ROY SURETTE – Outgoing Artistic Director
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Born in Vancouver and a proud graduate of Studio 58, Roy kicked off his busy, fun-filled professional career in the early 80s as the Associate Director for Carousel Theatre and later Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops. During this time, he was also a founding director of Burnaby Summer Theatre. In 1984, he succeeded John Cooper as Artistic Director of Touchstone Theatre where, inspired by the company’s provocative work, Roy embraced championing the creation and dissemination of bold Canadian plays and directed many award-winning productions including Whale Riding Weather, Lion in the Streets, Lilies, (with Sandhano Schultz) When We Were Singing, El Crocodor, Lost Souls and Missing Persons, The Three Penny Opera, A Map of the Senses and The Number 14.

In 1997, Roy became Artistic Director for Victoria’s premier company, The Belfry Theatre, directing over twenty-five plays including Mary’s Wedding, Flying Blind, Homechild, A Perfect Ganesh, and The Girl in the Goldfish Bowl. After a successful 10-year tenure, Roy donned snow boots and became Artistic & Executive Director of Montreal’s flagship English language company, Centaur Theatre (2007 -2017 ). While there, he directed many acclaimed premiere productions with box office hits including Schwartz’s: The Musical, Last Night at the Gayety, The St. Leonard Chronicles and Triplex Nervosa. In 2017, Roy returned to Touchstone Theatre following Artist Director Katrina Dunn’s esteemed tenure. Recent Touchstone credits include Happy Place, Kill Me Now, Certified, and YAGA.

Roy has directed for the National Arts Centre, The Shaw Festival, Canadian Stage Company, Vancouver Playhouse, Arts Club, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Alberta Theatre Projects, Theatre Calgary, Axis Theatre, Manitoba Theatre For Young People, The Kay Meek Centre, Realwheels, Ruby Slippers, The Globe in Regina, The Comedy in Melbourne, The Kings Theatre in Glasgow, UBC, University of Victoria, Canadian College of the Performing Arts and Studio 58.

Roy is extremely grateful for the privilege and opportunity to work and create with such incredibly inspiring artists, mentors and dedicated colleagues.