ASTRID VARNES

Astrid spent a few years touring to schools across BC and Canada before heading back to school to do an MA in Applied Theatre at the University of Victoria. While there, she was part of a Reminiscence Theatre company that worked with seniors in care facilities, creating interactive plays based on the residents’ life stories.

In March 2015, she and her partner Bob took a giant leap and moved from Vancouver to Salmon Arm without knowing a soul. Fortunately she got cast in Shuswap Theatre's production of “Pack of Lies”, and that's where she met Peter.

She asked Peter about Seniors’ Theatre, and wondered if she might join, to which Peter replied, “Of course!” So she went that first Tuesday and was instantly smitten. She played with the group many times that spring, and even brought in one of her audition pieces so that the group could give her feedback and direction, which was a wonderful experience for everyone involved.

When Peter announced that he wasn’t going to facilitate seniors’ theatre in Salmon Arm very much this year, and the group had to decide how to proceed, she offered to steer the ship in his stead. She’s looking forward to doing the games and activities everyone knows and loves, and adding a few new ones as well.