COMPANY MEMBER

Abdullah was born in Iraq and moved to Canada when he was 3. Growing up in 2 cultures has given him a unique perspective he brings to him improv. He has been an Improvisor in Vancouver for the past 13 years. Starting at Second Storey Theatre, he performed 2-3 times a week, eventually expanding into more of Vancouver’s theatre scene by joining Instant Theatre and performing new long forms invented by those around him. Being a member of the improvised Shakespeare company for many years, this format has become one of his favourites. After taking a break during COVID, Abdullah has come back improv full of energy and ready to bring improvised Shakespeare around Canada.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Brent Hirose is an actor, writer, director, voice over artist and improvisor based in Vancouver, BC. An honours graduate of the University of Winnipeg, he is a founding member of Winnipeg’s Theatre by the River and the improv troupe The Horrible Friends. He is a former company member of Vancouver’s Instant Theatre, and served as co-Artistic Director from 2016-2019.

As well as being the current artistic director of TSSC, he is currently a company member and instructor for Tightrope Impro Theatre, teaches improv for Vancouver Film School and Improv for Work and Wellness and is a founding company member of Fistful of Kicks, Vancouver’s all Asian Canadian improv troupe. He has performed at the Vancouver Improv Festival, The Seattle Improv Festival, The Hideout Improvised Play Festival in Austin TX and the Stumptown Improv Festival in Portland, OR.

COMPANY MEMBER / SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Caitlin is an improviser, writer, and dancer in Vancouver. While she has only been actively improvising since early 2022, Caitlin has dove head first, learning as much about improv as she can in Vancouver from Blind Tiger Comedy, Tightrope Impro Theatre, and The Improv Centre. Additionally, she has studied improv at Bay Area TheatreSports in San Francisco and The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago. Caitlin was also part of the inaugural House Teams season at The Improv Centre with her team 7 Kids in a Trench Coat.

As a self-identifying drama kid who has been a Polynesian dancer since she could walk, Caitlin has always enjoyed live theatre and comedy, both watching and performing; so, naturally, improv would be the perfect fit for her. With the sparks of joy that performing and improv provides to her, Caitlin is happy and grateful to be part of the Spontaneous Shakespeare Company.

COMPANY MEMBER

Dan is an accomplished performer, teacher, and facilitator with over two decades of experience in theatre and improv. Dan is both a partner and the director of Improv for Work and Wellness at Tightrope Improv Theatre. With a background in drama and community education, Dan has been training professionals in applied improv for the workplace since 2014. Dan studied Shakespeare at Queen's University where he performed in many plays.

Dan is also the President of the Queer Improv Society of Vancouver and co-founder of Momentous Comedy. He brings his passion for collaborative performance to every show and is excited to bring his skills to the Spontaneous Shakespeare Company and looks forward to dying on stage for you this evening.

MEMBER AT LARGE

Daelyn Lester-Serafini is an actor, improviser and visual artist who loves experimenting and creating in all forms. Born in Zimbabwe and raised between Kenya and BC, she is an avid Shakespeare nerd (among many other sworn nerd fealties) and is ecstatic to be a part of this fantastic company. She hopes to be remembered as “that person who wears lots of really cool pants”

COMPANY MEMBER

Delaney is an improvisor, freelance voice-over artist, and Vancouver based actor. Since graduating from Capilano University's Acting for Stage and Screen program, Delaney has performed with various improv companies and troupes in Vancouver, including The Improv Centre, Tightrope Theatre, Queerprov, Scram! and 300 Pound Hog.

In addition to her acting talents, Delaney is also well versed in swordplay, specializing in Italian rapier and longsword. She is a practitioner and instructor of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) and holds an Actor/Combatant certification with Fight Directors Canada for stage and screen combat. Stay up to date on Delaney's latest projects and performances by following her on Instagram at @delaney_gilmour or by visiting her website, delaneygilmour.com.

