first born theatre
bringing the next generation of theatre to life
OUR TEAM
Mercedes Isaza Clunie
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Mercedes is a queer, Chilean-Canadian award-winning playwright, actor, and poet from Toronto. She graduated with a BFA in Acting from York University, where she performed as Ashlee in Clare Barron's Dance Nation among other roles. Mercedes' work explores topics such as girlhood, culture, sexuality, and language through diverse formats that both disrupt traditional conventions and celebrate the essence of theatre. She's currently a member of Paprika Festival's Playwriting Unit and has recently won the the Wildfire Playwriting runner-up prize for her play 'Gringas'. Mercedes is a natural born leader and looks forward to uplifting the next generation of Canadian artists, making space for new voices and bold artistry.
Artistic Director
Zoe Marin
Creative Producer
Zoe is Argentine-American theatre artist (director, writer, performer) and comedian (sketch, stand-up, musical comedy). She holds a BFA in Theatre from York University, where she specialized in Devised Theatre. Her sketch comedy troupe Small Friend Tall Friend performed “Do You Think You’re Better Than Me?” at the Toronto and Hamilton Fringe festivals 2023, winning Critics' Pick for the latter. As part of the Paprika Festival Director’s Lab, she also directed and created a devised theatre show titled “Internet Sensation”. Zoe loves: horror, comedy, music, politics, and pop culture, and hopes you see that in her work. ig: @zmar_
isi bhakhomen
Creative Producer
isi is a Toronto-based playwright, performer and producer of Afro-Peruvian and Nigerian descent. Since graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada in 2021, they have made it their mission to champion stories that give black children the freedom to laugh, to cry and to breathe. Recent credits include: Mami (Rhubarb Festival), refracting giants (Toronto Dance Theatre), and BOOM! (Paprika Festival). You can discover more at www.isibhakhomen.com.