Staff

Artistic Producer

Keshia 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. Her 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. She has been the Online Content Producer for ArtistProducerResource.com at Generator since 2018.

General Manager

Julia 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.

Artistic Programs Manager

daniel 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.

Indigenous Arts Program Producer

Jay 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).

Communications Manager

Emma Westray (she/her) is a Toronto-based producer and arts administrator. She was a member of the Producers’ Learning Network and is an alumna of Generator's Artist Producer Training program (2016-17). Emma was the founding Artistic Producer of House + Body and is the current Managing Producer for Broadleaf Theatre. As Producer: The Chemical Valley Project (Broadleaf Theatre/Theatre Passe Muraille); hiraeth (Summerworks Festival); MARRY ME MARRY ME MARRY ME MARRY ME (House + Body). As Associate Producer: Girl in the Machine (Seven Siblings Theatre); Cannibal (Scrap Paper Theatre/Next Stage); Gray (Theatre Inamorata).

Production Manager

Taylor Young (they/them) is a Toronto-based Stage Manager and Production Manager, originally from Calgary, AB. They hold a BFA from Ryerson University in Performance Production with a minor in Curatorial Studies. They are currently the Production Coordinator & Assistant Stage Manager for Toronto Dance Theatre’s 2020/2021 Season. 

Some of their favourite past projects include: Stage Manager, hollow mountain, Rock Bottom Movement (Wildside 2020); Assistant Stage Manager, RING, Toronto Dance Theatre (2019); Assistant Stage Manager, Fall for Dance North, Ryerson Theatre (2019); Apprentice Stage Manager, Hand to God, Coal Mine Theatre (2019); Assistant Production Manager, Mary’s Wedding, Solo Productions (2019); Stage Manager, MANICPIXIEDREAMGIRLS, Rock Bottom Movement (Kitchener 2019).