Lina de Guevara
Founder
Chilean born, Lina de Guevara is a director, actor and theatre teacher. She trained in the Instituto del Teatro (University of Chile) and studied in Canada with master teachers such as Augusto Boal, Richard Fowler (Odin Theatre), Annie Skinner, Ralph Cole, and Judith Koltai. A specialist in Theatre of the Oppressed and Commedia dell’Arte, Lina has lived in Victoria BC, Canada, since 1976. In 1988 she founded Puente Theatre and was its artistic director for 23 years. She was the director and writer of many Puente productions about the immigrant experience, such as "I Wasn’t Born Here", "Crossing Borders", "Sisters/Strangers", "Familya", "Of Roots and Racism", "Storytelling Our Lives", and "Canadian Tango". Other directorial credits include "Pastorela de Juan Tierra el Inmigrante", "Uthe/Athe", "Emergence", "Algarabía/Danza", "Chile Con Carne", "The House of Bernarda Alba", "Mother Courage", "Letters for Tomas", "Scene & Heard", "The Woman Who Fell From the Sky", "Puppets and Traditions", and "The pilgrimage of the Nuns of Concepción". Puente productions have been presented in national and international festivals, such as Theatre of the Oppressed in Río de Janeiro and Toronto, Festival de Pastorelas in Mexico City, Women in View Festivals in Vancouver, FemFest 08 in Winnipeg, and in Canadian Popular Theatre Alliance Festivals in Guelph and Edmonton. Lina retired from Puente in 2011 and since then she has been freelancing as drama instructor and director. She has taught at Canadian institutions such as the Canadian College of Performing Arts, the University of Victoria, Royal Roads University, Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific, and Camosun College. She has also worked with El Ciervo Encantado and Teatro-Estudio in Havana, Cuba; Proyecto Integrarte in Mexico City; Teatro Visión in San Jose, California, United World College in New Mexico, ICTUS Theatre, and Escuela de Teatro de la Universidad Austral in Chile. Lina's passion is to use theatre to promote community development and understanding between cultures. She has been actively engaged in discussing in different forums the many aspects of multi-culturalism and diversity in the performing arts.
“I started my life in theatre as an actor. In Chile I was lucky to perform several meaty roles such as Amanda in Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie”, Winnie in Becket’s “Happy Days” and Eva in Bertolt Brecht’s “Herr Puntila.” I was very happy to be back on stage in the Belfry’s production of “The Life Inside”, and I hope that now, in this new phase of my life, I will have more opportunities to perform. I’ve loved every aspect of my fascinating profession! I feel very fortunate to have been able to dedicate my life to it!”
Lina de Guevara
AWARDS:
2014: Nominated for the 2013 Provincial NESIKA Awards: Excellence in Cultural diversity
2012: The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. “The medal honours outstanding people in the riding of Victoria, who have worked tirelessly over many years on behalf of others and for the betterment of their community”.
2005: Building Bridges Competition, conducted by LARED (Latin American Research, Education & Development), OISE; U. of Toronto:
First Prize Essay: “Civic Participation through Theatre ”
First Prize Drama: “Canadian Tango”
2002: Innovative Leadership, Ministry of Children and Families BC
1998: BC Eliminates Racism Together, Ministry of Multiculturalism BC
1983: South Island Zone Theatre Festival: Best Actress Award for “Play Strindberg” by Friedrich Durrenmatt
1982: S.I.Z. -Theatre B.C. Festival – Best Director Award for “Happy Days” by Samuel Beckett
Board memberships:
ALT.Theatre Magazine: Member of the Editorial Board
Canadian College of Performing Arts : Board Member
Antidote: Multiracial and Indigenous Girls and Women’s Network. Board member in 2012
