About us

Reneé Iaci

Co-Artistic Director, Tour Coordinator & Ensemble Member, Actor, Director

Renée is one of the founding members of shameless hussy productions. An award winning director, her credits include the hussies’ Jessie Richardson award-winning production of Frozen as well as the company's original play for young audiences, Woman Idiot Lunatic Criminal, Susan Miller's My Left Breast and the hussies’ original hit, Sonofabitch Stew: The drunken life of Calamity Jane. She enjoyed directing Red at the Cultch and Minosis Gathers Hope for the Talking Stick Festival, and workshopping a new play based on Pauline Johnson’s "Legends of Vancouver" with the Full Circle First Nations Performance, which she will co-direct.

As part of the Performing Ensemble for her own company, Renée has played Bonnie to Tom Jones’ Clyde across western Canada acting in the hussies’ hit Bonnie Dangerously (two Jessie nominations). Other favourite acting credits include Bedtime Stories for AMAZONS, The Women, Marion Bridge (Jessie nomination for “Best Actress”), Loveplay, Silence and Summer of My Amazing Luck, the last of which toured Canada. Currently, Renee is the co-owner of a tea shop on West Broadway – Neverland Tea Salon. Renee is a graduate of the UBC BFA Acting program.

 

Deb Pickman

Co-Artistic Director & Ensemble Member, Actor, Publicist

Deb Pickman has been a theatre creator, actor, producer and arts marketing specialist for over three decades. She is a co-founding member of shameless hussy, and has toured nationally and internationally for several companies including her own. A two-time Jessie Richardson nominee, Deb received the Vancouver Sun People’s Choice Award for her performance in the hussies production of Susan Miller’s My Left Breast.

She has performed in several long running touring productions for the company including Susan Miller's My Left Breast, Daniel MacIvor's Marion Bridge and the company's original play Sonofabitch Stew; the drunken Life of Calamity Jane. Other credits for shameless hussy include Lunch, Bedtime Stories for AMAZONS, Woman Idiot Lunatic Criminal, Silence and Frozen by Bryony Lavery.

Deb performed in London (U.K.) and toured Sweden in Bukowski Double Bill with the Way Off Broadway Group. A veteran of the International Fringe Festival Circuit, Deb has over 400 festival performances behind her for several companies. She also toured in seven plays for Green Thumb Theatre, including the Jessie Award winning One in a Million as well as New Canadian Kid which toured to the Dublin International Theatre Festival earning the Reuters award for "Outstanding Children’s Production."

Most recently for shameless hussy Deb appeared in the company's premiere of Love Bomb, book by Meghan Gardiner and music by Steve Charles, in the Firehall Arts Centre's 2015/16 Season. Beginning with publicizing for the hussies, Deb later gained extensive experience in publicizing literary, visual and performing artists as Director of Publicity and Development at Rebus Creative. Deb has a BA in Theatre from UBC and currently works under the title of Special Projects for the UBC Arts & Culture District.

 

Daune Campbell

Co-Artistic Director, Creative Collaborator & Ensemble Member, Actor, Singer

In 2003 Daune joined the hussies to perform the role of Theresa in Marion Bridge by Daniel MacIvor. Over the next ten years she co-produced and performed in Loveplay and Silence by Moira Buffini, while learning the intricacy of running a theatre company. The hands on skills eventually landed her the position of General Manager with Axis Theatre Company.

Daune has acted in, produced and  honed her skills in tour co-ordination with the hussies' Summer of My Amazing Luck by Chris Craddock and Woman Idiot Lunatic Criminal by Terri Tatchell. Aside from her many appearances in the touring productions of those two plays, another role with the hussies was as Nancy in Frozen by Bryony Lavery. Most recently Daune has taken over the role of Lillian in the hussies original play Love Bomb, book by Meghan Gardiner & music by Steve Charles, which continues to tour.

Daune's performance highlights include: Up Your Glass by Jurgen Gothe (Grapes of Gothe Productions), Valparaiso by Don Delillo (Virtual Stage Co-op), Little Sister by Joan MacLeod (Green Thumb Theatre for Young People), which received a Jessie  Award for Best Production,  Assassins  by  Stephen Sondheim (Quintessence Co-op). Fringe Festival favourites, I Could Have Anyone in This Bar That I Want and Starch. Daune is a proud graduate of Studio 58. 

 

Lana Krause

Founding Member

In the early days of shameless hussy during the '90's Lana created costumes for many of the Fringe Festivals most successful and visually arresting productions including The Machine, Young Hitler, Happy, Sonofabitch Stew: the drunken life of Calamity Jane, Bedtime Stories for AMAZONS,  Bag Lady and Bed Among the Lentils.

With work on over 50 shows to her credit Lana spent eleven seasons as head of costumes for Vancouver's Arts Club Theatre where she worked with many of Canada's leading designers, directors, writers and performers. Lana's designs for other shows have included, Mom Dad I'm Living with a White Girl for the Firehall Theatre as well as Orphans, Four Dogs and a Bone , the operatic version of A Dream Play for Fend Players and Lonely Planet for little i productions.