COMPANY MEMBER

Emily Cupples is a professionally trained writer, performer and makeup artist with over a decade of experience in improv. While still in high school, she began working with Against the Wall Theatre in Red Deer, Alberta in their sketch and improv shows. Emily remained with that company performing and training until her move to B.C in 2019. She has received diplomas in both Performance and Creation from Red Deer Polytechnic as well as Makeup Artistry from John Casablancas Institute in Vancouver.

Her recent ventures have included co-producing a live talk show with local comics, and combining her love of traditional theatre and improvisation within the Spontaneous Shakespeare Company.

COMPANY MEMBER

Evan Brow is an improviser born and raised in Vancouver, who first gained experience with Shakespeare in a starring role as Bottom in his high school’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He began performing improv comedy in 2011 at the University of British Columbia, eventually becoming Co-President of UBC Improv in addition to creating its sketch program with Jill Lockley.

He is a founding member of Grad School Improv, which produces genre-based improvised plays on a monthly basis at Little Mountain Gallery. He is a former cast member of Instant Theatre, has performed in The Vancouver Improv Festival, and is excited to be a current cast member of The Spontaneous Shakespeare Company. However, Evan is most proud of getting his spicy cat Pearl to love him

COMPANY MEMBER / DESIGNER

Julia is an improviser, stage manager, graphic designer, and genre nerd. She's been improvising since 2012 and has performed at the Vancouver International Improv Festival, Seattle Festival of Improv, the New York Musical Improv Festival, the rEvolver Festival, and assorted dodgy bars. Her favourite improv formats are musicals and space operas, and thinks people should stage Cymbeline more often.

COMPANY MEMBER

Based out of Vancouver, Lili is an actor, Improvisor and voice artist. She has performed on stage all around Canada, some of her notable credits include Mimi/scenographer in Blind Date, Brigid Blake in The Humans at Theatre Calgary, Gracie in Gracie at ATP & Belfry and Miranda in the Tempest at Bard on the Beach.

Elsewhere Lili’s voice can be heard in several animated shows such as Beat Bugs, Littlest Pet Shop, Rainbow Ruby, Max Steel and My Little Pony. She is the honoured recipient of the Anthony Holland Scholarship for Outstanding Ability and Dedication as well as the Betty Mitchell award for Outstanding Performance by a lead Actress in a Drama.

COMPANY MEMBER

Martina is a magical creature, sent from the fae to amuse and confound all. When asked for a bio, she fades into the scenery and steals from you a prized childhood memory which she hungrily devours. Along with being a skilled actor, Martina is the most fashionable member of the cast and it’s not even close, really.

COMPANY MEMBER

Nikolai Witschl is an actor, writer, and improviser in Vancouver, originally from Edmonton, AB where he was born, raised, and trained. Nikolai graduated with a BFA in Acting from the University of Alberta in 2010, where he also spent 7 seasons with Rapid Fire Theatre before moving to Vancouver. Since then, Nikolai has been a cast member at Sin Peaks, a weekly improvised soap opera, and Instant Theatre, including Shakespeare After Dark.

Nikolai has also appeared in many movies and TV shows, including Deadpool 2, Riverdale, Yellowjackets, Upload, X-Files, and The Strain, among others. He has also performed in various productions of classic Shakespearian plays including As You Like It, Measure for Measure, Titus Andronicus, Comedy of Errors, and Cymbeline.

COMPANY MEMBER

Omer Aubin is an actor, writer and improviser from the sticks of northern Alberta. He has loved for as long as he can remember and gained an interest in Shakespeare from Patrick Stewart’s quotes in Star Trek The Next Generation. And the Spontaneous Shakespeare company has been a wonderful culmination of that passion.

COMPANY MEMBER

Zach Wolfman is an actor, improviser, and teacher from Vancouver. Zach has a BFA in Acting and BEd from UBC. He has trained with Canada’s National Voice Intensive, Theatre for Living, and performed for nearly a decade with Instant Theatre Company. Zach is also a secondary drama teacher in Richmond B.C. where he enjoys sharing his passion for the arts.