The Re-enactors

Zennosuke Inouye
1884 - 1957

Zennosuke moved to Vancouver from Hiroshima at 16. He enlisted in the Overseas Expeditionary Force and fought for Canada in France. After the war, he purchased 80 acres of land in Strawberry Hills and built a homestead. He was President of the Surrey Berry Growers' Association.

During World War II, he and his family endured the hardship of the internment camps and the repossession of his farmland, profitable business and home. He wrote 80 letters to government offices and ministers, fighting to regain his land.

He is the only Japanese Canadian war veteran to have his land returned to him.

Portrayed by Kevin Takahide Lee*

Yonsei, Kevin Takahide Lee (Taka) is a firm believer that the arts must be interwoven with social needs. For over a decade Taka has been involved with productions focused on IBPOC stories. This includes producing and directing a multicultural choir and being exhibited at the National Museum for Human Rights.

Particularly interested in telling Japanese Canadian stories, Taka has performed in Arts Club Theatre and Theatre Calgary’s joint production of ‘Forgiveness’ by Hiro Kanagawa, based on Mark Sakamoto’s memoir, and toured ‘Hold These Truths’ the story of Dr. Gordon Hirabayashi, by Jeanne Sakata, throughout Alberta. This is Taka's 12th season portraying Zennosuke Inouye.

Outside of acting Taka works as a music instructor and volunteers on the Powell Street Festival’s board.

Mary Jane Shannon
1876 - 1964

Mary Jane Shannon began her life as a student in the first Surrey school, established by her father, Thomas Shannon and a few others. She attended high school in Vancouver and after teaching in the wilds of Lac La Hache, she returned to Cloverdale to become the teacher at her old school.

She was a remarkable woman who had a zest for life and learning. She left her teaching post to pursue a degree in Nursing at Columbia University. Always one for adventure, she studied writing in New York after World War II and spent her later years back in Surrey writing her Cariboo Tales.

Portrayed by Sara Holt* (she/her)

Sara is so thankful to be performing and living on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), and Semiahma (Semiahmoo) people. She has been working professionally as an actor on repeat contracts since graduating Langara College’s professional actor training program, Studio 58, in the spring of 2000. Her credits include productions with: DreamRider Productions, The Only Animal, The City of Surrey, Azure Studio's, The Kot Collective and Fort Steele Heritage Town.

She is a founding member of DreamRider Productions, resident actor, costume designer and choreographer. She has a passion for historic theatre, musical theatre, theatre for young audiences, writing, animal rescue, and protecting the environment. When she is not busy working, creating or volunteering for the GirlGuides of Canada or VRRA (rabbit rescue), Sara is a happily married, busy mom of two.

Irene Bourassa
1906 - 1995

Irene Margaret Bourassa (nee Christmas), was born in Harting, England to Arthur John Christmas and Ethel Amy Christmas in 1906. Irene is the second eldest. Irene immigrated to Canada with her mother, sister, and brother in 1913 when Irene was 7 years old – her father had immigrated two years prior to help set up their new life in Canada. The Christmas family lived on Cumberland Street in New Westminster together until 1921 when they moved to Surrey. Irene studied Animal Husbandry at UBC as one of the first women in the program and spent the rest of her life living in Surrey with her husband Arthur Bourassa until her passing.

Portrayed by Holly Newberry* (she/her)

Holly found her passion for theatre and performing arts as a young girl in summer acting camps. After taking part in high school plays, falling even deeper in love with her craft, she completed The Performing Arts & Theatre diploma program at Douglas College. Since graduating college, Holly has had the pleasure of working professionally in the world of film/television, portraying characters in various short and feature films. She is excited to get back to her theatre roots with The Surrey Re-enactors troupe. When she’s not on stage or in front of the camera, Holly runs her own small business “Earth Angel” creating handmade goods inspired by her spiritual approach to her acting practice.

Sarjit "Mac" Singh
1929 - 1978

Sarjit “Mac” Singh was born in Burnaby, BC in 1929. His family moved to Surrey in 1938 to their own farm. Mac was active in the Boys and Girls Club (what we now call the 4-H Club) and the Jaycees and was the National Potato Champ in 1951 along with community member Bob Bose. He participated in many Surrey initiatives to do with agriculture. In his life, he experienced many hardships such as racist bullying in school, the death of his father as a teenager, his mother remarrying, and having to quit high school to help on his family farm. Even without finishing high school, Mac found much success in agriculture and farming later in life.