Lana has moved on from her position at the Arts Club to establish herself with work in Film and Television. Lana has worked on the TV series "Smallville", the made for TV movie "The Snow Queen" and the sci-fi TV series "Stargate Atlantis". Lana also performs double duty as an unlicensed group psychologist for the hussies - think Tracy Ulman on Ally McBeal.

 

In Memoriam

Sheila Jones - 1937-2019

Founding Board Member

Resident Administrative Collaborator

In 1961 Sheila Jones, along with 9 other women, became the first females to be awarded Bachelor's degrees from Harvard. 

With friend Kathleen Sayers, she founded International Wordsmiths Ltd in 1980, a generalist firm providing writing, editing and consulting services for business, government and private clients in Vancouver, BC.

Together they helped develop Simon Fraser University’s Technical Communication Certificate program, where she served on the Advisory Board. A member of the Society for Technical Communication, she was named an STC Fellow in 2004. 

A founding Board Member of shameless hussy in the early 90's, Sheila additionally contributed her expertise to our first successful efforts at grant writing and continued to guide us throughout the years to come. Her belief in our company, our mandate and the nobility of being a "shameless hussy" has made us what we are.

Sheila was widely known for her laugh, her cooking, her singing, her parties and her generous spirit. She was deeply loved by her family and the many friends of all ages she made over the years. She is sorely missed and will continue to be for a long time. 

 

 

Ion Brand Design

Resident Design Associates - Print and Electronic Design

David Coates and Rod Roodenburg founded ion design in 1988. Committed to excellence in design, the firm works to meet their clients marketing and communication goals with visual solutions that enlighten and inspire.

The partners also take an active role in the design community – both have served as National President of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada. Ion has garnered hundreds of international juried awards over the years and in '96 the partners were named to the Top 40 Under 40 list by Business in Vancouver. Their poster design for the hussies My Left Breast was the recipient of two prestigious national design awards and was published in a book profiling design for the not-for-profit sector. David & Rod are graduates of Emily Carr University of Art and Design.

Ion’s design portfolio for the hussies includes graphic works for The Day Room, Sonofabitch Stew; The Drunken Life of Calamity Jane, Bonnie Dangerously; fast times with that guy Clyde, Bedtime Stories for AMAZONS, My Left Breast, Eat Me, Woman Idiot Lunatic Criminal, LovePlay, Marion Bridge, Silence, Summer of My Amazing Luck, Frozen and Dissolve.

Ion has also spawned a software company - Smallbox Software who's CMS system powers this site.

 

Ross den Otter and Sarolta Dobi - Pink Monkey Studios

Resident Marketing Associates - Photography

Ross's portraits of the hussies past thirteen productions beginning with Bedtime Stories for Amazons are wonderfully shameless. He has a love of theatre stemming from his previous career as a tech head and lighting designer. "I keep having hobbies that turn into jobs" laments Ross who works days in photography and burns the midnight oil as a silversmith.

Ross's partner Sarolta joins in the action behind the camera as Pink Monkey's resident attitude coach, directing photo shoots and keeping unruly crantinis in check. Since Ross and Sarolta began working full time for their own company Pink Monkey, their projects have ranged from commercial and editorial to just plain fun.

 

 

Stephen Bulat

Artistic Associate - Sound Design/Composition & Lighting Design

Stephen has been active in the Vancouver theatre and music scene for over 17 years. He has worked for The Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, The Vancouver Playhouse, Pacific Theatre, shameless hussy and Hoarse Raven. As a producer, composer, sound designer, lighting designer, technician, musical director and musician, he has musically directed The Rocky Horror Show, West Side Story and the Vancouver premiere of Hedwig & The Angry Inch.

As a sound engineer and music producer, Stephen has recorded a diverse range of local ensembles. He has also composed and written original music for various documentaries and films, including the feature films Bar None & Sub Human. Stephen is married to the wonderfully talented Renée, who plays the violin and with whom he co-owns a live musician service, V & G Music. They are parents of 2 happy girls, Ella and Emma.

Anthony F Ingram

Ensemble Member

Anthony (a graduate of both Studio 58 and Theatre at UBC) and worked with the hussies most recently in the cast of Frozen by Bryony Lavery, for which he received the Jessie Richardson Award for "Outstanding Actor". He also serves as Artistic Director of Tempus Theatre, for whom he recently directed Naomi Iizuka’s 36 VIEWS. Acting credits include Coriolanus, a sold out run of Brilliant! – The Blinding Enlightenment of Nikola Tesla, A Doll’s House, Pinter’s Briefs, and The Birthday Party. He has been honoured with Jessie Richardson award nominations as Outstanding Actor for both of his Pinter-esque performances.

Recent projects include The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Refuge of Lies, and Waiting For Godot.

His favourite playwrights and musicians include Shakespeare, Pinter, Howard Barker, U2, XTC, The Kinks, Hawksley Workman, and David Byrne. In his spare time, Anthony collects children’s books, strange cover versions of popular songs, reads extremely long novels and hunts for the elusive Perfect Americano and Perfect Spinach Salad.

