Our Team
Darlene Bráz (she/her)
Development
Assistant
Darlene Bráz
(she/her)
Development
Assistant
My creativity is informed in part by my own multi-ethnic culture and identity, and by the remarkable connections I’m able to make with others. I have a background in fundraising, event-planning, and graphic design for Toronto-based non-profit organizations and I’ve even dabbled in spoken word poetry. As a multilingual story-teller, I’m passionate about making history and the Arts accessible to all, which led me to earn my BA in History Studies and Equity Studies at the University of Toronto. As the Development Assistant, I hope to contribute meaningfully to the growth and longevity of SIA in the vibrant York South-Weston community, being mindful of my role as a treaty person in the city of Toronto.
Fun stuff:
I’m a ‘Just’ Docs Festival award-winner, I love hiking throughout Ontario, and I recently started painting as a hobby. A dream of mine is to one day design and build an epic treehouse!
David di Giovanni (he/him)
Artistic
Director
I began working at SIA in 2017 when we shared our office with a downtown travel agency. It’s been such a gift to see the company change and transform over the years, and especially so at our new home in the Weston community. I am an award-winning theatre director, playwright, and dramaturge– Artistic Director of Shakespeare in Action, a co-founder of madonnanera performance, and sit on the Board for North York Arts. Born in Vaughan, I am a queer Italian-Canadian who spent some formative years in Montreal, and moved back to Toronto in 2015 to complete my Masters in Theatre Directing at York University. I love pasta (all kinds), classical music, drag shows, and walking. If I wasn’t married to the performing arts, I might be operating a B&B somewhere in the mountains of Italy.
Tamara Freeman (she/her)
Associate Managing
Producer
I’m really excited to be a part of the Shakespeare in Action family as the Associate Managing Producer. I also have a few other theatre fams in Skipping Stones Theatre where I am a company member, and a Company of Fools, who have been my career long cheerleaders and mentors! As a graduate of the Acting for Film and Television program at Humber College, I’ve been super blessed with incredible experiences on-stage, on-set and in-recording studios as a LatinX actor and creative, both in Tkaronto and Ottawa, a name derived from the Algonquin word adawe, meaning “to trade”.
A few things you should know about me: I am absolutely in love with bats, dogs and elephants (in no particular order), I have a nickel allergy that haunts my very foodie soul, and if I wasn’t in the performing arts- I would definitely be a race car driver!
Rikki Katarina (she/her)
Graphic
Designer
I am very happy to be back working at SIA and am so thankful to be surrounded by such talented and compassionate people!
As a graduate of 3 post-secondary programs in the arts (you read that right – 3!! John Abbott/YorkU/Seneca), I couldn’t imagine myself working in any other field or doing anything else with my life.
Although my dream is to one day be able to support myself solely as an actor, I love that at SIA I get the chance to be included in the behind the scenes processes of marketing our programs and shows. I know how deeply I’ve been affected by theatre and the arts in general and I want to help give that experience to other people.
A few fun facts about me – I’m from Montreal, I have 6 siblings, I am absolutely obsessed with dogs and I accidentally stabbed myself in the eye with scissors when I was 13.
Daamin
Kelly
COOP
Student
I am senior from Weston CI. Im interested in photography, anime, sketching and reading fictional fantasy books. I am very nice, smart, somewhat confident and funny.
Lizzie Moffatt
(she/her)
Volunteer
& Communications
Coordinator
Lizzie Moffatt
(she/her)
Volunteer & Communications
Coordinator
I’m so happy to be joining the Shakespeare In Action team this summer as the Volunteer Coordinator! I am a theatre artist based in Tkoronto with a deep love for performing, directing, physical theatre & community storytelling! I’ve also had the pleasure of working with companies like Frog in Hand, The Reflex Collective & Mainstage Theatre Company. I received my BAH in Drama from Queen’s University and have also trained at George Brown College’s Acting Conservatory as well as The Banff Centre.
When I’m not working in theatre I love being out in nature, listening to live music and dancing. I’m currently studying with IDC to become an Intimacy Director!
Matt Nethersole
Associate
Producer
Matt Nethersole
Associate
Producer
Matt Nethersole is a Juno Award nominated multi-disciplinary performer, educator and artivist. His work employs music creation, poetry, dance and theatre to express an eternal longing for nature and the cosmic complexity of human life. Matt’s career has taken him from the stages of Stratford and Shaw to Theatre Passe Muraille and Buddies in Bad Times as well as regional theatres across Canada. Matt is dedicated to using the arts as a mechanism for social change by making art accessible to over-exploited communities. Matt’s greatest hope for his life and work is that it be a symbol of loving kindness and a prompt for others to recognize their inherent power and value.
“The happiness of one’s own heart alone cannot satisfy the soul; one must try to include, as necessary to one’s own happiness, the happiness of others.” – Paramhansa Yogananda
Anastasiya
Popova
(she/her)
Production
Manager
I am so excited to rejoin the land of live theatre and to be reunited with my long-time friends and colleagues at SIA.
I completed my education at York University in 2019.
For the last 6 years, my theatrical focus has been mainly on Stage Management. Although my Production Management experience is smaller, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and broaden my horizons. I hope that I will be able to continue working in theatre this year, nurturing my passion for live performance.
Suchiththa
Wickremesooriya
(he/him)
Associate Producer,
Education
I am so pleased to be taking the lead of all our Educational Programming here at SIA! As a student who struggled in school, I’ve always appreciated high quality, engaging programming and know first-hand it’s transformative power. I hope to bring those experiences to students all over Tkaronto, but especially in and around SIA’s new home, Weston. I bring many years of tutoring and education experience, starting at the age of 15 in my own highschool and hope to continue growing in that area of my artistic practice. I hold a Masters in Musical Theatre, and specialise in teaching physical theatre, singing and voice for teens.
Much like Tamara, I am also very much a foodie, and I love cooking stuff from scratch, from rolling my own sushi to sourdough baking. If I wasn’t in the performing arts space, I might be a farmer, or a journalist, maybe even an engineer.
Our Board of Directors
Shakespeare in Action is grateful for the support and guidance of our dedicated and experienced Board of Directors
Joanne Acri
CHAIR
Junction Collective
Member since 2019
Howard Goldby
ACTING TREASURER
President
Excellutions Ltd
Member since 2018
Sharlene Henry
Director
AutoWorker
FCA Canada
Member since 2021
Kelly McAllister
Director
Manager,
Corporate Donor Relations, United Way
Member since 2020
Hawa Mire
Director
Consultant, HYMIRE Consulting
Member since 2021
Jeffrey Nguyen
Director
Content Development Lawyer –
LexisNexis Canada Inc
Member since 2021
Ayushi Patel
Director
Hawely and Company
Member since 2021
Zorana Sadiq
Director
Theatre Artist, Musician, Arts Educator
Member since 2021
Vivianne Wilson
Director
Founder and President,
GreenPort
Member since 2021