Patti Allan - Director

Patti is a Jessie Award winning Vancouver actress in theatre and television. She has recently appeared in Snowing in Saltspring, Arsenic & Old Lace and Crime & Punishment. Patti also sings with the Swing Sisters, a swing/jazz girl group that performs in and around Vancouver.

Eileen Barrett - Director

Eileen Barrett is an actor and writer whose recent favourite stage credits include The Dissociates (Sea Theatre); Unless (the Belfry Theatre); How I Learned to Drive (Overdrive Productions) for which she was honored to receive A Jessie Richardson theatre award; The Attic, The Pearls and Three Fine Girls, and Witness for the Prosecution (Western Canada Theatre).

She has many film and television appearances to her credit, and has also written and co-produced for CBC radio.

Eileen has directed with Vancouver Youth Theatre for almost 20 years and has taught adult acting classes for Vancouver Community College, Langara. She is a graduate of Studio 58.

Amy Clausen - Director

Amy has taught and directed Shakespeare programs for actors of all ages. After completing a BA in Theatre at Dalhousie University, she was hired to manage the Education Programs at the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival. She worked there for three seasons, directing thousands of young people in dozens of productions. She has directed courses at VYT since 2002, including the advanced Teen Touring Productions in 2005 and 2006. She also directed the summer theatre programs, including Shakespeare intensives, at Saint George's School, and has worked as an artist-in-residence in many Vancouver-area elementary schools. Amy also loves teaching puppetry, physical comedy and competitive improvisation. She got her start in acting classes at VYT (1989 - 1995).

Dolores Drake - Director

Dolores Drake has been working in Theatre, Film and TV for 25 years since she graduated from Studio 58. In feature film she has worked with world-renowned directors Costa Gravas, Joel Schumacher, Bill Forsythe and Anne Wheeler. Recent film credits include 2012, Stonehenge Apocalypse, Beyond Sherwood, Fatal Kiss, Post Mortem, and Termination Point. Extensive television credits include Principals, Leads and Guest Starring Roles in The List, Hiccups, Mentors, Beggars and Choosers, Adventures of Shirley Holmes, Impromptu, Aliens in America, Mrs. Miracle and a Lead in The Pastor's Wife. Recent theatre credits include Steel Magnolias for Chemainus Theatre, Ivor Johnson's Neighbors for Theatre North West, Glorious for the Arts Club and the Belfry, Leading Ladies, and The Invisibility of Eileen for Theatre North West, Blithe Spirit for The Citadel, and Of The Fields Lately for Sudbury Theatre Center.

Heather Duff - Artistic Director of VYT and Director of Teen Shows

Aliya Griffin - Stage Manager, Teen Show

A recent graduate of SFU Contemporary Arts with a BA in Theatre Performance and Political Science, favourite credits at SFU include The Duchess of York in Normand Chaurette’s The Queens, Polly Baker in Bertolt Brecht’s The Elephant Calf, and a member of the chorus in Gertrude Stein’s Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights. Most recently, Aliya completed her first post graduation project producing and directing Carmen Aguirre’s Chile con Carne at the Havana Theatre. Watch for Aliya next in the Fringe Festival where she is co-producing a Hive-style project in collaboration with alumni and senior students from SFU, UBC, and Studio 58. When not in the theatre, Aliya teaches acting classes at elementary schools across the lower mainland.

Jennifer Hogg - Production Manager & Stage Manager/Tour Coordinator for Kids' Writes

As a graduate of the SFU Theatre Production and Design program, where she earned her BFA, Jenn has been involved with many productions in many capacities.  Usually found behind the scenes, she prefers Stage Managing, but has been known to throw together a lighting design when absolutely necessary.  In addition to working at the Writers Festival and Fringe Festival, Jenn has stage managed Superware (Theatre Sezme), Girls Like Me (Pink Vixen Comedy), Naked Oranges (Theatre Terrific) and worked as assistant stage manager for The Snides of March (Double Exposure Productions).  Over the past six years, Jenn has stage managed recitals for the Kauhane School of Polynesian Dance and recently for the Warren Performing Arts Academy.  She has been involved with Vancouver Youth Theatre’s touring production Kids’ Writes since 2003 and works year-round at VYT as their Production Manager.

Gina Readman - Office Administrator & Show Assistant

This is Gina’s forth year as ASM for Vancouver Youth Theatre’s Shadbolt performances. She is the VYT Administrator and also teaches youth drama classes at Vancouver elementary schools. Gina has just completed a BFA in Theatre Performance at SFU Contemporary Arts. She recently performed in the City of Wine Festival in Toronto, which included the work of seven theatre training programs from across Canada. Gina will be performing in Neworld Theatre’s upcoming production of Mixie and the Halfbreeds. She is currently co-producing a collaborative project involving graduating students from SFU, UBC and Studio 58, which will be performed in this year's Fringe Festival. Gina also works as a dramaturg with emerging writer Fran Worster. 

Beverly Sauvé - Director

Bev started acting when she was twelve, after a brilliant drama teacher saved her life in high school!  She then went on to study at Studio 58 and Simon Fraser University.  She works in theatre and film.  Three of her favourite parts have been Jenny in Jenny's Story, Jean in Canadian Gothic, and Emilia in Othello.  Bev also sings jazz with "The Swing Sisters" and guitarist Ronnie Thompson.  She has been a director at Vancouver Youth Theatre for 11 years and loves directing Kid's Writes!