Board Members
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Founders: Susan Bonnell; Alison Carr; Jenn Deon; Janet Edmonds; Natalie Falk; Jean Graham
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Staff
- Jenn Deon - Producing Artistic Director - jenn@persistencetheatre.com
- Vanessa Wright - Director of Development - vanessa@persistencetheatre.com
- Leahdawn Helena - Artistic Associate - leahdawn@persistencetheatre.com
- Anna Hansen-robitschek - Production Manager - anna@persistencetheatre.com
- Lonni Patey - Development and Producing Assistant - lonni@persistencetheatre.com
- Hanna Furs - Production Assistant - hanna@persistencetheatre.com
Jenn Deon - Producing Artistic Director (She/Her)
Jenn is an artist, administrator and activist who has worked in St. John’s since the early 90’s. With PerSIStence, she has directed Robert Chafe's Isle of Demons (2017); Berni Stapleton's The Haunting of Margaret Duley (2019); and Trudy Morgan-Cole's The Mirror (2021). As artistic director with the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival from 1995-2015, she directed many of its productions over the years, including a female-driven production of The Taming of the Shrew (2014) and an all-female production of Much Ado About Nothing (2008). In 2013, Jenn was a recipient of a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for her community involvement, and in 2018, the Woman of Distinction Award for Arts & Culture from the YWCA St. John's. Jenn was also a nominee for the 2020 and 2022 Human Rights Award from the NL Human Rights Commission. Jenn is also an accredited business communicator (ABC) and a CHRC-trained facilitator of Respectful Workplace workshops. At the centre of Jenn’s life and heart are her husband and son and their three dogs.
Jenn is an artist, administrator and activist who has worked in St. John’s since the early 90’s. With PerSIStence, she has directed Robert Chafe's Isle of Demons (2017); Berni Stapleton's The Haunting of Margaret Duley (2019); and Trudy Morgan-Cole's The Mirror (2021). As artistic director with the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival from 1995-2015, she directed many of its productions over the years, including a female-driven production of The Taming of the Shrew (2014) and an all-female production of Much Ado About Nothing (2008). In 2013, Jenn was a recipient of a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for her community involvement, and in 2018, the Woman of Distinction Award for Arts & Culture from the YWCA St. John's. Jenn was also a nominee for the 2020 and 2022 Human Rights Award from the NL Human Rights Commission. Jenn is also an accredited business communicator (ABC) and a CHRC-trained facilitator of Respectful Workplace workshops. At the centre of Jenn’s life and heart are her husband and son and their three dogs.
Leahdawn Helena - Artistic Associate (She/They/Nekm)
Born and raised on the west coast of Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland), Leahdawn Helena has been involved with theatre, film and radio since her early teens, though her first and most secret love has always been writing. An actor and director by training, her most recent stage appearance was in Meghan Greeley’s To The Girls at the 2021 Stephenville Theatre Festival. She also had the pleasure of directing Petrina Bromley in Elizabeth Hick’s Hearty at 80 for PerSIStence Theatre. She began to pursue professional writing after receiving an award from the Newfoundland Arts and Letters competition in 2020 for her screenplay Ruthless. Proudly L’nu, and a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaw, she also holds a BA in Sociocultural Studies and a BFA in Theatre from Memorial University, Grenfell Campus, which she puts to use as a freelance Indigenous Sociocultural Consultant for the St John’s Arts community.
Born and raised on the west coast of Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland), Leahdawn Helena has been involved with theatre, film and radio since her early teens, though her first and most secret love has always been writing. An actor and director by training, her most recent stage appearance was in Meghan Greeley’s To The Girls at the 2021 Stephenville Theatre Festival. She also had the pleasure of directing Petrina Bromley in Elizabeth Hick’s Hearty at 80 for PerSIStence Theatre. She began to pursue professional writing after receiving an award from the Newfoundland Arts and Letters competition in 2020 for her screenplay Ruthless. Proudly L’nu, and a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaw, she also holds a BA in Sociocultural Studies and a BFA in Theatre from Memorial University, Grenfell Campus, which she puts to use as a freelance Indigenous Sociocultural Consultant for the St John’s Arts community.
