After years of being a staunch supporter of Direct Theatre Company from the sidelines, Martha felt so honoured to be included in last year’s first outing of ‘Monster’ at the Vancouver Fringe. Playing a Goddess is definitely a career highlight and she looks forward to seeing this production reaching the highest tops of Olympus in the near future!

Martha was classically trained at the Poor School, London and Acting International, Paris. Next up for her in August are more singing projects - SMASHUP! with Fabulist Theatre & The Assumption Project with Motet choir.

Troy Banks is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to work with Monster's incredible cast and creative team. He is a Steveston-born performer and a recent graduate from Capilano University’s Musical Theatre program. Troy has had the pleasure of working on several musical workshops and can't wait for you all to see this most recent one!

Some previous credits include: SpongeBob the Musical (Blueshore Theatre), Carrie the Musical (Blueshore Theatre) and Cabaret (Arbutus Studio). He hopes you enjoy this amazing show and have as much fun watching it as he is having on stage!

Scotia Browner has been performing in the Lower Mainland since she was 7 years old, and holds an Estill Proficiency Certificate in Estill Voice Technique. Select works include: Luisa in “The Fantasticks” (White Rock Players Club); Diana Barry in “Anne of Green Gables” (Gateway Theatre); Snow White in “Snow White: A Traditional Metro Pantomime” (Metro Theatre) and Lily in “Super Chefs the Web series”. She has also performed with Theatre Under the Stars, Align Entertainment, Place des Arts and in the 2022 Vancouver Fringe Festival. She is currently studying at The National Theatre School of Canada in the Acting program. Thank you to Jill and Florence for the wonderful opportunity to perform this exciting new work, and to her family and friends for all their ongoing love and support. Enjoy the show!

Shriya Chamarty is a biologist based in Vancouver, BC, with a deep passion for plant ecology. However, her heart lies in the world of performing arts. From traditional Kathak dancing to jazz vocals, Shriya has always been drawn to the stage. You might have recently caught her as Medusa in the Fringe debut of "MONSTER" the original by Jill Raymond and Florence Reiher last September, and is so excited to be returning for this workshop!

Shriya extends heartfelt thanks to her loved ones for their unwavering support in all her artistic endeavors.

Ainslee Dalzell is a Vancouver based actor and singer originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, and a recent graduate of the Capilano University Musical Theatre Program.

Some recent performing credits include The SpongeBob Musical and Weasel (CapU Theatre), June, July, August, and Cabaret (Arbutus Studios), and Merrily We Roll Along (Arts Umbrella).

She could not be more thrilled for the opportunity to bring this beautiful story and amazing music to life!

Born and raised in Salvador, Brazil, Yasmin is very grateful to now be creating art on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples. New works are one of the most exciting and terrifying things to be a part of as an artist and she is very thankful that you are here for the ride.

Some of her recent theatre credits include: Guys and Dolls (Arts Club Theatre Co.); Our Town (Little Dipper Theatre); Fairview (The Search Party); The Prom (TUTS); Wyrd: A Musical Unfairytale (Larrikin Entertainment/Atomic Vaudeville); A
Tiny Christmas Carol (Chemainus Theatre Festival); We Can’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!, Ride The Cyclone (Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre).

This is such an incredibly talented group of humans and it has been such a joy to sing and play alongside everyone these last couple of weeks. Special thanks to Jill and Florence for trusting her to be a small puzzle piece in the exploration of such a beautiful and powerful story.

Jess McLeod is an award winning actor, director, writer, and producer. Recent acting film and television credits include It’s A Wonderful Knife with Joel McHale and Justin Long, The Unforgivable starring Sandra Bullock and Viola Davis, and their series regular role in both seasons of Peacock’s One of Us Is Lying. Upcoming releases include Apple TV’s Invasion, and Mayumi Yoshida’s Telefilm feature Akashi. Recent theatrical acting credits include last year’s production of Monster at Vancouver Fringe, and The Immaculate Perfection of F*cking and Bleeding in the Gender Neutral Bathroom of an Upper Middle Class High School with One Yellow Rabbit. They directed a Crazy 8s this year, DTF?, which will soon have its world premiere at an Oscar qualifying festival. As a trans and neurodiverse artist, they are a passionate advocate for accessibility in the industry, and amplifying under-represented voices.

