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Holly Collis Handford (she/her) grew up in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island where she studied music, singing, drama, and dance from a young age. In 2020 she graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music with her ARCT in Voice Performance (classical singing) and in 2021 she graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BFA in Acting. Holly has performed with many theatre companies including Axis Theatre Company (The Troll Grandfather), White Rock Players' Club (Pride and Prejudice), Renegade Arts Company (Once), Theatre Under the Stars (Cats, Cinderella), and United Players of Vancouver (Emilia). She is also a music director and has composed and performed original songs for companies such as Curious Creations (Waiting For Garbo), National Theatre School's Art Apart (Papa Records Everything), Play4Change (IdeasXChange), UBC Players' Club (The Croc, the Witch and the Elevator) and Six/Ten Productions (The Last Jubilee). In 2024, she was the music director, co-composer, and show musician for the original musical Gillty as Fin at Studio 58. Some of her favourite roles include Julia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival), Agnes in Revolt. She said. Revolt again. (UBC Theatre), Empress Irene in The Tragedy of Irene (UBC English Students' Association) and Skimbleshanks in Cats (TUTS). Holly has acted in many short films and is the writer and director of Late Bloomer, a short film presented by Short Film Lab. She trained in Improv theatre at UBC Improv, Blind Tiger, and The Improv Centre on Granville Island where she performed as a mainstage ensemble member from 2022-2024. Holly plays multiple musical instruments including piano, accordion, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, and percussion. She is also a dancer trained in ballet, tap, contemporary, and theatre jazz. Oh, and she can juggle. |
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