Visionary.
Nicholas Koy Santillo
Artistic Director (2026-current)
Nicholas Koy Santillo is a theatre artist, director, producer, educator and storyteller with more than two decades of experience in performance, artistic leadership and education. His practice is rooted in classical storytelling, physical performance and intercultural artistic exchange.
Koy holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Concordia University and an MA in Classical Acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). He also holds a Beijing Opera Performing Arts Certification from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts in Beijing and is an Advanced Actor-Combatant with Fight Directors Canada.
His work has taken him across Canada, the United States, China and the United Kingdom, performing and creating work across a wide range of theatrical traditions. He co-founded Jingju Canada, Canada’s first professional theatre company dedicated to the teaching and performance of traditional Beijing Opera, and later founded ACT VI Productions to explore storytelling and performance in the digital age.
Koy has taught and mentored artists in classical text, movement, stage combat and Beijing Opera at universities and colleges across Ontario and Quebec. Beyond his artistic practice, he brings more than a decade of nonprofit experience in program evaluation, project management, curriculum development and governance.
As Artistic Director of Odyssey Theatre, Koy is building on the company’s 40-year history at the forefront of masked performance in Canada while developing new Canadian work, expanding professional training and education, and creating new opportunities for artists and audiences to experience the power of mask, movement and storytelling.
Michael Sheppard
General Manager (2026-current)
Mike Sheppard is an arts leader, producer, director and administrator with more than two decades of experience in theatre production, arts management, community engagement and organizational development.
Mike holds a degree in Theatre from Queen’s University. He began his career in Kingston, Ontario, where he founded Blue Canoe Theatrical Productions and served as its Artistic Director for ten years. He later founded the Juvenis Youth Arts Festival and co-founded the Kick & Push Festival, helping create new opportunities for artists and young people while contributing to the growth of Kingston’s performing arts community.
His career has included leadership and producing roles with organizations across Ontario, including Theatre Kingston, Driftwood Theatre, the Students Commission of Canada and Ottawa StoryTellers. His work has spanned artistic programming, producing, marketing and development, youth engagement, fundraising, strategic planning and organizational growth.
Mike is also the Executive Director of Sol One Arts Inc. and has produced film and youth arts initiatives, including the Ottawa Youth Film Festival and the Ottawa 48 Hour Film Project. Across his work, he has focused on building sustainable arts organizations, developing opportunities for emerging artists and connecting new audiences with live performance and storytelling.
As General Manager of Odyssey Theatre, Mike works alongside Artistic Director Nicholas Koy Santillo to lead the company into its next chapter, building on Odyssey’s 40-year history while strengthening its operations, expanding its community impact and creating new opportunities for artists and audiences.