Hanna Furs - Production Assistant (She/Her)
Hanna Furs is a Master of Fine Arts, painter-monumentalist, and researcher. Art for her, is not only the embodiment of beauty that gives strength but also a way of knowing the inner world of a person, creating one's parallel world. Her wide range of skills covers different genres of art, graphic design, stage costumes, illustration, photography, media art, and more. Her artworks have become a means of exploring historical and contemporary themes, provoking thought and emotion in the audience. In 2012, she was recognized as a laureate of the prestigious Mykhailo Boychuk Prize in monumental art. In 2022, a significant turning point in the artist's life took place, due to the protracted war in Ukraine, she had to move to Newfoundland and Labrador. Embracing the new environment, she continues to live and work as an artist, breathing fresh life into her creative process and taking advantage of the opportunities that await her in the new cultural context. Also, Hanna Furs is a board member of the Ukrainian Cultural Organization in Newfoundland and Labrador and is one of the co-founders of Dolya Dance Company.
Hanna Furs is a Master of Fine Arts, painter-monumentalist, and researcher. Art for her, is not only the embodiment of beauty that gives strength but also a way of knowing the inner world of a person, creating one's parallel world. Her wide range of skills covers different genres of art, graphic design, stage costumes, illustration, photography, media art, and more. Her artworks have become a means of exploring historical and contemporary themes, provoking thought and emotion in the audience. In 2012, she was recognized as a laureate of the prestigious Mykhailo Boychuk Prize in monumental art. In 2022, a significant turning point in the artist's life took place, due to the protracted war in Ukraine, she had to move to Newfoundland and Labrador. Embracing the new environment, she continues to live and work as an artist, breathing fresh life into her creative process and taking advantage of the opportunities that await her in the new cultural context. Also, Hanna Furs is a board member of the Ukrainian Cultural Organization in Newfoundland and Labrador and is one of the co-founders of Dolya Dance Company.
Anna Hansen-robitschek - Production Manager (She/Her)
Anna Hansen-Robitschek (she/her) is a graduate of MUN’s Fine Arts program in Theatre at Grenfell. Her favourite roles in theatre are props and paint, but PerSIStence Theatre has such fascinating and intersectional ideas that she is happy to work with them in any capacity. Highlights of her career-so-far include: Costume Designer for Picnic at Hanging Rock, Directed by Alex Fallis, Theatre @ Grenfell; Head of Props for Confessional and Les Belles Seours, Directed by Lorne Pardy, Theatre @ Grenfell; Direction of Without a Doubt (unpublished), Rotary Arts Centre. Our whole team is so proud to share Stolen Sisters with your community, and hope you learn, and cry, and laugh from these stories.
Anna Hansen-Robitschek (she/her) is a graduate of MUN’s Fine Arts program in Theatre at Grenfell. Her favourite roles in theatre are props and paint, but PerSIStence Theatre has such fascinating and intersectional ideas that she is happy to work with them in any capacity. Highlights of her career-so-far include: Costume Designer for Picnic at Hanging Rock, Directed by Alex Fallis, Theatre @ Grenfell; Head of Props for Confessional and Les Belles Seours, Directed by Lorne Pardy, Theatre @ Grenfell; Direction of Without a Doubt (unpublished), Rotary Arts Centre. Our whole team is so proud to share Stolen Sisters with your community, and hope you learn, and cry, and laugh from these stories.
Lonni Patey - Development & Producing Assistant (She/They)
Lonni Patey (she/they) is an artist currently based in St. John’s. She holds a BFA in Theatre Arts, and has worked professionally as an actor in theatre and film with select credits including; Lara on Surrealestate (film), and Pantaloona in One Servant Two Masters (Theatre). She has since emerged as a playwright and has written and produced her own work since 2021. Lonni hopes to continue bringing joy to people through her work, and is very excited to have joined PerSIStence Theatre Company.
Lonni Patey (she/they) is an artist currently based in St. John’s. She holds a BFA in Theatre Arts, and has worked professionally as an actor in theatre and film with select credits including; Lara on Surrealestate (film), and Pantaloona in One Servant Two Masters (Theatre). She has since emerged as a playwright and has written and produced her own work since 2021. Lonni hopes to continue bringing joy to people through her work, and is very excited to have joined PerSIStence Theatre Company.
