Cahoots Theatre artistic director Tanisha Taitt and managing producer Lisa Alves, based on the five productions they have brought to live audiences during their joint tenure, clearly enjoy taking creative chances.

The co-leaders made the company’s first foray into Theatre for Young Audiences, converted a venue into a Taiwanese eatery, and collaborated with a cast of 22 non-actors including people living with dementia. With their latest production Sanguine, directed by Taitt, they delve for the first time into the realm of devised theatre.

“What happens when what we do is no longer who we are? In a society that glorifies constant achievement, we forget how to simply exist. Can you sit with yourself, without distraction, and just be?”

These are some of the questions that the multi-talented Parastoo Amanzadeh says that Sanguine poses, adding that “This story is a reminder of our essence beyond careers — a reflection on identity, stillness, and the courage to face ourselves.” Amanzadeh and fellow multidisciplinary artist Mina Zaghari, co-conceivers and devisors of Sanguine, graduated from Humber College’s Theatre Arts Performance program and found themselves facing the harsh reality of a live performance industry at a standstill. The aspiring theatremakers applied to and were both invited to take part in Crossing Gibraltar, Cahoots’ online creators unit for immigrant, refugee and newcomer artists. Both Amanzadeh and Zaghari hail from Iran.

Taitt was drawn to the energy she could feel from each of them through a screen. Following the program’s completion, she continued to occasionally follow their individual artistic offerings on social media. “I wanted to offer a devised solo show to one of them, but I wasn’t sure to whom.” Taitt says. “Then one day as I was watching one of Parastoo’s videos, Mina just floated into the frame, which took me by surprise. I only had to watch them together for two minutes before I knew that I wanted to give the opportunity to both of them.” Although the pair initially began creating all aspects of Sanguine together, it soon became apparent that Zaghari would take the lead on writing, and Amanzadeh on movement. Creating the piece has been a multi-pronged task, as much of the script was penned first in Farsi, the artists’ first language, and then rewritten by Zaghari in English.

“This is a story of confronting the self — when failure brushes against hope, and grief takes on a new form of existence.” Zaghari states. “When we pour all of our love and passion into something and lose it, what remains? Sanguine is an echo of what is born in the silence after destruction.”

Bringing Sanguine to the stage alongside Amanzadeh, Zaghari and Taitt are set and costume designer Sim Suzer, lighting designer Chris-Liz, composer Kaveh Mirhosseini, production manager Jadi Darawi, and stage manager Heather Bellingham. The show will be produced by Lisa Alves and Samantha Vu, with production assistance by Andrea Casteñeda. Sanguine opens on April 27th and runs to May 10th at the BMO Incubator in The Theatre Centre. Tickets are on sale now at theatrecentre.org

SANGUINE

Conceived and performed

by Parastoo Amanzadeh and Mina Zaghari

Directed by Tanisha Taitt

BMO Incubator at The Theatre Centre - 1115 Queen St W, Toronto

April 27 to May 10, 2025 | Tues-Sat 7 pm; Sun 2 pm

For tickets visit theatrecentre.org