INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
Susan Bertoia is a teacher who inspires learning. Not a moment goes wasted in any workshop, class or rehearsal led by Susan! Working with her is constant play. She fosters an environment where taking risks isn't scary, but instead, so so very rewarding. Susan has taught me the role and power my body has in storytelling, and that no matter how profound the work I'm doing is, it is still possible to have fun every step of the way!
Erin Purghart, Theatre Artist & UBC BFA in Acting Grad, 2021
Susan is a wonderful artist and theatre educator. She has a drive and passion for excellence in the performing arts that gets her students engaged in developing ensemble and devising theatre. Susan's Devising Theatre Intensive at our BC Provincial Thespian Festival enriched the festival experience for our students immensely.
Craig Wrotniak, Provincial Chapter Director of BC Thespians (BC Educational Theatre Association), 2020
Susan is such an inspiration! Her passion for creating bold theatrical experiences is exciting, energizing and focused. Her keen attention to detail and commitment to exploration of the art form ignites such beautiful artistry. It was such a benefit to have Susan as one of the artists involved in REWIRE. She is a great collaborator, amazing artist and I believe her to be a true asset to any theatre project.
Valerie Methot, Executive/Artistic Director of Some Assembly Theatre Company, 2020
Thank you for an amazing (and friggen exhausting) weekend of training and inspiration. I had a really fun time at the workshop and felt it woke up a lot of dormant passion and muscle memory. The masks session was really well facilitated. Your focus on precision and training was really well empahasized and scaffolded in. I had a good sense of where I can grow and improve in my own play. It had been at least five years since I had been with mask in a workshop context and it was a great kick in the butt.
Laen Hershler, MFA in Theatre & Professional Theatre Artist, 2020
Erin Purghart, Theatre Artist & UBC BFA in Acting Grad, 2021
Susan is a wonderful artist and theatre educator. She has a drive and passion for excellence in the performing arts that gets her students engaged in developing ensemble and devising theatre. Susan's Devising Theatre Intensive at our BC Provincial Thespian Festival enriched the festival experience for our students immensely.
Craig Wrotniak, Provincial Chapter Director of BC Thespians (BC Educational Theatre Association), 2020
Susan is such an inspiration! Her passion for creating bold theatrical experiences is exciting, energizing and focused. Her keen attention to detail and commitment to exploration of the art form ignites such beautiful artistry. It was such a benefit to have Susan as one of the artists involved in REWIRE. She is a great collaborator, amazing artist and I believe her to be a true asset to any theatre project.
Valerie Methot, Executive/Artistic Director of Some Assembly Theatre Company, 2020
Thank you for an amazing (and friggen exhausting) weekend of training and inspiration. I had a really fun time at the workshop and felt it woke up a lot of dormant passion and muscle memory. The masks session was really well facilitated. Your focus on precision and training was really well empahasized and scaffolded in. I had a good sense of where I can grow and improve in my own play. It had been at least five years since I had been with mask in a workshop context and it was a great kick in the butt.
Laen Hershler, MFA in Theatre & Professional Theatre Artist, 2020
STUDENTS
Susan is an experienced storyteller and instructor. She generously shares with us her experience, and helps us understand the history of Commedia dell’arte in the easiest and most entertaining way possible. She prepares us efficiently for a performance and makes use of all our talents when us students barely know each other. I am more than grateful to be under her guidance and direction for my first ever public performance in Canada.
Isaac Leung, Commedia Masterclass student, 2022
Susan is a playful, knowledgeable, and kind teacher who is deeply passionate about the spirit of Commedia Dell’Arte. Her teaching reflects this, and invites participants to dive in, without feeling like masks and Commedia Dell’Arte are a world apart from theirs. She provided engagement and fostered collaboration across experience levels in our group. Susan’s Commedia Dell’Arte Masterclass with Axis Theatre was the first of its kind with Axis, and Susan’s experience and love for the form came through and created a seamlessly engaging environment for all.
Nico Pante, Commedia Masterclass student, 2022
Two weeks intensive master class on commedia is one of the best things that ever happened in my life. Everyday, when Susan steps into the practicing room the energy changes, I just want to focus on what she said, taught and nothing else. She knows how to collect talents from each one of us and to create something we never would imagine. Her sympathetic heart made it easier to communicate with. I would always love to be taught by her.
Rui Ma, Commedia Masterclass student, 2022
I forgot about my physical limitations!
Drama Teacher participant of Fun, Focus, No Apologies workshop, 2015
She made me think about the 'moment before' of each character when I was wearing a mask. She prepped us before we turned around so we were able to start strong. It made me think about getting into character differently.
Student from Langley Fine Arts School
The way Susan helped us build trust with our group throughout the workshop was incredibly beneficial to the ensemble, as well as giving us a great tool kit for physical theatre and movement sequences.
Student from Gulf Islands School of Performing Arts
She instilled in all of us to tell the story with our bodies and our face not just our words.
Student from Langley Fine Arts School
Susan’s quick-thinking and creative mind is genius. Her dramatic flare and comedic skill are nearly as wonderful as her upbeat personality.