Portrayed by Akshaya Pattanayak* (he/him)

Akshaya Pattanayak is a Vancouver-based actor, storyteller, and historical re-enactor with a passion for bringing the past to life. Born in Montreal and raised in India, his name, Akshaya, means “never-ending”—a reflection of his deep curiosity for history and human stories. He holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Southern California and has performed in acclaimed productions such as 90 Days with Western Gold Theatre, The Emigrants with Exact Resemblance, and Low Pay? Don’t Pay! by Dario Fo. His work spans theatre, film, and television, and he made his TV debut in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.

As part of The Re-enactors of the City of Surrey, Akshaya enjoys using performance to make history engaging, accessible, and alive for audiences of all ages; blending his love for storytelling with a commitment to education and cultural representation.

Jessica Anne Nelson, Artistic Director  (she/her)

Jessica is an award-winning theatre director, creator, producer and intimacy director. She creates respectful, caring and imaginative spaces for artists to play and explore. Her intimacy direction centers on the principles of creating consent based and trauma informed work and trained with the National Society of Intimacy Professionals (Canada) and Theatrical Intimacy Education (USA). With her MFA in Directing (UBC) and many years of experience in devising, creation-based techniques and community collaborations, her work focuses on stories that shine a light on stereotypically negative or dark characters and stories, while also striving for social change. Jessica is praised as being one of the most kind- and open-hearted directors’ actors have had the pleasure to work with. 

Jasmin Sandhu,* Stage Manager (she/her)

Jasmin is a stage manager working and living with gratitude and recognition that she is an uninvited settler on the unceded & sovereign territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the sə̓lílwətaʔɬ, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations. She is a fat, queer, 1st generation immigrant POC theatre collaborator, book collector & mother. Jasmin’s artistic practices prioritize radical empathy & intention. Select stage management credits; Medicine (Pi Theatre), Fat Joke (Neworld Theatre), How Black Mothers Say I Love You (ASM, the frank theatre), Truth & Lies (Pi Theatre), Teenage Dick (ASM, ACTC), The Three Little Pigs (CTYP), Classic Country Roads (ASM, Chemainus Theatre Festival), FOR EVER, NOW, WAVE/S, HORIZON/S, OVERTURE/S, Reveal + Tell & What If (ASM, Ballet BC), East Van Panto: Alice in Wonderland (ApSM, Theatre Replacement), No Child (ApSM, ACTC), It’s a Wonderful Life & Herringbone (ApSM, Patrick Street Productions), Next to Normal & The Nether (West Moon Theatre).

Kevin Takahide Lee, Music Director

Kevin Takahide Lee (Taka) has a Bachelor of Opera Performance from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Voice Performance from the University of Western Ontario under the tutelage of Gwenlynn Little, the understudy for Beverly Sills at New York City Opera.  In 2022 Taka apprenticed at Pacific Opera Victoria with thanks to Belfry Theatre's art leadership program.

Honours include: The Arts Club Theatre’s Bill Millerd Artist Fund, National Association of Japanese Canadians Endowment Fund, Japanese Canadian Legacies Fund, Canada Shorts Film Festival Distinction Award and BC Arts Council Pivot and Personal Development Grant.

When not working Taka is studying Japanese and practicing the Japanese instrument shamisen.

Sara Holt, Costumer

Sara Holt, along with playing Miss Shannon, is onboard as the in-house costumer for The Re-enactors this season. Sara is a costume and props designer with a passion for historical accuracy and immersive storytelling. With 10 years of professional costume design experience in living history interpretation at Fort Steele Heritage Town and the Wild Horse Main Stage Theatre, she specializes in bringing the past to life through authentic period garments. Sara's work is informed by extensive research and hands-on experience, ensuring that every stitch reflects the era’s materials, techniques, and daily wear.

Whether designing for theatre, film, or reenactment, Sara has created costumes that transport audiences to another time or reality. She is thrilled to be taking care of the beautiful costumes that have been cared for and designed by other Costume Designers and Builders who have worked for the program in the past and she looks forward to adding her personal touch and magic to the costumes as we move into the future.