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PAST PRODUCTIONS
CURRENT PRODUCTION
JULIUS CAESAR
by William Shakespeare
ensemble led by Shel Wyminga
June 10-14, 2026
The Nest, Granville Island
1398 Cartwright St 3rd Floor, Festival House, Vancouver
The end of an era looms large on the horizon as the rise of a new monarch threatens to shake the very foundation of the nation. Julius Caesar may have the love of the public, but there are some who fear what he may become should his ascendance go unchecked. Loyalty gives way to conspiracy and rival factions vie for power. Violence begets more violence, empires rise and fall, and the cycles reset in this slick, modern take on Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Directed by Shel Wyminga (Actor Director) and Garvin Chan (Assistant Director). Featuring Andres Collantes, David Robert Leslie, Eve Middleton-Meyer, Garret Quirk, Joelle, Wyminga, Kenneth Seto Tynan, Michael Briganti, Nazanin Shoja, Regielyn Padua, Sam Jeffery, Shel Wyminga, and Vanessa Lazare.
Sound Design by Cindy Kao.
Lighting Design by Christian Ching.
Stage Management by Diyalla Malijian.
Fight Direction by David Robert Leslie.
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Michael Briganti (He/Him)
Soothsayer/Ensemble
Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, Michael is a multidisciplinary artist working across voice, film, television, and theatre. Passionate about storytelling and collaboration, he is thrilled to return to Bard on the Beach with such a wonderful team. Michael explores storytelling through many creative outlets, including the D&D podcast Theatre of the Mindflayer, singing and songwriting, and performing aboard the Granville Island Pirate Adventures theatrical cruise. Selected stage credits include Zoo Story (Exact Resemblance), When We Were Singing (Touchstone Theatre), and What A Young Wife Ought to Know (Excavation Theatre).
Garvin Chan (They/Them)
Assistant Director
Garvin Chan 陳嘉泓 is a theatre maker/director/producer from Hong Kong, situated in xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories. Graduating from Simon Fraser University’s theatre performance program in 2022, they have since featured in Pedro Chamale’s Peace Country, received a residency with Rumble Theatre, and participated in programs with Whatlab, vAct, Arts Club, and PTC.
Garvin explores identity through dark humour, contrasting the spiritual with the mundane. Garvin’s works include “What the F-Word is Going On?”, “Year of the Frog”, and “A Grandchild’s Quest for Chicken” performed at 2025’s Vancouver Fringe Festival.
Christian Ching (She/Her)
Lighting Designer
Christian Ching is a queer scenographer, lighting designer, and production manager with a love for design and nature. She is a graduate of Simon Fraser University with a double degree in Theatre Production and Design and in the Biological Sciences. Originally from the Philippines, she is currently based in the unceded Coast Salish territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations (also known as Vancouver). Her practice aims to revolve around playful collaboration and a focus on the environmental aspects of storytelling. In her free time, she likes to write and run RPGs, draw, and make music.
Andres Collantes (He/Him)
Portia/Ensemble
Andres Collantes is an Ecuadorian-Canadian actor that grew up in New Jersey. With over a decade of acting experience across Film/Tv and Theatre he’s just happy to be here doing what he loves.
Sam Jeffery (She/Her)
Caesar/Ensemble
Sam Jeffery is an actor, award-winning fight director and intimacy director, creator. Born & raised in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 territory, she’s grateful to now call the coast home. Whether it’s classical works, new plays, or a wordless clown-duo-cum-under-water-escape-stunt set in a real distillery, Sam’s main drive is creating theatre that affects people long after they leave a show. Acting credits include: Low Pay? Don’t Pay! (The Fo Collective); The Amazonomachy, Troilus and Cressida (Tiger's Hearts Collective); Crave, Stormshelter, A Beautiful View (StoneMarrow Theatre); Whiskey Business (Found Festival); After Miss Julie, The Birthday Party (Lodestar Theatre); Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Henry V (Malachite Theatre); A Thought In Three Parts (Theatre Outré); I Am For You (Concrete Theatre). samjeffery.com
Cindy Kao (She/Her)
Sound Designer
Cindy is a Taiwanese actor / sound artist, (Ketegalan and Siraya Nations) based in Vancouver (Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations)
Cindy’s interdisciplinary works include starring in “A Family Act” presented by Whistler Film Festival (Jury Award Winner), Music on Main feature, New York Electroacoustic Music Festival as Sapphire Haze with duo partner Aysha Dulong, Music Composition and Instrumentalist for “Happy Valley-馬照跑 舞照跳” by Derek Chan, Sound Design for “Peace Country” by Pedro Chamale. Cindy recently composed for “The Baking show: The Play” as part of Sapphire Haze.
