Susan Bertoia is a professional theatre artist, performer, director, devisor, writer, passionate drama teacher, and mom to three amazing humans. Susan’s invigorating artistic style, with specialization in physical theatre, commedia dell'arte  and mask performance, make her a well sought-out teaching artist and performer throughout Canada. Her work explores transposing the poetry of life into the comedic and dramatic moments for the stage. Susan's artistic leadership has been described as engaging, encouraging and disarming.

Susan is an Adjunct Professor at UBC teaching acting, commedia and mask performance.  Susan facilitates many professional development workshops with ABCDE (Association of British Columbia Drama Eductors) and has presented papers at the Canadian Association for Theatre Research Conferences. Recently Susan was awarded the ‘Excellence in Drama Education’ through ABCDE which recognized her years of dedication and innovative work with youth. She is also the recipient of the Vancouver Jessie Richardson’s Professional Theatre Award for Outstanding Performance and The Gordon Armstrong Theatre Artist Award which recognized her creative initiatives. Susan has performed at many venues including: PuSh International Festival, Arts Club Theatre, Western Canada Theatre, Firehall Theatre and Richmond Gateway Theatre. Susan also directs multi-platformed shows ranging from youth engaged theatre to professional ensemble productions.

Susan holds a BFA in Theatre Acting from UBC, and has trained abroad at schools that specialize in Italian mask theatre (Ill Piccolo Teatro di Milan and Donato Sartori International Mask Workshop). Additionally, she has trained in physical devised theatre with One Yellow Rabbit; Jeremy James and UK’s Frantic Assembly.