkwill
Devising Collaborator and Props Designer Jessica Hick man
Composers/Musicians
Stage Manager & Sound Operation
The Singer and the Songwriter (Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran)
Becca Jorgensen
Assistant Stage Manager Emily Case
Lighting Designer Hina Nishioka
Projection Designer and Scenic Illustrator T. Erin Gruber
Assistant Projection Designer Emily Trepanier
Costume Designers Hannah Case and Hannah Ockenden
Character Illustrator Christache Ross
Scenic Painters
Carole Klemm and Lara Shepard
Audio Engineer John Nobori
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
SEASON SPONSORS
Total Attendance: 6,578
February 13* – March 3, 2024
AS ABOVE
By Christine Quintana
Starring
Gabrielle Rose Hrothgar Mathews Sereana Malani
Alternate Performer Christine Quintana
Director Meg Roe
Set Designer Camellia Koo
Costume Designer Stephanie Kong
Lighting Designer John Webber
Composer & Sound Designer Alessandro Juliani
Projection Designer Emily Cooper
Stage Manager Car yn Fehr
Assistant Stage Manager Becca Jorgensen
Cultural Dramaturg Tasha Faye Evans
Intimacy Director Treena Stubel
*Opening was delayed by one week due to artist bereavement leave.
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Total Attendance: 5,847
April 23 – May 19, 2024
THE LEHMAN TRILOGY
By Stefano Massini,
Starring
Adapted by Ben
Power
Brian Markinson
Celine Stubel
Nigel Shawn Williams
Director Michael Shamata
Set & Costume Designer
Shawn Ker win
Lighting Designer Leigh Ann Vardy
Composer & Sound Designer Tobin Stokes
Stage Manager
Jennifer Swan
Assistant Stage Manager Meghan Froebelius
Assistant Director Treena Stubel
Dialect Coach Adrienne Smook
Language Coaches
Cultural Guidance
Steven Butz (Hungarian), Diane Flacks (Hebrew & Yiddish), Dr. Stephanie Hatzifilalithis (Greek), Misak i Hasuike (Japanese), Nawar Marayhi (Arabic)
Diane Flacks, Rabbi Harry Brechner
Economics and Wall Street Coach Michael King
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
SEASON SPONSORS
Total Attendance: 6,872
