PANOPTIKON

Kareem Vaude is an Arab-Canadian actor, director, and multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. Their dynamic work spans award-winning TV, high-octane vocal performances in animation and video games, powerful theatre roles, and narrative-driven rap. Born on September 23, 1998, in Oakville, Ontario, and raised in Guelph, Kareem pursued their passion for acting at George Brown Theatre School, graduating in 2020. In 2021, they booked their first TV role on HBO Max’s acclaimed series Sort Of. Since then, they’ve trained with esteemed acting coach Earl Nanhu and honed their voice acting skills under VO director Kiril Mitev. This led Kareem to join the cast of Cartoon Network and CBC’s new show, Let’s Go, Bananas! In 2023. Kareem has had the honor of working with renowned creators such as Fab Filippo, Alyson Court, and Donna - Michelle St. Bernard. 

Nicci Pryce is a multidisciplinary artist whose work is rooted in passion, vulnerability, and social justice. Their ever-evolving practice has them cycling through the titles writer, director, producer, and performer. With a BA in Media Production and minor in Visual Communication from TMU, they contributed to creating a wide array of projects ranging from mixtapes, theatrical productions, and short films each with a definitive focus on amplifying underrepresented narratives. As a co-founder of the production company, G’RILLA, they have utilized this platform to create and contribute to bold theatrical adaptations such as: Romeo & Juliet (G’RILLA, 2019), Crack in the Concrete: Mixtape (G’RILLA, 2021), Intergalactic Rhymes of 2099 (Soulpepper, 2021), Djinn of the Lamp (Bad Hats/G’RILLA, 2022). They also have taken on the direction of queer projects such as Bex Likes Frogs (Wednesday Pictures, 2021) and Queer Youth Cabaret (Soulpepper, 2022). 

Originally from Trinidad, Kern Albert comes to Toronto by way of London, England and Brisbane, Australia where he spent time both among the savages, and the native Aboriginals.  He has lent his world-worn gaze to the stage as an actor in The Dutchman (lemonTree), Prison Skin (New Harlem).  As a playwright his works include The Last Pig in Afghanistan and Roominhouse (with DM St. Bernard).  As a vocalist,  Kern ran with hip hop ensemble The Dope Poet Society for a decade, followed by a stint with duo, Seeds Sown. He has been known to operate lights, build sets and offer dramaturgy. 

Donna-Michelle St. Bernard aka Belladonna the Blest is an emcee, playwright and agitator. Her main body of work is the 54ology: The First Stone, Give It Up, The Smell of Horses, Diggers, Cake, Sound of the Beast, A Man A Fish, Dark Love, Roominhouse, Salome’s Clothes and Gas Girls.  She collaborated on the creation of The Only Good Indian and They Say He Fell (Pandemic Theatre), Forbidden and Oubliette (Tapestry Opera), The House You Build (Gordon Tootoosis Nekaniwin Theatre) and 501: Toronto in Transit (Theatre Passe Muraille). DM also contributes to the creative ecology as a director, dramaturge and administrator. 

Shanae Sodhi is a theatre artist who lives in T'karonto. He attended Studio 58 where he was an establishing member of the school's Student Diversity Committee, a student lead group which works to give strength to marginalized groups within the theatre community by empowering students with the tools and knowledge to engage the conversations of inclusivity around them. He aims to create work that is community oriented, re-engages audiences with the utility of art in our society, and bridges performance with direct action activism. Recent producing credits include: associate producer on The First Stone (New Harlem Productions), producer on Catalina La O: Ahora Conmigo (winner of the 2020 Fringe New Play Prize) and Mx by Lili Robinson (winner of the 2019 Fringe New Play Prize and Cultchivating the Fringe Award). He has also been working as an arts administrator at Rumble Theatre for the past 4 years before recently moving to T'karonto to take on the role of Marketing and Communications Manager at Theatre Passe Muraille. 

Stephon Smith, aka Spliffon, is a versatile actor, rapper, songwriter, producer, and sound designer from Toronto. Drawing inspiration from Hip Hop, RnB, Reggae, and Dancehall, he began writing music at age 9 before expanding his creative talents to acting and storytelling. After studying Theatre at Humber College, Stephon honed his skills in songwriting and sound design, working on a variety of productions. His stage credits include acting in Scadding (2019 Fringe Festival) and Mandem (2021 Paprika Festival). In sound design, he has contributed to B Current’s Wheel of the Year Walks (2023), Groundwork Redux’s Speaking Of Sneaking (2023), Pleiades Theatre’s Tyson’s Song (2024), Carousel Players’ Simone, Half and Half (2024), and most recently, Alumnae Theatre’s Black Girl Little Secrets (2025). He’s also working on The Three Musketeers with Guild Festival Theatre. Alongside his theatre work, Stephon is also eager to share more of his music with the world. 

Nawa Nicole Simon is a Toronto-born performer, writer, and wellness advocate with a passion for storytelling and community engagement. She began her artistic journey in the Fresh Arts program and later honed her craft at Humber College’s Theatre Performance Program. Her stage credits include a Dora-nominated role in *Gas Girls* and leading performances in *The First Stone*. On screen, she’s appeared in *Ruby Skye P.I.* (Outstanding Supporting Actress – Interactive Narrative Comedy), *Forensic Factor*, and *Steadfast: The Messenger and the Message*, which screened at Cannes 2023. Beyond the arts, Nawa is a personal trainer dedicated to holistic well-being. Through Moving People Fitness, she bridges creativity and health, empowering individuals to thrive. Whether on stage, screen, or in the fitness studio, Nawa Simon continues to inspire through storytelling, wellness, and building vibrant communities. 

Makambe K Simamba is a multiple award-winning playwright and actor, and a graduate of the University of Lethbridge.  As a playwright, her solo work includes the multiple Dora Award-Winning Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers, A Chitenge Story and Makambe Speaks. Her works in progress have been supported by The Stratford Festival, Banff Playwright’s Lab, Downstage Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, b current performing arts, Citadel theatre, Obsidian Theatre, and Green Thumb Theatre.  Makambe is Zambian-born and Caribbean-raised. Her intention is to be of service through her ability to tell stories.