Board of Directors

Jon played Bob Cratchit in SSP’s first production, A Christmas Carol. Since then, he has been either an actor or director in almost every SSP show. His musical, Gentlemen of Fortune, opened in Lunenburg in 2006. In 2008, working with Dave Brumwell and Hank Middleton, Jon wrote and performed in Glimpses, an historical musical revue. In 2011, Jon directed his original English farce, Nothing like a Quiet Weekend. He has written two children’s stories, a musical (The Caterpillar Tales, based on Alice in Wonderland), and two one-act plays (Lines of Communication and Moving Parts). Outside the theatre, he enjoys golf and playing music.

John is a recent arrival on the South Shore, where he and his wife retired to an ocean-front property in Lower Rose Bay. John has been active in community and small professional theatre for more than 40 years in numerous backstage roles including carpenter, stage manager, technical director, production manager, Board member and lighting designer/technician. With SSP, he is primarily Lighting Designer. Over the years he has designed lighting for almost 200 shows in the Ottawa area, ranging from large Broadway musicals to small shows in intimate venues. Locally, he has worked on all SSP shows since 2017.

A New Brunswick-born air force brat, Ruth returned to the East Coast after a 20-year stint in the Northern Ontario mining industry, making the beautiful South Shore of Nova Scotia her home. Ruth loves being Nana to five grandchildren. Past volunteer work includes serving as Treasurer of the Bridgewater and Area Performing Arts Society, Show Secretary of South Shore Horsemen’s Club, a Red Cross Therapy Dog handler, and being involved with several school and sports activities. She is honoured to volunteer as Treasurer for South Shore Players alongside her husband – musician, teacher and Vice-President, John Bird.

Colleen has been involved in theatre since the early 1990s as an actor, director and stage manager. Since 2010, she has offered a variety of theatre workshops and programs for children and adults. She is active as a playwright and touring performer. Colleen is a regular director and performer with South Shore Players. She is thrilled to have been Artistic Director since 2016.

Involved with music since he was a toddler, ‘Birdie’ attended the University of Portland, Oregon, studying clarinet and composition. His accolades include Best Song from the Nova Scotia Theatre Festival, and the Lescarbot Award for contributions to the artistic life of the Liverpool area. He has worked with Neptune Theatre, Winds of Change Theatre Group, and CBC Radio Drama. John is also a past and present member of several bands and groups in Nova Scotia. His contributions to South Shore Players include music arranging and playing in the pit orchestras. He shares a love of the arts with his wife, Ruth, SSP’s Treasurer.

Sheilagh spent 30+ years as an Administrative Assistant at the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax. After retiring in 2013, she relocated to ‘Martins Riviera.’ She made her theatrical debut in 2015 as a Lady of Avonlea in the South Shore Players’ production of Anne of Green Gables. Upon discovering there was an opening on SSP’s Board of Directors, she volunteered her services and was welcomed with open arms. Sitting on a Board was new to Sheilagh, but many years of clerical experience allows her to star in her leading role as SSP’s Communications Director.

After retiring from a major oil and gas company in Calgary, Jean moved to Burlington Ontario. There she discovered her inner desire to perform by joining the Burlington Footnotes, a senior performing troupe.  Jean performed with an ensemble dance group and a vocal group performing Broadway musicals at their annual “Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance” production. After moving to Nova Scotia in 2019, Jean was thrilled to discover the South Shore Players. “Though calling myself a golfer would be a stretch, I enjoy golfing in the summer.”

Veronica has been involved with South Shore Players since 2009, often in the role of Stage Manager. In 2017, she took on the role of Props Director. When not at the theatre, Veronica is busy with pet photography and teaching dog agility at Scotia’s Agility and Dog Sports School.

Stephen relocated from Toronto to Nova Scotia’s South Shore. He started in the business as a teenager and has been fortunate to work in theatres across Canada and parts of the U.S. His career has taken him from ballet companies and theatre to film and TV. Theatre credits include Joseph (with Donny Osmond), Billy Elliot at RMTC, The Sound of Music for Mirvish Productions, and many others. Film and TV credits include Hairspray, Queer as Folk, Once Upon a Mattress (with comedy legend, Carol Burnett) and many commercials. Stephen remains active in the industry.