Our Team

Jimmy is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation; he is of Plains Cree and French settler heritage. Born and raised in Tiohtià:ke/ Montreal, Jimmy graduated from Concordia’s Theatre Performance Program. He is a seasoned stage and film actor. He has worked professionally for over 10 years, for companies like The Stratford Festival, The Centaur, Geordie Productions, Porte Parole and La Licorne. Jimmy’s most notable tv role was playing Watio for five seasons in APTN’s hit series Mohawk Girls. Jimmy is also a writer, director, mentor, and coach. He was the Indigenous Artist in Residence for the 2016 Students On Ice Expedition to the Arctic. Jimmy successfully completed the Indigenous Artist In Residence at The National Theatre School of Canada in 2019. He is the Incoming Artistic Director of Geordie Theatre.

Caite Clark (she/her) is an artist and educator based in Tiotià:ke/Montreal. She has taught ELA with the Lester B Pearson School Board and the Social Justice Forum for Westcoast Connection’s Pre College-Enrichment program. When she is not overseeing Geordie’s 2Play tour and field trips, Caite can be found at St George’s School of Montreal, designing lights for the performing arts program, and working in student support. As a lighting designer her collaborations have spanned from theatre to classical music, to circus. Caite is passionate about making art accessible and igniting creativity in young people. She holds a BFA in Theatre and Development.   

Liam (he/him) is a recent marketing graduate from the University of Carleton in Ananishinaabe/Ottawa, Ontario, the city which he has called home for the last 22 years. In his earlier years of life, he found himself involved in the world of performing arts through theatre and dance. Today, this artistic expression has manifested its way in the form of photography, which allows him to explore his creativity in his free time. When Liam isn’t outside taking photos, he is at home enjoying horror films, trying not to burn down his kitchen while cooking, and spending quality time with friends & family. Liam is excited to be part of such an amazing team at Geordie Theatre!

Violette Kay is a sound designer, composer and multidisciplinary performer who studied acting at John Abbott College and violin performance at the Conservatoire de musique de Gatineau. A former violin teacher, she is very happy to be a part of the Geordie team and continue bringing together children and art. Past projects include Adoration (Tantalus/Studio Porte Bleue), A Joy that’s Mine Alone (Art Apart, National Theatre School of Canada), From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea (Geordie Theatre, Outstanding Emerging Artist at the Montreal English Theatre Awards), Therapy was a Mistake/I Want to Love the World (Penina Productions), Counter Offence (Teesri Duniya Theatre) and Caravan (Tableau D’Hôte Theatre). Violette is also on the board of directors of Kickstart Disability Arts & Culture and hopes to help create accessible and anti-ableist work environments whether it be onstage, behind the scenes, or behind an office desk.

Originally from New Brunswick, Caeleigh is a Tiotià:ke/Montreal-based theatre fan. Since her graduation from McGill University in 2019, she has been an active member of Montreal’s English theatre scene, working behind-the-scenes in the office, and both onstage and offstage with local indie musical theatre companies.

Anna (she/they) is a theatre creator and performer, originally from B.C. They now live in Tiohtià:ke (Montréal), where they are writing their first play. Anna has performed in productions at The National Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, multiple seasons with The Classic Theatre Festival and in various film and TV productions. Dedicated to building sustainability in the theatre sector, Anna has spent seven years developing strategic plans and community initiatives for non-profits across the country. She is thrilled to join Geordie Theatre and support the team in bolstering community, nurturing young audiences, and paving the way for sector change.  When not involved in theatre activities, you can find Anna rollerblading, hanging twinkly lights or drawing puns. (burkyco.com)

Daniel is a theatre creator, animator, teacher, learner and aspiring everything.

Daniel is the great grandchild of a cinema owner and an apple farmer. The grandchild of nurses and quilt makers. The child of teachers and talkers. The sibling of brilliant hearted adults. And the parent of a joy ball.

Daniel’s family left Ireland and France many years ago to find the great southern land, Gadigal Land, Wiradujuri land. Daniel grew up on the land of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation (Sydney, Australia), surrounded by sun stroked skin, salt water and big Christmas feasts. Daniel completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre making at the Australian Institute of Music, but inherited big boisterous storytelling from his community.

Daniel moved to unceded Kanien’kehá:ka land, Tio’tia:ke (Montréal) for love. Since arriving here, Daniel has worked with young people to make theatre, teach theatre, perform theatre and more. Daniel has worked in this capacity with the Segal Centre, Geordie Theatre, the ELAN Artists Inspire Project, the LEARN I Belong Project, The Montreal Children’s Theatre, The Vancouver International Children’s Festival and others.

In 2019, Daniel co-founded a theatre collective, Young Hearts Theatre, which looks to tell stories for the young and young at heart. We follow a story to where it needs to go. Outside. Into a cave. Using puppets. Singing loud.

Daniel brings the full weight of past story telling with him and loves SO MUCH to hear about others too – so if you have anything to share, let him know!

