Michael Armstrong
Actor/Director/Playwright/Designer
My Why
I have invested over fifty years into the theatre. It is my art and my church. Here, we come together to tell stories and when we do it well something larger than ourselves is manifested. We become magicians, spirits, and we reach into the hearts of our audiences and connect them to one another. We become greater than the sum of our parts. A shared silence. A chord that hangs in the air. A heartbeat, shared. What could be more important in these troubled times.
The world, the people I’ve met, all of the artists whose work I’ve heard, read, watched, tasted have invested in me with their love and their art and I have a clear responsibility to not rest with it but to pass that work on.
Over the years, I have worked professionally as an actor, a director, and a set designer. I have taught theatre skills in schools, universities, and over thirty communities across BC. I have an MFA in Playwrighting, have written a dozen plays and am a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada. In all of my writing and all of my work on the stage, I have come to believe that everybody matters, that we are entitled to love as we choose, that it is through breaking our hearts open that we approach the truth.
This is why I’m here.
To make space for stories that matter.
To lift up voices that need to be heard.
To mentor, to create, to connect.
Unleashed Heart is more than a theatre company. It’s a calling. And I’m honoured to answer it.
Beth DeVolder
February 17, 1962- August 1, 2025
Founder/Director/Composer/ Writer/Actor/Professor
My Why
Because I believe in connection. This is a core value that undergirds everything I do: My teaching, my writing and the kinds of questions that capture my attention creatively.
​It’s about belonging.
In theatre, we feel deeply, laugh loudly and love intensely. Sometimes we may be quirky or messy or complicated but, together, we reach for something better. We stretch ourselves and we grow. We dare to imagine a different world and in doing so, we make space for others also to belong, to stretch and to grow.
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It’s about relationship.
Theatre is about doing something as an ensemble that not one of us could do apart. There is magic, there is wonder in that; it’s a beautiful and precious thing. This inter-dependence is about needing and valuing the contributions of each person. It’s about creating a common experience as a group (writers, actors, technicians, crew and audience together) that can never be repeated because every performance, every audience is different. How amazing is that!
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It's about humanity.
In theatre, we lean into the hearts and minds of each character we play with all their strengths, vulnerabilities and contradictions, and invite our audiences to join us. Through this, we cultivate empathy. We begin to see through another person’s eyes, and so, we move closer to each other.
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Theatre feeds us. It moves us. It impacts us. In a crazy world where many of us feel insignificant, the human connection ignited through theatre is our power to make a difference -- together. And this is also our legacy: to bring people together and, perhaps, leave the world a better place.
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This is why I’m here.
To build something that matters.
To uplift others in the process.
To honour what theatre gives us—and give it back.
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Unleashed Heart is more than a theatre company. It’s a shared purpose. And I’m proud to be part of it.
Colleen Janssen Hood
Communicator/Strategist/Actor/
My Why
For me, theatre has always been about connection—about the way a single story, honestly told, can open hearts and bring people closer.
My background is in communications and strategy, with a focus on building organizations that serve and strengthen community. I’ve spent much of my career helping changemakers find their voice, shape their impact, and stay true to their purpose. With Unleashed Heart, I’m honoured to bring that experience to a creative space I deeply believe in.
I believe that powerful theatre needs solid foundations—structures that support risk, hold space for vulnerability, and make room for bold, necessary stories.
Local theatre has the unique ability to spark reflection, foster empathy, and create shared meaning in a fragmented world. That’s why I’m here. To help ensure that the voices of artists are not only heard, but sustained.
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This is legacy work.
And I’m grateful to be part of it.
Why Theatre:
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"Because it's where voice, story, and souls meet, creating a magical connection between artist and audience."
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I grew up in Dublin, Ireland, surrounded by music and the rich tradition of storytelling. That’s where my love of performance began. After immigrating to Canada, I attended a performing arts high school outside Toronto, where I immersed myself in the performing arts. These early experiences shaped my artistic journey and ignited a lifelong commitment to nurturing the next generation of performers. I continue to witness the transformative impact of the performing arts in building students’ confidence, creativity, and personal growth.
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Theatre has been a guiding force throughout my life. After earning a degree in Drama and Vocal Performance from Queen’s University, I embarked on a global journey—as a theatre manager, and featured singer/actress on several cruise lines—before settling into my creative roots on Vancouver Island. ​Blending my background as both a performer and educator, I’ve directed the theatre program at Southridge Independent School in South Surrey and have taught music and performing arts in School District 69 for over a decade. Since 2015, I’ve also served as Musical Theatre Director at the Qualicum Beach School of Dance, mentoring performers of all ages in a vibrant, multigenerational program.
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I am committed to helping students of all ages discover their voice—both literally and artistically—through acting, musical theatre, and speech and dramatic arts. With a focus on vocal development, character work, and applying acting techniques, I guide performers in building confidence, developing authentic characters, and deepening their understanding of the actor’s craft. I also mentor those preparing for local and provincial festivals. More about my current offerings can be found at jenniferekelly.com.
Theatre has brought me to this place of collaboration and creativity, connecting me with the talented Michael, Beth, and Colleen. Together, we are creating theatre with heart, that reflects our values, collective purpose and lasting connections between artists and audiences.
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