Graduated: 2011
Degree: Honours Bachelor of Arts
Program(s): Theatre and Drama Studies
Current activity(ies): Artistic Director, Soulpepper Theatre
What have you been doing since graduating from UTM?
“After graduating, I was accepted into the Soulpepper Academy and went on to join the company’s acting ensemble for 11 seasons. During that time, I co-founded The Howland Company, an independent theatre collective that I co-led until my appointment as Associate Artistic Director at Crow’s Theatre. Most recently, I was honoured to be named Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre.”
Can you share one achievement, project, or milestone you are especially proud of?
“My appointment as Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre marks a defining moment in my career. It represents not only years of artistic growth and collaboration but also a full-circle journey within the company that helped shape me as both an actor and a leader.”
How has your experience in Theatre and Drama Studies at UTM influenced your career or life after graduation?
“The training and community I found in the Theatre and Drama Studies program have deeply shaped my career and my life. The peers I studied alongside became my closest collaborators, and together we began building our own creative opportunities after graduation. The program’s holistic approach to theatre-making expanded my understanding beyond performance, teaching me to see the artist’s role as one of initiative and creation.
The combination of rigorous acting instruction and an environment of mutual encouragement fostered both confidence and artistry. The program consistently attracts students with strong work ethic, curiosity, and dedication to craft, and that culture of shared ambition was essential to my development as an actor, producer, and artistic leader.”
Is there a memory, professor, or production from your time in Theatre and Drama Studies that stands out to you?
“Professor Holger Syme profoundly influenced my thinking as both an artist and a person, while Professor Bruce Barton gave me a framework to analyze the mechanics behind what makes theatre resonate. I’ll always remember the sense of awe I felt watching the fourth-year class perform a Charles Dickens adaptation—the first production I saw at TDS and the moment I realized the level of artistry this program could inspire.”
Link to professional website, portfolio, or social media: https://www.linkedin.com/paolo_santalucia