Keshia Palm
Artistic Producer
keshia@paprikafestival.comKeshia Palm (she/they) is a Toronto-based Filipinx-Canadian settler from Treaty 6 Territory who seeks to expose, challenge and dismantle systems of oppression by creating thoughtful and inclusive art/spaces. Their creative practice includes dramaturgy, direction, performance, writing and producing. Keshia has developed and performed new works with theatre companies across Canada and is the dramaturge for a number of works in development by IBPOC, queer, women and trans artists. Her digital community arts project Make Me An Alleycat (created with wheels from Claren Grosz) invites people to connect over stories and destinations while social distancing by going for a bike ride. Keshia is a playwright in the 20/21 Hot House Lab at Cahoots Theatre, and a former Factory Foreman. They have been the Online Content Producer for ArtistProducerResource.com at Generator since 2018. Keshia is honoured to be the Artistic Producer of the Paprika Festival, celebrating the work of young and emerging artists across Turtle Island.
Julia Dickson
General Manager
julia@paprikafestival.comJulia Dickson (she/her) is an arts manager, educator, and producer currently based in Toronto. She currently works with Young People’s Theatre as an Artist Educator and with Single Thread Theatre Company as their Artistic Producer. Previously, Julia worked with Studio 180 Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, and the Festival Players of Prince Edward County. Julia has a post-graduate certificate in Arts Administration and Cultural Management from Humber College, and a Bachelor of Education with a focus on Arts in the Community Education from Queen’s University.
Julia Dickson
daniel jelani ellis
Artistic Programs Manager
djelani@paprikafestival.comdaniel jelani ellis (he/him) is a Toronto-based artist raised in Jamaica by a village of theatre artists, poets, and educators. His art practice is driven by his commitment to celebrate those of us who live within the margins. ellis is grateful for this opportunity to carry forward Paprika Festival's outstanding legacy of support for young and emerging artists.
Jay Northcott
Indigenous Arts Program Producer
jay@paprikafestival.comJay Northcott (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist; director, playwright, burlesque dancer, and producer. Jay works to decolonize their art and practice with storytelling, movement, and gesture to create a foundation for their work.
They continue to grow and make it their mission to unlift projects that put BIPOC Queer artists in the spotlight. They create and develop communities that are run by and for racialized and queer artist.
Their goals: to make you cry and piss yourself at the same time, they want to bleed, break, grind, make money, fuck, fight and blow some shit up. With their Post-Britney2007/Hyperpop Aesthetic, Jay develops techniques and experiences that questions: Why theatre is still relevant.
Credits include: The Parasite (Rhubarb Festival), Premium Content (Major Matt Mason, High Performance Rodeo), Blacktop Sky (Obsidian Thearte), Passover (Obsidian Theatre, AD), Scarlet Letter (Theatre Calgary, AD), Iphigenia and theFuries (Saga Collectif, AD), Cows (Theatre Junction).
Jay Northcott
Taylor Young
Production Manager
taylor@paprikafestival.comTaylor Young (they/them) is a Toronto-based Stage Manager and Production Manager, originally from Calgary, AB. They hold a BFA from X University in Performance Production with a minor in Curatorial Studies. Some of their favourite past projects include: Production Coordinator & Assistant Stage Manager, Toronto Dance Theatre 2020/2021 Season; Stage Manager, hollow mountain, Rock Bottom Movement (Wildside 2020); Assistant Stage Manager, RING, Toronto Dance Theatre (2019); Assistant Stage Manager, Fall for Dance North, X University Theatre (2019); Apprentice Stage Manager, Hand to God, Coal Mine Theatre (2019); Assistant Production Manager, Mary’s Wedding, Solo Productions (2019).
Jeysa Caridad
Communications Manager
jeysa@paprikafestival.comJeysa Caridad (she/her) is a first generation Cuban-Canadian based in Toronto working in physical theatre, voice acting, writing, producing, photography and visual arts. She has collectively devised and produced pieces such as F*cking Perfect (Best of Toronto Fringe 2018), DiablaDivina (Caminos Festival 2019, Aluna Theatre 2021) and most recently, Not Your Mija (Paprika Festival 2021, Caminos Festival 2021). Jeysa is co-founder of J & A Collective, a devised theatre company that writes, directs and produces culturally inspired female narratives which challenge boundaries placed by themes related to identity; such as cultural influence, religion, sexuality, and societal expectations.
Jeysa Caridad
Breton Lalama
Public Relations & Program Design Manager
breton@paprikafestival.comBreton Lalama (they/he) is a multi-medium artist who can sometimes be found sweating while hiding behind an accordion. Current work includes Nightwood Theatre’s Write From The Hip, Henry G20 (Luminato Festival), Slasher (Shudder) and Y The Last Man (HuluFX). @bretonlikethecrackers
Facilitators
- xLq (Maddie Bautista + Jordan Campbell) – Creators Unit Facilitators
- Deanna H. Choi – Design Lab Facilitator
- Philip Geller – Directors Lab Facilitator
- Kevin Matthew Wong – Festival Creative Producers + Administrators Facilitator
- Cheyenne Scott – Indigenous Arts Program Facilitator
- Bilal Baig – Playwrights Unit Facilitator
Board of Directors
- Naz Afsahi (Chair)
- Michelle Yagi (Treasurer)
- Katie Saunoris (Secretary)
- Alayna Kolodziechuk
- Molly Gardner
- Ali Joy Richardson
Contact our Board of Directors: board@paprikafestival.com