Vanessa Lazare (She/Her)
Octavius/Ensemble
Vanessa is an actor, director, stage manager, intimacy director, tour guide, and indecisive libra currently residing in New Westminster on the unceded lands of the Halkomelem speaking peoples. Vanessa is so excited to be joining the Far from the Tree family in this iconic show. They hold a BFA in Performance Creation from Concordia University in Montreal and have been working professionally in all aspects of theatre for the past two years. Some of her favourite shows include Macbeth, Something Rotten in the State of Denmark (BIV), Canadian Content (LLT), and Wild Light (Little Dipper). Enjoy the show!
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David Robert Leslie (He/Him)
Cassius/Fight Director
David is an actor, singer, and founder of To The Hilt Stage Combat. His studio focuses on intro to and continuing skills for stage combat. He has an affinity for cats, a love of D&D, and a strong desire to sleep. David is very proud to be a part of this production and the work of everyone involved.
Diyalla Malijian (She/Her)
Stage Manager
Diyalla is her name and passion is her game. She completed a BA in Psychology at Simon Fraser University and is considering a minor in Greek history after studying abroad in Greece. Diyalla currently works multiple jobs, including serving as Program Director for a non-profit organization running youth and childcare programs at an elementary school. She also recently stepped into the world of finance and is currently working toward becoming a licensed financial advisor so she can help educate others on navigating the financial systems in Canada. Along the way, she has been fortunate to learn from incredible mentors and advisors who continue to inspire her growth. Diyalla hopes to continue making a positive impact through her multiple career paths while balancing her love for travel and stage management. During her spare time, Diyalla can be found in her room slaying dragons on her PS5. Don’t worry, they are bad demonic dragons.
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Eve Middleton-Myer (She/Her)
Lucius/Ensemble
Eve Middleton-Meyer is an actor, performer, and creator from Treaty 7 territory, now based on the unceded lands of the ḵwx̱wú7mesh, Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations. A graduate of Simon Fraser University’s BFA in Theatre Performance, her practice spans theatre, songwriting, visual art, and collaborative creation. Recent credits include Hereafter: A Cabaret of Divine Love (2025), Period.Piece: Rock Opera (2025), What the F-Word is Going On? (2024), Soft Tongues: A Bioacoustic Opera (2024), Over There (2024), and Venus Conundrum (2024). Eve also performs with bands easy feat and Come Together, and works in public art management with the Vancouver Park Board.
Regielyn Padua (They/Them)
Cinna/Ensemble
Regielyn is a Tri-Cities based actor and fiber arts enthusiast. Recently they have been seen with Stage 43 in 12 Incompetent Jurors. Some previous appearances include DA Joyce Reilly in Legally Blonde (Stage 43), Cousin Chen in Tiger Style! (Cinnabar Theater), and Zuzu in Dance Nation (LeftEdge Theatre). A transplant from the San Francisco Bay Area, Regielyn has a penchant for felines, cheese, and using song lyrics in everyday conversations.
Garrett Quirk (He/Him)
Casca/Ensemble
Quirk’s mother will be the first one to tell you how he likes to act up. He began by founding a theatre company (Flying Shoe Players) and a film company (K/G Films) while getting his theatre degree in his home town, Ottawa. After a variety of performances (Romeo and Juliet - Salamander Co., The Importance of Being Earnest - Plosive Prod, Twelfth Night - A Company of Fools) he tied a bandana to a stick and moved to Vancouver where he has been fortunate enough to have played in stage (Seminar - Stages Theatre Co., Taming of the Shrew - Stone's Throw Prod), television (Tracker - 20th Cent, Resident Alien - USA Network) and films alike (How To Murder Your Husband - Lifetime, Anything But Ghosts - Blumhouse). Look for him in the upcoming series Elle from Amazon MGM Studios. Making audiences feel something special is what drives him, he's grateful for your ignition.
