Janet Ellis
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Janet has been in the arts/theatre field for 15 years. Her introduction to and ongoing involvement in the performing arts was initiated by her son Harrison, who is an actor. Her organizational skillset was honed working with a variety of business sectors over the past several decades, and as a member of the tour and advance team for three former Prime Ministers. She has worked for the Surrey School District for the past 11 years in the Career Department. Starting as a volunteer with Peninsula Productions in 2014, she has volunteered in every facet of the organization, and recently accepted the position of Executive Director.

She has lived with her family in South Surrey for the past 12 years, after moving from Ontario. She holds a BA from the University of Western Ontario, is a Certified Master Hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner.

Mahara Sinclaire
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

As a multi-disciplinary artist with over forty years of theatre craft, music, and visual art, Mahara brings a wealth of experience to Peninsula Productions. An award winning actor and visual artist, she has worked in and produced programming for Television, Film and Video, filling just about every role in between. As a playwright her work has been produced in festivals around the lower mainland and the Fraser Valley, and she has produced five commissioned pieces for an initiative of the B.C. government’s program for senior actors.

Sinclaire caught the theatre bug early on during her elementary and high school days in Montreal. Neighborhood shows in a friend’s back yard, a sheet strung on a line between two sturdy elms. She wrote the pieces, assembled the actors, promoted the shows, and charged a whopping 5 cents entrance. But let’s face it, it was the candy sales that kept the whole thing afloat.

Over the years as a young mother, and then single parent, Sinclaire would branch out to write and produce social issue documentaries for Television and Video — well paid project work to afford a manageable work/family balance. Her work as a crisis counsellor with Women Against Violence Against Women (W.A.V.A.W.) led to an exploration of Feminist theory in theatre.

“In recent years, since the pandemic and an unfortunate fall that necessitated a change of medium, I decided the time had come to revisit all the plays and other creative writing projects I had been working on my entire life. In earnest. I began working with Liesl Lafferty’s script development program, at the time under the auspice of Wet Ink Collective. And so, in three years have produced two plays to workshop stage, and a limited series based on the October Crisis in 1971. It is through my discovery of such a vibrant talent base of Canadian writers that I feel Peninsula Productions can continue it’s legacy by seeking out, embracing and most importantly developing the Canadian voice through theatre.

We will be working with a group of creatives to pilot a development program of new Canadian work, and to make space for the rise of a new era in Canadian stories.

For our inaugural piece, we have the distinct honour to workshop, and to present a Staged Reading of the new play by Canadian playwright, Simon Choa Johnston, ‘El Camino’.

I hope you will join us on our journey forward.”

Keith Costelloe
PRESIDENT

Keith has spent almost all of his working life abroad. He completed a BA in Drama from Manchester University followed by a teaching qualification and finally an MA in Applied Linguistics. He has been involved in ESL teaching and management for over 30 years in many different countries: Europe, North Africa, the UK, Canada, South East Asia, and the Middle East. In his last position, he was the overall manager of a Military Academy responsible for over 120 staff and for the training of officer cadets. In this position, he developed an in-depth perspective of engaging young learners and established an effective
working relationship between the Air Force officers, civilian employees and the company he was employed by. Keith retired and relocated to White Rock in 2016. He feels that his experience of being an ex-pat in many different countries has given him a wider appreciation of different lifestyles and cultures. He has always had a love and interest for the theatre and joining Peninsula Productions as a board member has given him the opportunity to continue to expand and develop his love of theatre. In his free-time he has developed a love for writing and is completing his third book.

Anthony Manning
VICE PRESIDENT

Anthony Manning believes a vibrant arts scene is essential to building community. He’s enjoyed Peninsula Productions’ performances since moving to White Rock in 2014. Anthony has over three decades’ experience in commercial aviation, working with Air Canada Express since 2006 as a Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) and previously in a variety of roles with United Airlines in San Francisco, where he lived for 20 years. Before joining United Airlines, Anthony managed several San Francisco art house cinemas and organised several film festivals there. The child of a military family, Anthony grew up in Germany, Washington, DC and Southern California. He earned a Bachelors in journalism from Humboldt State University and a Masters in history from American Military University.

Doug Hart
TREASURER

Doug Hart, B.Com., served as a Vice-President and Officer for Industrial Alliance Pacific Life
Insurance in Vancouver for over 11 years before retirement and with General Electric in Toronto
in senior management positions for over 18 years.
On community involvement, Doug served for five years as Executive Director for the South
Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce and one year as Executive Director for the Delta
Chamber of Commerce. In 2014 BC Municipal election, Doug ran for Councillor for the City of
White Rock.
In addition to being Board Chair of Brella Community Services Society (formerly Seniors Come Share Society), Mr Hart currently serves as a Director and Treasurer of Peninsula Productions Society in Surrey/White Rock and has recently retired after 6 years as a Director on the Board of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO).
Mr. Hart received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia.
Doug lives in White Rock with his wife Paula and has two sons, one married with 2 grandsons and one granddaughter.

Sharon Johnson
SECRETARY

Born in Vancouver and raised in Richmond, Sharon attended BCIT for Business Administration before entering into the Hospitality Industry. She was a member of the opening team of the Delta Mountain Inn, Whistler and went on to further her Hotel Operations experience in Penticton, Richmond and Downtown Vancouver, including Expo86 and beyond in Management Roles. Sharon and her husband, Gordon, lived and working in 7 Different cities before settling in South Surrey in 2005 with their 2 sons, Christopher and Connor. Sharon was involved with school and sports volunteer activities.
She is an active Board Member with The Semiahmoo Community Safety Society, acting as their event planner for the annual Red Serge Fundraising Gala and actively involved in all
other SCSS Board initiatives. Sharon is excited and honoured to be sitting on the executive Board of Peninsula Productions. Her long time interest in the performing arts and the positive impact the Theatre has on the community makes serving as a Board Member both inspiring and rewarding. She looks forward to being involved with helping move Peninsula Productions on to the next level in the coming years.

John Burch
BOARD DIRECTOR

John was raised in Winnipeg, and graduated from the University of Manitoba with a BA and BEd.  John taught high school English for 12 years, then moved on to practice as a Trustee in Bankruptcy, in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, then Langley for 22 years.
In high school he developed a  strong inclination towards live theatre. Some acting experience in high school and university and some producing/directing when he was teaching led John to become an avid theatre consumer. His particular interest has been
Shakespeare. John has been a board member with professional associations – Border Crossings magazine, Consumer Credit Counselling Services, and  provincial/national political party organizations.

Jan Chadburn
BOARD DIRECTOR