Alberta born, BC trained, and considers all of Canada home, Hal is a multi-talented performer/creator currently living in Vancouver. He began singing in church in Edmonton at the age of four and performing hip-hop dances choreographed with his cousin in the living room at family gatherings. Picking up some skills playing musical instruments along the way, his musicality evolved into a love of theatre in high school. In 2010 he moved to Vancouver to earn his BFA in Theatre Performance from Simon Fraser University. Since then he has performed in many shows across Canada (including the Canadian premiere of Hadestown prior to it’s success on Broadway and the West End), worked as a singer around BC and has auditioned for productions around the world. When not performing, Hal also writes and composes. In 2020 & 2021 he composed over zoom with several youth from across Canada as part of Musical Stage Company’s One Song Glory program. He was also a composer/lyricist with MSC’s 2021 NoteWorthy Cohort and contributed music for a digital Calgary Fringe piece called Reflect In. Catch Hal in Vancouver this fall performing in the upcoming production of Jersey Boys with The Arts Club. 

Performance Highlights: Edmonton: Hadestown & Jersey Boys (Citadel) The Tempest (Freewill) Mamma Mia, Sister Act, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair & Hairspray (Mayfield); Vancouver: The Best Laid Plans (Patrick Street/Touchstone) Dreamgirls & Beautiful (Arts Club) Cabaret (Raincity); Thunder Bay: The Rocky Horror Show (Magnus) Kamloops: Jesus Christ Superstar & Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Western Canada) Film/TV : Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame C. J. Walker (Netflix) IG: @hal.wesley

Blake Sartin is a Singer/Dancer/Actor based in Vancouver and is excited to be working on this charming project.

Since graduating from Capilano University's Musical Theatre diploma program, Blake has gotten to perform in amazing shows such as "Singing in the Rain" (Royal City Musical Theatre), and "42nd Street" (Theatre Under the Stars).

You can find him on social media @BlakeSartin.

Trinity is an actor and singer who has trained in both Canada and the UK, and is thrilled to be performing in "Monster" with this talented group. Previous credits include the award winning “Moonglow” (Pivot Theatre) and “Snow White and the 8 Dwarfs” (WRPC).

She would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support, and for forgiving her for never texting them back in a timely manner.

Enjoy the show!

Katrina Teitz is an interdisciplinary artist based in Vancouver, BC and a graduate of Capilano University's Musical Theatre Diploma Program (2017). Their favourite past credits include Snow White (Carousel Theatre), Cry-Baby the Musical (Awkward Stage Productions), The Five Vengeances (Affair of Honor).

When they aren't acting on stage or screen, they are co-producing films with company: this could've been an email Productions and also, streaming ttrpg games live on twitch!

She is an emerging stunt performer with training in flips, tricks, Wushu and a black belt in Karate. Find them on all socials at @Katrinateitz

A graduate of Capilano University, Florence is a composer, writer and actor. She has performed in various stage shows (Noises Off, Bad Girls, Hysteria) and also works as a commercial actor. She wrote and performed in her first penned musical Worth the Weight (Ben Bilodeau Productions) in 2017 and more recently she helped with music direction for the premiere of Sigma Acapella (Rushed Productions).

As the composer, co-lyricist and co-writer of the new and original musical MONSTER (from the award-winning Direct Theatre Collective), she is thrilled for this workshop presentation and the continued development of the show.

Jill Raymond is an international performer, creator and producer who has performed across three continents and is the Founder and Artistic Director of Direct Theatre Collective. With eleven awards for the company since it was founded in 2018, their work and words have received critical acclaim and heartfelt audience feedback.

She is loving her new partnership with Florence Reiher in creating this passionate reframing of the story of Medusa, and is hopeful for the future of the work.

Relentless in her passion to forge the best possible path in her one wild life, she continues to search for truth and love in all elements of her work.

@lovejray

When he's not teaching K-7 music in West Van, you can find Peter composing, improvising, directing, or performing music somewhere around Metro Vancouver. Select music direction credits includes Spring Awakening (Phantom Moon Collective, 2017), Dogfight (Semper Fi Collective, 2016), the Jessie nominated production of Edges (Two Monkeys Production, 2015), the Ovation nominated Connected: The Musical (Whirlwind Theatre, 2013), and an adorable workshop of [title of show].

More recent productions include a special charity concert of Dear Evan Hansen with Laughing Matters Theatre, 9 to 5: The Musical at Capilano University, and the Ovation nominated 2019 Vancouver Fringe hit, Amélie, with West Moon Theatre. You can find him regularly conspiring with Jennifer Pielak, Chris Lam, and Nicole Roberge. Upcoming: Mary Poppins with RCMT!

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