Elsa Bolam is the founding Artistic Director of Geordie Theatre. Elsa was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, where she began her career working in different capacities at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford and London. After directing freelance with many English theatre companies, she became a television director at the BBC in London. She then came to Canada, where she taught at the National Theatre School, helped found the Centaur Theatre, and continued to direct at theatres such as Theatre Calgary, Theatre Plus in Toronto, Sudbury Theatre Centre, Magnus Theatre, the Globe Theatre in Regina, and others.

In 1980 Elsa founded Geordie Theatre and was artistic director of the company until 2006. In October 2002, Avon Canada recognized Elsa Bolam as a “Woman of Inspiration” in the field of Arts and Culture, and in 2003 she was also awarded a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal. The Montreal English Critics’ Circle honoured Elsa in 2005 with a distinction award in ‘recognition of her work nurturing young stage talent and taking theatre to far-flung audiences’.

Elsa was named to the Order of Canada at the end of 2008.

Kim is the Founder & CEO of Phil. Her experience working with local, national and international charities combines over 25 years in marketing and fundraising, with a lifelong passion for volunteering in the community.

Kim consulted with Geordie for over 5 years before joining the Board and has been a Geordie fan for twenty years, taking her kids to see shows when they were little.

Theatre is in her blood (literally) coming from a long line of thespians, dating back generations. Her grandparents had a local theatre school for children nearly a century ago!

Award-winning social entrepreneur (Top 50 Women Leaders of Montreal, Top 50 under 50 Concordia University Alumni), host of the Philanthropy in Action podcast, international speaker and author of many articles on leadership and the social sector, she is always looking to learn more and share more.

Ndaku has been working in the financial sector for about 9 years now after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Saint Mary’s university in Halifax Nova Scotia in 2013. 

Before this he was born and raised in Zimbabwe and was a musical theatre kid to the core. Ndaku was in several productions over the years at Reps Theatre in Harare Zimbabwe ranging from Godspell, The Kind and I and Mama Mia to name a few. He pursued theatre full time in the year before moving to Canada to undertake a business degree but in university he was still heavily involved with multiple productions with the university’s drama society. 

Ndaku is excited to get a foot back into the world of theatre and help with its accessibility to the next generation as it played an integral part of him being able to find his voice and even in finance, he finds himself relying on those public speaking skills quite frequently. 

Alarey Alsip is a Canadian actor, director, and teacher. She is an alumni of the acclaimed Second City in Chicago, as well as Concordia University, in Montreal, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with Distinction.  

Fresh out of school, she was cast in a two-play tour by Geordie Productions, featuring productions of Joan MacLeod’s The Shape of A Girl and an adaption of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The tour ran for 9 months and had performances across Quebec, New Brunswick and Toronto. She continues to act in theatre, film, and television. She splits her time between the Eastern Townships and Montreal, where she is represented by Glenn Talent. 

Faten Hodroge is a multifaceted professional, entrepreneur, finance specialist and development specialist who believes in the importance of bridging societal divides. She began her professional journey as a Chartered Accountant with PwC in Montreal, Bermuda, and London, UK, specializing in privatization. She brought her expertise in public-private cooperation to the Asian Development Bank (an MDB), where she worked for several years in the water supply and urban development division, improving the quality of life in urban cities across Asia. Her work in international development highlighted the importance of governance, environmental and financial sustainability and taking concrete steps towards inclusiveness and poverty reduction. After returning to Montreal, she founded Oya Costumes, driven by a passion for entrepreneurship and the creative aspect of costumes.

She admires the work of Geordie Theatre in introducing the magic of theatre to kids for four decades, entertaining and touching hearts while also challenging minds. Everyone can benefit from integrating art and nurturing creativity in our lives, regardless of our profession or background. The transformative power of theatre can contribute to inclusiveness, promoting dialogue within and between communities and bridging societal divides. She is excited to work with the Board in supporting Geordie’s mission and vision, contributing to philanthropic endeavours and community outreach and fostering a culture of innovation and effective management.

Julie Tamiko Manning is an award-winning actor and theatre creator from Tiohtià:ke / Montreal. Selected acting credits include From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in The Sea (Geordie Productions), Jonathan: a seagull parable (Surreal SoReal), Paradise Lost (Centaur Theatre), Jean Dit (Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui), Butcher (Centaur Theatre) and Othello (Scapegoat Carnivale/Segal Centre). 

Keith is a father, husband, writer, performer, teacher, producer, journalist, and, when called upon, lawyer based in Montreal. As a writer and performer, Keith and his work have appeared on stages in Montreal, Boston and New York City; and on PBS television and CBC radio. His first solo show, The List, was nominated for two Frankie Awards at the 2024 Montreal Fringe Festival and will tour festivals in New York, Winnipeg and Edmonton in 2025. He is currently writing his first multi-act play entitled Funeral Season. In his other professional lives, Keith has spent more than 30 years doing strategic communications and government relations for clients ranging from Canada’s largest biotechnology company to the RCMP. He is also a founder or co-founder of several non-profits and has had stints as a courtroom litigator and a lecturer in commercial law at his alma mater, McGill University.