Board and Staff

Artistic Director Daniel MartinDaniel Martin

After completing his Masters Degree in Sociology at the University of Auckland, Daniel returned to Canada, where he graduated from the studio acting program at the William Davis Centre for Actors Study and studied Clown with David McMurray Smith at Fantastic Space Enterprises. Driven by a desire to create exciting, relevant, and energetic new theatre, Daniel co- founded Upintheair with Dave Mott in 1999. As an actor Daniel has appeared in numerous short films, television, and commercials. On stage he has been seen most notably as the manic director Strizh in Black Snow (United Players), Guy in Men of the World (Upintheair) , Frank in Daniel McIvors' Never Swim Alone (Street Repertory Theatre), Edmund in King Lear (Firehall/Shakespeare Centre), Sophie's Dad in Carnage (Pi Theatre), and Philip Lucas in David Hare's The Vertical Hour (United Players). As Artistic Director of Upintheair, Daniel has been instrumental in the creation of Wedgie, Men of the World, 120bpm, Johnny Grant, Wagabondi Ho! and The Walking Fish Festival. He teaches physical theatre at The William Davis Centre at VanArts.

Artistic Director Dave Mott

Dave Mott

Dave is Co-Artistic Director of Upintheair Theatre Society, an actor, director and playwright and the co-producer and Artist Liaison of the Neanderthal Arts Festival. Dave teaches acting, play creation and physical theatre technique at Van Arts Vancouver Institute of Media Arts. Dave is committed to mentoring young artists and developing new ways of seeing and creating theatre. An ensemble member of Vancouver Youth Theatre in the 80’s he began his career as a theatre devisor in Victoria in the 1990’s as a core member of the Chaos Collective.

Theatre Creation/Performance credits: Borborygmi, Wedgie, Pyropornomania, Moxie, Men of the WORLD, 120bpm, Johnny Grant – A Rollicking Adventure Story, Wagabondi Ho (Upintheair Theatre).  Selected Acting credits: Sea of Sand (The Only Animal), The Physicists (Genus Theatre), Escape From Happiness (Satco Theatre), Sexual Perversity in Chicago (UBC Players), Much Ado About Nothing (Out To Lunch Players),  King Lear (Firehall/Shakespeare Centre) Will The Real Canadian (VYT). Direction credits: Guide to Mourning (Upintheair/Genus Theatre), Virtual Solitaire (Boq Productions), Specter (Spectral Theatre), Blackpool & Parrish (Van Arts).

Board of Directors

  •     President: Vanessa Martin

  •     Vice President: Jason Laidlaw

  •     Treasurer: Brenda Matthews

  •     Secretary: Jenn Hogg

  •     Director: Joanna Zlotnik

  •     Director: Paul Griggs

  •     Director: Dave Robens