FROM ARTISTS AND TEACHERS
"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 is, it is still possible to have fun every step of the way."
- Erin Purghart, Theatre Artist (UBC Theatre Grad 2021)
- Erin Purghart, Theatre Artist (UBC Theatre Grad 2021)
"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, Vernon Secondary School, 2020
- Lana O'Brien, Vernon Secondary School, 2020
"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 BC Thespians (BC Educational Theatre Association) 2020
- Craig Wrotniak, Provincial Chapter Director 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, Some Assembly Theatre Company and Director 2020
- Valerie Methot, Executive/Artistic Director, Some Assembly Theatre Company and Director 2020
"Even though the work is often quite physical in nature the complexity of the 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 she will keep you or your students active and on the move. "
- Glen Pope, Secondary School Drama Teacher District of Surrey, BC 2019
- Glen Pope, Secondary School Drama Teacher District of Surrey, BC 2019
"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 emphasized 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 Theatre and Professional Theatre Artist 2020
- Laen Hershler, MFA Theatre and Professional Theatre Artist 2020
“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/Theatre Teacher, Langley Fine Arts School 2019
and in my teaching.”
- Lindsay Mitchell, Drama/Theatre Teacher, Langley Fine Arts School 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, Highland Secondary School- Comox, BC 2018
- Lisa Williams, Drama Teacher, Highland Secondary School- Comox, BC 2018
"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 and parent to 2 amazing kids 2018
If you have the opportunity to work with Susan Bertoia, don't hesitate!"
- Laura Crema, Jazz Singer and parent to 2 amazing kids 2018
"I forgot about my physical limitations!"
- Drama Teacher participant of "Fun, Focus, No Apologies" Workshop 2015
- Drama Teacher participant of "Fun, Focus, No Apologies" Workshop 2015
"It was fantastic… couldn't have hoped for anything more! It was an absolutely brilliant experience. Susan's energy, knowledge and generosity are amazing. I am so grateful for this experience."
- Participant of "Fun, Focus, No Apologies" Workshop 2015
- Participant of "Fun, Focus, No Apologies" Workshop 2015
"This workshop was inspiring and impactful! It allowed freedom and risk taking in a safe environment while implementing useful drama techniques that can be done with students."
- Drama Teacher participant of "Fun, Focus, No Apologies" Workshop 2015
- Drama Teacher participant of "Fun, Focus, No Apologies" Workshop 2015
"Susan was fantastic. I enjoyed the exercises she offered, and how at the end we were able to create and perform a piece of theatre. She was very inspirational, creative and encouraging
— and I liked the 'no apologies'."
- Drama Teacher participant of "Fun, Focus, No Apologies" Workshop 2015
— and I liked the 'no apologies'."
- Drama Teacher participant of "Fun, Focus, No Apologies" Workshop 2015
"A fast paced, flowing workshop that suited both drama and non-drama educators well. Bravo!"
- Drama Teacher participant of "Fun, Focus, No Apologies" Workshop 2015
- Drama Teacher participant of "Fun, Focus, No Apologies" Workshop 2015
FROM STUDENTS
“She instilled in all of us to tell the story with our bodies and our face not just our words.”
– Tanessa Holoman (Langley Fine Arts School)
“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.”
- Lili Rennicks (Langley Fine Arts School)
“She gave us a whole different perspective such as that a colour could represent an emotion and she makes it visual. I really liked her comparisons because I like to draw.”
- Kaiden Kode (Langley Fine Arts School)
“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”.
- Duncan Templeton (Langley Fine Arts School)
– Tanessa Holoman (Langley Fine Arts School)
“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.”
- Lili Rennicks (Langley Fine Arts School)
“She gave us a whole different perspective such as that a colour could represent an emotion and she makes it visual. I really liked her comparisons because I like to draw.”
- Kaiden Kode (Langley Fine Arts School)
“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”.
- Duncan Templeton (Langley Fine Arts School)