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 OUR TEAM  

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 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 

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 Zoe Marin 

 Artistic 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_ 

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 Reena Goze 

 Associate Producer 

Reena is a Filipino-Canadian theatre artist, arts educator, and Dora-nominated actor. They are a graduate from the University of Toronto and Sheridan College's Theatre and Drama Studies program and currently teach at Innovative Arts. Reena is 1/4 of the Gud Lewks Collective, who created “FAST. FASHION.” for the Paprika Festival’s Creator’s Unit and will be bringing it to the 46th Rhubarb Festival. Recently, Reena is touring TYA productions (Roseneath Theatre, Carousel Players) and premiering new Canadian plays (4th Line Theatre). Armed with a love of collective creation, learning, risk, and grilled cheese, Reena seeks to promote diversity and equity in all her work! IG: @reenagoze

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first born theatre works and plays in the city of toronto which is the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

first born theatre co. 
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