Staff & Board
‍

Anita Rochon is a director and theatre maker. Since 2006, she’s been the artistic director of The Chop with Emelia Symington Fedy, a company they co-founded. The Chop is an award-winning Vancouver based company whose work is known for its sophisticated experimentation with authenticity and involves non-traditional collaborators and some of the finest artists working in Canada. The Chop tours nationally and internationally with past presentation in Toronto (Factory Theatre), Victoria (Belfry) Burnaby (Shadbolt Centre for the Arts), Richmond (Gateway Theatre), Whitehorse (Pivot Festival), Ottawa (Magnetic North), Halifax (2b Theatre), Stratford (Stratford Festival), Montreal (Usine C and Segal Centre), Portland (TBA Festival), Seattle (On the Boards), Edinburgh (Edinburgh Fringe), Dublin (Abbey Theatre, Dublin Fringe), Brighton (SICK! Festival), Hong Kong (Hong Kong Arts Festival), Darwin (Darwin Festival) and London, England (Battersea Arts Centre).

As a director, Anita has worked at The Shaw Festival, Bard on the Beach, Theatre Replacement, Caravan Farm Theatre, Belfry Theatre, Théâtre la Seizième, Electric Company Theatre, Globe Theatre and Vancouver Opera. She is a graduate of Studio 58 (Acting) and the National Theatre School of Canada (Directing). She is the recipient of the Ray Michal Prize for an Outstanding Body of Work by a New Director, a Mayor’s Arts Award (awarded by Donna Spencer) and the Siminovitch Protégé prize (awarded by Kim Collier). Anita is an active member in Canada’s theatre community and has sat on numerous advisory boards and juries.

For more than a decade Shannon has worked for non-profit arts and culture organizations, on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples – very happily behind the curtain, and usually with a spreadsheet or two at her fingertips. She comes to Green Thumb Theatre from WISH Drop-In Centre, but prior to then she was the General Manager of the Granville Island Theatre District. She has worked with organizations such as The Improv Centre, the Vancouver Fringe Festival, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, and Carousel Theatre for Young People. As a volunteer, she served on the Board of Directors for the Killjoy Theatre Association.

In her downtime, Shannon enjoys almost anything that takes her outdoors, taking in live-performance events, spending time with her friends and family, exploring places that are off the beaten path, and buying plants she doesn’t need.

Liam Kearns (they/them) is a queer, Vancouver-based stage and production manager originally from the UK by way of Switzerland. They have been working professionally in the Canadian arts scene for more than a decade, specializing in site-specific and touring productions. They’ve worked with companies including Axis Theatre, The Only Animal, ITSAZOO Productions, The Belfry Theatre, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia and Green Thumb Theatre. They believe theatre for young audiences is vitally important as it allows young people to see someone’s life manifested on stage through a character, to walk a mile in their shoes, fueling curiousity to ask questions about themselves, others and the world we live in. Outside of the theatre world, you can find Liam baking vegan treats, getting lost in a jigsaw puzzle or spending the entire day outdoors geocaching.

Liam starts their new role on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

Miku was born and raised in Japan, from the beautiful prefecture of Gunma. She moved to Canada 14 years ago and has been in the Calgary theatre community for about 10 years as an actor. She was in the last graduating class from the theatre program at Mount Royal University in Alberta. After the program got cut from the university, she became passionate about encouraging and supporting theatre/art in the community to keep it alive.  She strongly believes in the power of laughter and a contagious smile and positivity. That is why she was super excited / wanted to be a part of Green Thumb Theatre, to move young people, and bring awareness of the current world we live in.

‍

Stephanie Duran is an interdisciplinary artist from South America who lives on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh(Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples. Her interests include arts, writing and social innovation. Her education includes a BMA, a certificate in community building and a RADIUS Fellowship, along with many art residencies. She is a proud member of the Latin America arts community and enjoys supporting different projects. She loves biking, swimming, brunch and art events.

Susan has been an accountant for over 15 years, and with Green Thumb since 2011. She makes her home in Richmond, BC, with her husband and two twin boys.

Tim Carlson (He/Him) is an actor, writer and educator. He has performed across Canada on stage and screen for the last fifteen years. Highlights include working with the CBC, The Arts Club Theatre, The Presentation House and Netflix. He has been writing professionally for the last four years including several television pilots, a podcast and a video game. He has taught improv and acting to children and adults across North America for nearly a decade. He is a graduate of Studio 58. 

Patrick McDonald served as Artistic Director of Green Thumb Theatre from 1988 to 2020; prior to that he was the Artistic Director of Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa. He has directed over 75 productions for Green Thumb and has overseen the commissioning and development of more than 50 new plays for children, teens and young adults. He has commissioned work from emerging writers like Dave Deveau and Michelle Riml and established writers Morris Panych, Joan MacLeod and George F. Walker. During his tenure Green Thumb productions have won numerous Jessie Richardson Awards, several Betty Mitchell Awards, and three Canada Council Awards for Outstanding Production for Young Audiences. McDonald has been nominated for many awards and has received Jessie Richardson Awards for both directing and “Continued Excellence in the Field of Theatre for Young Audiences”. In 2009 he received the Jessie Richardson Award for Career Achievement, and in 2013 he was a recipient of the Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award. He has directed across the country at theatres including The Belfry, The Grand Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, National Arts Centre, Vancouver Playhouse, Gateway Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People and Arts Club Theatre. He has been a two time member of the Canada Council’s Theatre Advisory Committee and has sat on many peer juries at the provincial and federal levels.