Hometown: I was born and raised in good ol’ Surrey, BC.
Training: I have been doing film and TV since I was 11, so I have been well trained in that universe (workshops, classes, experience, volunteer – you name it).
I was also in singing lessons from the age of 7, taught by the incomparable Jenni Driscoll-Holmes. When we lost her in 2018, I refused to sing for a good few years. It wasn’t until 2021 that I took the leap into theatre, and back into singing lessons in my second to last year of high school.
What influenced you to pursue a career in theatre?
I grew up in a very musical home. My dad’s side of the family has music in their blood, and can almost always be found singing. My grandmother had always dreamt of becoming a theatre performer, so my dad, aunt and uncles grew up around showtunes, and so I did as well. It was my first love.
Singing and the whole allure of musical theatre has had me hooked since I can remember, obsessed with TCM (Turner Classic Movies) whenever they played a musical, and nearly burning holes through any musical VHS’ we had.
The Houghton’s are known to relate anything to a song, and are known to break out in obscure musical numbers, haha. So, I truly can’t recall a time where music and musicals weren’t an active part in my life.
I think it took me so long to finally dip my toes into it because it was always so near and dear to me, and I didn’t want to screw it up. Having trained so heavily and from such a young age in film, where if something isn’t right, “well, let’s just do another take” – theatre’s “what happens on stage happens”, and “the show must go on” was an absolutely terrifying concept to me. Which is funny now, because that is one of my favourite things about it.
In grade 11, my best friend Taylor urged me to join our high school’s theatre company, and gosh am I thankful I did. A few months later, I was the Children’s Entertainer in Matilda, adorned in an entire clown costume in front of my high school…and I have never looked back, haha. But seriously, I caught the bug hard. The community and bond we formed was fast and unlike anything I had experienced up until then. Shout out to Mrs. Gardner for believing in me, and urging me to continue after high school!
What do you love about theatre?
Community. It seems so big and daunting when you look at it from the outside, but once you know one person, that one person knows a dozen others, who know a dozen more, and pretty soon you know just about everyone! It is a small community, and I have been incredibly fortunate to have gotten to work with and become dear friends with so many.
I also love getting to build something from the ground up. A mass collaboration of creative minds, all working together towards one common goal, and one day you get to rehearsal on a random Wednesday, and it “clicks”. There is no way to describe that feeling.
Which plays and musicals were you in, and what were your roles?
- Anya in Anastasia (Theatre in the Country)
- New Employee in 9 to 5 the Musical (Royal City Musical Theatre)
- Kelsi Nielson in High School Musical (Align Entertainment)
- Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy in Shrek the Musical (Royal City Musical Theatre)
Upcoming!
- Suzette/Ensemble/Rose U/S in Dogfight with JBM Theatre!
What has been your favourite role in your career so far, and why?
Anya in Anastasia had an impact on me that I don’t know if I will ever truly understand the lengths of. It is one of my favourite shows of all-time and also is the reason I got into this beautiful community. I met life-long friends and learnt so much within that short period of time. I really don’t know what I would be doing if I hadn’t auditioned for that show.
However, Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy in Shrek the Musical a couple months ago now, was also one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences I have been given thus far. That show and character have an incredibly dear place in my heart, so getting to tell that story and simply play with some of the most creative, loving, beautiful people is a gift I will hold dear forever. Every day was a “pinch me” moment.
I can’t wait to see what the future has in store!
If you hadn’t become a performer, what might you have pursued professionally?
Well, I’m actually starting my 4th year of my History degree! I am working towards (hopefully) a career in archival work. It’s funny, half of my brain is like “woo theatre! Get me on that stage!”, and the other half is like “lock me in an old library with a bunch of old ephemera to research”, haha.
I’ve already begun creating my own archive (of sorts), as I was raised going to vintage sales and such, with my grandparents and mum respectively owning antique stores and selling vintage. I particularly love collecting things that give a unique insight to people’s day-to-day that we often tend to overlook when studying history, and things that weren’t necessarily made to last – but have for whatever reason; postcards being a main interest of mine.
I just find humanity fascinating. So, in an ideal world I would love to manage to do both!
Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk.
Career goals?
Oh boy, how much time do you have?
Well, the first thing that pops into my mind would be getting even just 1 kiddo to leave a show I’m in with that invigorating feeling I always used to get (and still do) after seeing live theatre and thinking “I want to do that”.
However, I would love to continue working in any capacity in this beautiful community. Something I’ve always adored but still feel behind on is my dancing, so I would love to continue my dancing journey and my confidence with it.
But truly, as cliché as it may sound, if I am able to continue working, creating, and learning, that is an absolute win in my books!
Theatre 604 
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