Nazanin Shoja (She/Her)
Calpurnia/Ensemble
Nazanin Shoja is an actor, singer, and dancer based in North Vancouver. She is a graduate in Performing Arts from Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis (France) and Randolph Academy for Performing Arts (Toronto). Stage highlights include: Parifam (The Cultch, VACT, Medusa Theatre), Echoes From Faraway Cities (Blackout Theater), Ten Million Stars (Highland United Productions), When the Reaper Calls (North Vancouver Community Players), Cats (Fighting Chance Productions), The Dance Teacher (Tomo Suru Players), Die Fledermaus (North Shore Light Opera), Sleeping Beauty (Metro Theatre), Perfect Lives, Desperate Wives (Hamilton Fringe Festival), and The Laramie Project (Annex Theatre). Film/TV credits include: Time Out, Elle, Virgin River, Untamed, The Watchful Eye, Debris, Possession, and The Repression.
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Kenneth Seto Tynan (He/Him)
Decius Brutus/Ensemble
Kenneth is one of the rare unicorns who was born and raised in Vancouver. He started on a creative path at a young age as a figure skater and has broadened his horizons over the years. Although he trained in Film acting at the Vancouver Acting School, he has realized that theatre is the superior art form and has devoted his time to many local companies as not only performed but also writer, director and producer. He has ranged widely, moving from Miss West Coast in Pageant: A Musical by Something Extra Collective to directing Antigone:方 for Ensemble Theatre and even improvising high class manners in Regency Impro. This coming November he’ll be directing Ride the Cyclone for LAF Productions at the Waterfront Theatre while also being on the boards for both Rushed Productions and Ensemble Theatre. Kenneth plays the fiddle, spins on blades and makes things up in a posh accent; it seems like there isn’t anything he can’t do.
Joelle Wyminga (She/Her)
Brutus/Producer
Joelle is a multidisciplinary theatre artist based in Vancouver, BC, and is one of the founders of Far From the Tree Productions. Through her work, Joelle tells stories that examine the complexities of humanity in all its forms and delve deep into what makes people inherently human while exploring “theatre magic” and testing the limitations of the audience’s imagination. A history and literature buff, Joelle particularly likes to tell stories surrounding historical events through innovative reimagining, while opening the floor up for all to discuss our triumphs and downfalls of our past. Past credits include: Reflections on Crooked Walking- Ensemble(Firehall Arts Centre), A Christmas Carol Radio Play- Director (Pomo Players), Shakespeare in Love-Costume Designer (Metro Theatre), Metamorphoses- Costume Designer (United Players), The Marvelous Misadventures of Boofus and Schmoozle-Creator and Performer, The Pink Unicorn- Director/Producer, Little Women (workshop production)- Script adaptor/Director/Producer; Cariboo Magi- Director/Producer (Far From the Tree); Nosegate- Director (Vancouver Fringe); King Lear- Edmund (Promethean Theatre).
Shel Wyminga (They/She)
Mark Antony/Actor Director/Producer
Shel was born purple from asphyxia and couldn't cry for the first several moments of their life. Thankfully, they soon managed to catch their breath and haven't shut up since. They eventually embraced the inevitable and completed their BFA in Acting through the School of the Arts, Media, and Culture at TWU where they studied Visual Art alongside their theatrical pursuits. Primarily an actor, Shel has enjoyed the freedom to dabble in many facets of storytelling, working additionally as a director, writer, and producer. They are the co-founder and Artistic Director of Far From The Tree Productions.
Shel is a SOVAS and One Voice Arts award nominated actor, recognized for their role as Lilith Hall in MechWarrior 5: Clans (Piranha Games). Favorite credits include Agnes Gillies in Snatched (Van Fringe 2025), Jo/ Trisha in The Pink Unicorn (Far From The Tree), Edgar in King Lear (Promethean), and King Henry in Henry V (Stone's Throw Productions).
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