Originally from Chile, Lina de Guevara is an actor, theatre director, drama teacher and storyteller.  She’s a specialist in the techniques of Transformational theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed and Commedia dell’Arte. To create and produce plays about the immigrant experience she founded PUENTE Theatre in 1988 and was its Artistic Director for 23 years. Her director’s credits include “I wasn’t born  here”, “ Crossing Borders ”, “The House of Bernarda Alba”, “Mother Courage”, “Canadian Tango”, “Letters for Tomas”,  “Sisters/Strangers”, “Canadian Tango 09”, “Storytelling Our Lives”, “Algarabia/Danza”, “Scene and Heard”, “The woman who fell from the sky”,  “Chile con carne” and “The pilgrimage of the nuns of Concepción”. She’s directed and dramaturged several one-woman shows, such as “Emergence’, “Uthe/Athe”, “Patriot in search of a country”, “Heinz 57”, and “Peace Mum”. After her retirement in 2011 from PUENTE’s AD. she free-lances as actor, director and workshop instructor and facilitator.See ““Recent and ongoing projects” for information about her current activities.

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

Grants: As PUENTE’s artistic director, Lina headed many projects funded by grants from the Canada Council of the Arts, the BC Arts Council, the Capital Regional District, the Vancouver Foundation, Victoria Foundation and Canadian Heritage. She also received personal grants for play writing from the Canada Council of the Arts and the BC Arts Council, and several travel grants from the Canada Council.

Board memberships:
ALT.Theatre Magazine: Member of the Editorial Board -Current.
Canadian College of Performing Arts : Board Member in 2009
Antidote: Multiracial and Indigenous Girls and Women’s Network. Board member in 2012