 

Diana Swayze

Ensemble Member

Diana is a proud shameless hussy player. Previous affairs include Woman, Idiot, Lunatic, Criminal, Loveplay and has alternated with Renee Iaci as "Lucy" in Summer of My Amazing Luck. Other amorous adventures worth noting; Valparaiso: The Virtual Stage, Starch: Hornéd Moon, The Long Words of Why: Marie Clements, The Turkey Basting Method: My Very Own Theatre Company, and Screeeeech: E&R Productions.

A serious relationship developed with Green Thumb Theatre lasting throughout six years,seven shows and two national tours. She is a graduate of Studio 58 and resides with the one true love of her life, Brian in Victoria B.C. Their latest production is baby "Olivia Daune."

 

Kathryn Brooking

Artistic Associate - Stage Manager

Selected stage management credits include Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks and Stones In His Pockets (Globe Theatre) To The Moon (Working Spark Theatre) Summer of My Amazing Luck and Woman, Idiot, Lunatic, Criminal (shameless hussy). Kathryn hails from North Vancouver, where she is a graduate of the Capilano College Technical Theatre program, where she focused both on stage management and lighting. When not stage managing, Kathryn spends much of her time working as a lighting and sound technician in the Vancouver area.

 

Tom Jones

Ensemble Member

Thomas is ecstatic to be playing all of the boys, well, most of them in the hussies touring productions of Summer of My Amazing Luck. Recently he has appeared in the Widow Black’s Café, a shadow play at the Caravan Farm Theatre and in Theatre Bagger’s Apa Kabar, an original play using over forty masks.

Last year he spent two months in Bali learning about Shadow puppetry and Mask Carving and the summer before last he could be seen chasing princesses around Stanley Park in Boca del Lupo’s The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces.

Other recent credits include Bagger’s The Alphonse and Kadsky Show, Runaway Moon’s The Winter’s Tale at The Belfry Theatre, Waiting for Godot at WCT in Kamloops. Favorites include The Wake with the Electric Company, Other Freds with the Only Animal, The Hobbit with Carousel Theatre, The Number 14 with Axis theatre, Bonnie Dangerously with the shameless hussies and Adventures in the Skin Trade with Theatre Bagger with whom he is a Co-Artistic Director.

Tom is currently working on a new project with masks for Rumble Theatre’s Tremors Festival and writing a solo show for this summer’s Fringe Festival circuit. He has a BFA in Acting from UBC.

 

Chris McGregor

Artistic Associate - Director

Chris acted a as 'Consultant to the Director' for the hussies production of Frozen and previously directed the company's Marion Bridge. Previous to that he helped them create, and directed, Women Idiot Lunatic Criminal. Marion Bridge represented the third time that Chris has worked on a play written by Daniel MacIvor; co-directing the Jessie winning production House at The Havana and the Vancouver Fringe hit This is a Play. Chris is the former co-artistic director of Carousel Theatre and has performed in many of their productions including Merlin and Treasure Island at The Waterfront Theatre.

Chris completed his MFA in directing at UBC in the Department of Theatre and Film and he is currently the Artistic Director of Axis Theatre.

 

Brian Peterson

Artistic Associate - Writer

Brian has co-created two hit shows with the hussies, Sonofabitch Stew; the drunken life of Calamity Jane (which he recently revised for our 2014 re-mount) and the notorious Bedtime Stories for Amazons. A former nasty Vancouver theatre critic, Brian helped us to formulate our mission and purpose in 1995 and he is part of what has made us us truly shameless.

 

In Memoriam:

Alex Green - "The Legend" - 1942-2010

Artistic Associate - Gun and Whip Coach

Alex Green had 45 years of whip work experience; a skill he’d perfected since childhood. He also had 25 years of western gun experience. As a stunt man and technical advisor Alex had over 100 feature films, 200 television projects and 2,000 live spectaculars to his credit.

Alex donated his time generously to coaching the hussies in the 90's, through the whip work and gun tricks he choreographed for our first original play Sonofabitch Stew: The drunken life of Calamity Jane. His confidence in us over the years when we'd drop into his Gastown Studio was infectious and we've been forever emboldened because of it.

Alex was a stunt double for a "who's who" of famous actors including Charles Bronson and was the principal stunt double for Sir Anthony Hopkins from the time they met on the film “The Edge” in Alberta in 1997. He was gun coach and technical advisor on the film Romeo and Juliet and put his whip, gun and stunt expertise all to work on The Mask of Zorro. Alex put the snap in Catwoman Halley Berrie's whip.

A true hussy, Alex was quoted in July 2004's issue of MS Magazine for their feature on the history of women and bullwhips.

After Alex passed away on July 20, 2010 of cancer, Stunts Canada (of which he was a founder) held a 40th anniversary party in his honour that same year, and raised over $10,000 to donate to the Canucks Place Children’s Hospice.

"The Legend" lives on in his films, his pictures, his memories, and the legacy that he has left in the form of Stunts Canada and its members." - Stunts Canada 

Elizabeth Araujo, Jennifer Bradley, Joey Charumski, Tom Jones, Judi Leger and Jean Lum.