Paprika Festival is proud to announce programming for the 25th anniversary festival taking place May 12-16, 2026 at Native Earth’s Aki Studio in Toronto. Paprika Festival 2026 will include free community events, and presentations of new work from nine artists in the Directors Lab, Playwrights Unit, Indigenous Arts Program, and Design Lab 2026 cohort: Kéïta Fournier-Pelletier, Jane-Leigh Jamieson, Suleekha Hirsi, Gwen Gabriella Caughell, Melissa Avalos, Nicci Pryce, Kobena Ampofo, Vandana Maharaj, and saysah.

"It's hard to believe that Paprika has been supporting young and emerging artists for a quarter of a century! Since its humble origins as a teen theatre festival operating out of Tarragon Theatre in 2001, Paprika has since evolved to be the launching pad for over 160 professional arts careers, with alumni including Zaiba Baig, Joelle Peters, Bea Pizano and Mitchell Cushman,” said Amanda Lin, Artistic Producer. “This year's Festival will feature a line-up of highly ambitious, exciting emerging directors, designers, writers, and choreographers. I'm excited for audiences, familiar and new, to experience their work!"

DIRECTORS LAB and DESIGN LAB

Presented as a double bill on May 12 and May 15 at 7pm

ANANSI v. GOD(s)

Inspired by West-African folklore and stories of the Bible, ANANSI v.GOD(s) is a 3-part parable by Paul Smith, directed Nicci Pryce, with Projection Design and Cultural Consultation by Kobena Ampofo that reminds humans and gods alike how to stay true to yourself, stay true to your story, and prepare for the end of the world. The gods need new stories and a certain spider is chosen to collect the best ones from humanity. But when a student’s diary journal is published online, man and myth must team up to regain control of their character and balance the scales.

Nicci Pryce (Directors Lab) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work is rooted in passion, vulnerability, and social justice. Kobena Ampofo (Design Lab) is a queer Akan anti-disciplinary artist developing a curiosity-led research practice around witchcraft, Akan mediumship, and the spirit realm.

The Walls Enclosing

The Walls Enclosing is written by Ameer Idreis, directed by Vandana Maharaj, with projection design by saysah. Is there a difference between being from a place and being of it? Thirteen years since her last visit, Amal returns to Occupied Palestine on a trip to visit family and finds so much has changed and yet nothing at all. Worried about her Arabic and apprehensive about fitting into her homeland, Amal is embraced by her cousin, who makes it his mission to show her around.

Vandana Maharaj (Directors Lab) is a Trinidadian-Canadian actor, director and writer. as a multidisciplinary and multisensorial artist, saysah’s practice (design lab) weaves together different forms of expression, all guided by sensory exploration.

INDIGENOUS ARTS PROGRAM

Presented as a double bill on May 14 at 7pm

The piano in my mothers home (working title)

This solo by Kéïta Fournier-Pelletier explores grief, loss, and love, woven together through movement, music, and text. “Coming from a family of musicians, music has been a central part of my life and how we grieve. It has become ceremonious in my family to gather around the piano to sing, to mourn, to come together, even to have a concert as a celebration of life.”

Kéïta Fournier-Pelletier is a queer, Métis, Franco-Manitoban artist, dancer, choreographer and educator from Treaty 1 Territory, based in Tkaronto.

Sisterhood

Sisterhood by Jane-Leigh Jamieson is a story showing the complexities of sisterhood. This piece takes you through the ups and downs of going through life with your sibling. Growing together, growing apart, taking care of them, needing them to take care of you and how no matter what you go through together, you are always going to be there for each other.

Jane-Leigh Jamieson is a dancer and choreographer from the Six Nations Reserve.

PLAYWRIGHTS UNIT

Presented as a triple bill on May 16 at 7pm

Made of Glass

In a small Northwest Toronto apartment, Nabeel is home when Safiyah returns from work. They fall into their usual rhythm, half-finished conversations, silences that linger. Small things start to matter more than they should. Leaving them to question how can they keep something steady, even if it begins to slip.

Suleekha Hirsi is a Somali-Canadian, Black Muslim playwright and filmmaker based in Brampton.

Dream House/Doll House

After being kicked out of her ex-boyfriend’s apartment, Holly Pugliese, 20something trans woman and high femme fashion doll obsessive, is forced to crash with her sister Anna and her fiancé. The two have competing ideas on the meaning of “normal” heterosexual womanhood and explore the boundary between compassion and control, as Holly tries to imagine an independent future for herself.

Gwen Gabriella Caughell is a playwright, short story writer and critic based out of Toronto.

Kim is Dead.

Nothing exciting ever happens in the box office. If the world falls apart and zombies roam the streets, the box office staff will be there to book your tickets. Sometimes things go wrong. Maybe we have internet issues, or maybe our ticket printer broke. Maybe our boss died and he was rehired as a zombie. But the show must go on… Right?

Melissa Avalos is a Toronto-born Latina-Filipina writer, reviewer, theatre lover and a patron services representative.

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Community events at Paprika Festival 2026 will include free events inside and outside of the Daniels Spectrum building including: Opening Night Birthday Party; The AMY Project Showcase; Playwrights Canada Press Pop-Up; Emerging Artists Open Mic; Neighbourhood Lemonade Stand; Goodie Bag - Happy Birthday Edition!; and a Closing Reception.

“It's a difficult time to be starting out in the performing arts industry, with theatres still recovering from pandemic shutdowns and costs of living skyrocketing,” said Amanda Lin. “Paprika is important because it provides a paid and well-supported experience for the artists, who have a chance to experiment, play, and fail—all things that are necessary for them to build their craft.”

Paprika Festival is a youth-led professional performing arts organization where emerging artists and arts administrators access paid opportunities, mentorships, and hands-on labs to develop their artistic practices and gain professional experience in production and arts management. We run year round professional training programs that culminate in a performing arts festival of new work by young artists. We provide a space where young people (18-30) are able to take the lead while they learn and grow in their artistic work, in their careers, and in their communities.

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Paprika Festival

May 12-16, 2026

Native Earth’s Aki Studio

585 Dundas Street East, #120

paprikafestival.com

Tickets for Paprika are by donation with the following options:

FREE!

$5 -Equivalent to 1 Printed Script

$15 - Equivalent to 1 Artist Lunch

$25 - Equivalent to 1 Hour of Rehearsal Space

$50 - Equivalent to 1 hour 1-on-1 Mentorship

$150 - Equivalent to one Guest Artist for program sessions