Find out more about our 2024/2025 programs, events, exhibitions, fundraising initiatives and more! View the Program Guide
Director, Michael Fera is leading the troupe of talented young performers to perform the A.A. Milne story of Winnie the Pooh as adapted by Lindsay Price.
Join Pooh Bear, Piglet and all their friends in the Hundred Acre Wood through a collection of stories as they survive floods and search for the North Pole.
Admission is free, registration is required. Register at the links below.
Michael Fera – DirectorMichael has been working as an actor, director, producer and arts administrator for over 40 years.
Michael is thrilled to be directing this summer’s production for Place des Arts! It is a dream come true as Michael introduced this program over 10 years ago to the summer programming at Place des Arts.
Favourite directing credits include Salt Water Moon for The Arts Club on Tour, A Christmas Carol, Kindertransport, A Boston Marriage (United Players a.k.a. UP), Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Corpus Christi, Balthazar and the Mojo Star, Tartuffe (UP)The Herbal Bed (UP), Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding (Seattle, Winnipeg, Edmonton), Romeo and Juliet, The Maids, Macbeth, Life After Hockey, Molly Sweeney and Medea.
Some of Michael’s past favourite roles have been in Rusted Gage Theatre Lab’s production of The Zoo Story and Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet under the direction of Kevin Bennett.
Michael has received several Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominations (Significant Artistic Achievement and Outstanding Production), and he is a recipient of the 40 Under 40 Business in Vancouver Award. For the past 17 years, Michael has been the Program and Events Coordinator at Place des Arts in Coquitlam, where he recently retired in December 2023.
Amber Nordstrand – Set and Costume DesignerBased in Vancouver, Amber is an independent artist with a versatile background in filmmaking, performance, production design and traditional art. Holding a BFA in Film Production from SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts, Amber works as a production designer, art assistant and painter across a diverse range of projects, creating immersive and expressive environments for music videos, commercials and short films. Selected production credits include Haleluya Hailu’s Manic Pixie Pacifist, Peach Pit’s Psychics in LA, and Sun, Moon, and the Four Peaks directed by Kevin Kim, a 2023 VIFF Official Selection, Grand Prix recipient at Montreal’s Cinema de Nouveau 2023, and with its Online Premiere on NOWNESS ASIA.
As a self-taught artist, Amber works with gouache and acrylic ink to document abandoned locations across BC and upper Washington. She has displayed work in Port Moody’s Art 4 Life, Maryland Federations of Art’s Small Wonders, and Port Coquitlam’s City Hall Gallery, where her solo exhibition Finally Fall ran from January to April 2024. Her work will be featured at the Silk Purse Art Centre in a group exhibition entitled Take Yourself There from July to August 2024.
Wendy Unger – Production Stage ManagerWendy is a stage manager, designer and theatrical technician who came to Vancouver to learn how to transfer her skills from theatre to film but is thrilled to be doing theatre once again. Some of her experience includes regional and summer stock theatre in the US, teaching theatre to youth in the US and South Korea, and a variety of roles on short and independent film productions in Canada. Most recently Wendy stage–managed Handcuffed with Youtheater Movement Society. Wendy is grateful to have the opportunity to work with so many hardworking and talented artists on this production, and thanks all of you for coming to see the show, and for your support of the arts!
Lorry Badajos – Assistant Stage ManagerFilipino-Canadian Lorry Badajos is thrilled to join this season’s Summer Theatre Troupe at Place des Arts! A graduate of Douglas College’s Stagecraft Program, Lorry is an emerging Live Events Technician and Stage Manager currently living, working and playing in the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation.
Outside of theatre, Lorry can usually be found in a plane, boat or train (and one time on a cart being pulled by a water buffalo) heading over to her next travel adventure. She also likes to spend her time hiking, dabbling in film photography and crying over her favourite fictional characters.
Lorry’s production highlights include – Event Technician at Roger’s Arena – Out of this World (2024), We’ll All Be Here Forever (2024), BC Place – Hackney Diamonds (2024), Children’s Chorus Supervisor for the Vancouver Opera’s Carmen (2024), The Magic Flute (2023), Stage Manager for Douglas College Studio’s Unity 1918 (2022), and Assistant Stage Manager – The Ash Girl (2022).
