nisha ahuja
Emerging Voice 2009
nisha ahuja, actor, theatre creator, writer, and youth workshop designer/facilitator, has performed and created a range of classical, contemporary, and original work in Canada, the Netherlands, and India.
nisha was an actor with the Resident Acting Company of the National Art Centre for 2009-2010 season. In Fall 2010 nisha was Assistant Director to Ken Gass for Factory Theatre’s production of Bethune Imagined. An excerpt of her new play Cycle of a Sari will be published in Refractions: Solo, (co-edited by Yvette Nolan and Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Published by Playwrights Canada Press.)
In 2008-2009 nisha began writing Cycle of a Sari during her Artist Residency with CanStage, where the piece received a staged reading. She continues writing Cycle of a Sari with Dramaturge Nina Lee Auino, receiving previous support from Diaspora Dialogues, Toronto Arts Council Playwright’s Grant, and Cahoot Theatre’s Ontario Arts Council Theatre Creator Reserve Grant.
nisha developed her one-woman show Yoga Cannibal during her Artist Residency with Buddies’ and Bad Times Theatre in 2006-2007 where she received an Ontario Arts Council Theatre Creator Reserve Grant. Yoga Cannibal continued on a national tour, with Director/Dramaturge Yvette Nolan, to Buddies’ Hysteria Festival, Ottawa & Vancouver Fringe Festival, FemFest in Winnipeg, and Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto.
Currently, nisha is co-developing the Besetting of Reena Virk with a new collective Subtle Vigilance Calamity who are members with Cahoots Theatre’s Playwright Unit.
As an arts educator, nisha has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of youth in Canada and India with renowned theatre companies, urban and rural schools, as well as NGOs and grassroots community organizations.
Collaborations include the National Arts Centre, The Canadian Stage Company, Buddies and Bad Times Theatre, Theatre Direct Canada, Native Earth Performing Arts, The Concerned for Working Children/Common Plants (Karnataka, India), The National Centre for Inclusion (Mumbai, India), Caravan Tallship Theatre, Salamander Theatre, Mixed Company Theatre, Theatre Ontario, Diaspora Dialogues, A.M.Y. Project, Theatre Revolve, Just Theatre for Change, Children’s Peace Theatre, LA’s My Barbarian, NYC’s Magnetic Laboratory (Nuit Blanche), and Summerworks Festival and Fringe Festivals with independent companies.
nisha graduated from York University with a Specialized Honours in Theatre (Creative Ensemble) with a minor in International Development.
"The crowd really ate this one up. …Good Pace… Good Energy…a lot of Fun." -CBC Radio One, Ottawa
“nisha brings an exciting blend of forthrightness, passion and talent to her work… I was impressed with nisha’s open-ness, intelligence, and empathy.” - Mark Cassidy, Director
“A Must See” -Xtra Toronto
Agent:
Rachel Neville-Fox
Noble Caplan Abrams
racheln@canadafilm.com
416.920.5385