Student from Gulf Islands School of Performing Arts
I have never done this kind of thing before so it was so great to learn the method behind the madness. I liked finding the detail and knowing why.
Student from Langley Fine Arts School
Isaac Leung, Commedia Masterclass student, 2022
Susan is a playful, knowledgeable, and kind teacher who is deeply passionate about the spirit of Commedia Dell’Arte. Her teaching reflects this, and invites participants to dive in, without feeling like masks and Commedia Dell’Arte are a world apart from theirs. She provided engagement and fostered collaboration across experience levels in our group. Susan’s Commedia Dell’Arte Masterclass with Axis Theatre was the first of its kind with Axis, and Susan’s experience and love for the form came through and created a seamlessly engaging environment for all.
Nico Pante, Commedia Masterclass student, 2022
Two weeks intensive master class on commedia is one of the best things that ever happened in my life. Everyday, when Susan steps into the practicing room the energy changes, I just want to focus on what she said, taught and nothing else. She knows how to collect talents from each one of us and to create something we never would imagine. Her sympathetic heart made it easier to communicate with. I would always love to be taught by her.
Rui Ma, Commedia Masterclass student, 2022
I forgot about my physical limitations!
Drama Teacher participant of Fun, Focus, No Apologies workshop, 2015
She made me think about the 'moment before' of each character when I was wearing a mask. She prepped us before we turned around so we were able to start strong. It made me think about getting into character differently.
Student from Langley Fine Arts School
The way Susan helped us build trust with our group throughout the workshop was incredibly beneficial to the ensemble, as well as giving us a great tool kit for physical theatre and movement sequences.
Student from Gulf Islands School of Performing Arts
She instilled in all of us to tell the story with our bodies and our face not just our words.
Student from Langley Fine Arts School
Susan’s quick-thinking and creative mind is genius. Her dramatic flare and comedic skill are nearly as wonderful as her upbeat personality.
Student from Gulf Islands School of Performing Arts
I have never done this kind of thing before so it was so great to learn the method behind the madness. I liked finding the detail and knowing why.
Student from Langley Fine Arts School
TEACHERS
Susan helped to take our new work to the next level - even through ZOOM! She quickly connected to the students and the work. She took what we had, honoured the choices that had been made, and offered fabulous new ones that helped push us into new places. I am so thrilled we took this opportunity to work with Susan through a digital platform.
Lana O'Brien, Teacher at Vernon Secondary School, 2021
Susan's work is always real & raw. She takes participants on a journey to create stories from authentic movement that is emotional and truthful beyond words. Her work will continue to be influential with my students and in my teaching.
Lindsay Mitchell, Drama Teacher at Langley Fine Arts School, 2019
Even though the work is often quite physical in nature, the complexity of movement is simple enough for most performers. As opposed to choreography, which sometimes is less expressible for someone like me with two left feet, anyone can keep up with the level of movement. Now, whether your energy level can keep up is another thing. Susan is a ball of energy and will keep you or your students active and on the move.
Glen Pope, High school Drama Teacher, 2019
We loved our time with Susan Bertoia. We only wish it could have been longer! Susan spent a week in residence working with senior theatre students from two high schools on Vancouver Island. Susan is energetic, passionate, and has a real zest for movement and mask. She engaged all students in active, meaningful, powerful and creative work. Our time together was collaborative, informative, inspiring and tremendously fun!
Lisa Williams, Drama Teacher at Highland Secondary School, 2018
Lana O'Brien, Teacher at Vernon Secondary School, 2021
Susan's work is always real & raw. She takes participants on a journey to create stories from authentic movement that is emotional and truthful beyond words. Her work will continue to be influential with my students and in my teaching.
Lindsay Mitchell, Drama Teacher at Langley Fine Arts School, 2019
Even though the work is often quite physical in nature, the complexity of movement is simple enough for most performers. As opposed to choreography, which sometimes is less expressible for someone like me with two left feet, anyone can keep up with the level of movement. Now, whether your energy level can keep up is another thing. Susan is a ball of energy and will keep you or your students active and on the move.
Glen Pope, High school Drama Teacher, 2019
We loved our time with Susan Bertoia. We only wish it could have been longer! Susan spent a week in residence working with senior theatre students from two high schools on Vancouver Island. Susan is energetic, passionate, and has a real zest for movement and mask. She engaged all students in active, meaningful, powerful and creative work. Our time together was collaborative, informative, inspiring and tremendously fun!
Lisa Williams, Drama Teacher at Highland Secondary School, 2018
PARENTS
Susan Bertoia is an incredibly gifted actor/director/creator. She has worked with my children for over 7 years now, creating and producing children's theatre and I am continually blown away by the ingenuity of her work. She manages to create magical and beautiful theatre with limited time, space and resources and provided invaluable and much needed opportunities for kids to be a part of a creative and performing experience. If you have the opportunity to work with Susan Bertoia, don't hesitate!
Laura Crema, Jazz Singer & parent to 2 amazing kids, 2018
Laura Crema, Jazz Singer & parent to 2 amazing kids, 2018