Vada Collins – Christopher Robin Vada Collins is 16 years old and will soon be starting grade 12. She is thrilled to be playing Christopher Robin in this production of Winnie the Pooh! Vada has been involved in musical theatre for 10 years and is currently a student at the Lindbjerg Academy. Past roles include a Who in Seussical the Musical (Align Entertainment), Plankton in SpongeBob SquarePants (Lindbjerg), Archie in 13 the Musical (Lindbjerg), Lonny in Rock of Ages (Lindbjerg), and Beth/Alice in Our Place (Killarney Mainstage). Vada would like to thank everyone at Place des Arts for this opportunity and she hopes you enjoy visiting the Hundred Acre Wood!
Hana Lowey – Winnie the Pooh Hana is 17 years old and in his second year of the Summer Theatre Troupe. He’s been a part of musicals like The Prom and Mamma Mia and plays like Game of Tiaras at Gleneagle Secondary, as well as last year’s production of Through the Looking Glass at Place des Arts.
Throughout the years, theatre and performance have become a passion for him and is incredibly thankful for the friendships and experiences the summer theatre troupe has created. He’s extremely grateful for the opportunity to perform with an amazing cast and crew this summer at Place des Arts and hopes you enjoy the show!
Charlie Balser – PigletCharlie is a huge ninja turtle nerd and juggler and he loves to smile and make others laugh while cracking jokes. You would usually find Charlie reading but in the moments he’s not, you can find him playing Zelda with his dad. Charlie has been in his elementary school‘s Christmas play, his middle school’s film production and has been in Coquitlam Youth Theatre at Place des Arts for 2 years, where they have performed King Arthur and Once Upon a Pine. If this year has been anything like the past few productions, Charlie is excited and ready to get up on his feet and perform his heart out. Staying positive and having fun while doing it with his fellow actors.
Carys Woolford – Eeyore Carys is super excited for her first year at Place des Arts in Winnie the Pooh. Her most recent role was Gretchen in Mean Girls and before that, she played so many interesting characters including Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka, Olaf in Frozen, Pinocchio in Shrek and many more. She is ready to take the stage and bring the classic stories of Winnie the Pooh to life!
Tasha Barham – Kanga/ Roo Tasha is 17 years old and it’s her first time doing the Summer Troupe Theatre. Tasha has been a part of the Coquitlam Youth Theatre (CYT) program at Place des Arts since she was 10 years old. She has also done theatre with Lindberg Academy, Stagecoach and The Stage. Tasha enjoyed learning more techniques and skills with the Summer Troupe Theatre.
Tasha worked on the Honey Files with CYT which was based on Winnie the Pooh and came out on YouTube in 2021. She played Roo (changed to Riley) which is a kangaroo who has autism. What Tasha looked forward to while rehearsing in the play, is learning more about the characters.
Some of Tasha’s past productions include Aesop’s Fables, The Yellow Bricks of Oz, The Little Mermaid Jr., Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Dear Edwina Jr., Matilda, Thoroughly Modern Milly, You’re a good man Charlie Brown, The Jungle Book, Oh What a Lovely War, MidSummer Night’s Dream, Unity, King Arthur’s Calamity and Once upon a Pine.
Tasha is glad you all get to see the summer play of Winnie the Pooh and hopes that everyone has had a fun experience seeing this play.
Asher Streat – RabbitAsher Streat is jubilated to perform in Place des Arts adaptation of Winnie the Pooh. This will be his first time performing outside of Burnaby Mountain Secondary School. This will be a chance for him to foster his skills in performing arts so he can apply it to all areas of life. Asher is looking forward to making kids smile and impressing all his family and friends. Asher is also eternally grateful that he gets to start his work experience and spend his summer doing something he loves (and get paid for it!)
Dimitra Roatis – OwlDimitra has a very loud and charismatic personality. She puts her best foot forward and works her hardest on each project. She is passionate about performing and all artistic things! Dimitra has been in several plays/productions, all of which she has played a vital role. In grade six, she was the lead protagonist in a Christmas play and received glowing reviews. In grade ten, she performed at Metfest in Heritage High, with a main role. She has been taking drama since she was ten and is very comfortable with being on stage and meeting new people. She even does art in her spare time, painting, sketching and even dabbling in digital arts. She is a versatile actor who can do anything you throw at her!
Produced by special arrangement with Theatrefolk (theatrefolk.com)
