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Our Story
Our Story
The idea for ORDA all started in the UK by Simon Jay, who is the creator and Editor of the Neurodiverse Review (NDS Review). In 2022, Simon began the first year of the NDS Review at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as he believed that “our community's work deserves to be reviewed by our own peers, not through an ableist lens”. After Shaharah Gaznabbi took part in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023 and met Simon, they were surprised that it was something that didn't already exist back home in Toronto. Therefore Shaharah and Simon are working together to create a Canadian Neurodiverse Review, bringing on and collaborating with Canadian Neurodiverse and Disabled Artists that are reshaping how we look at accessible Theatre practices in Ontario!
The idea for ORDA all started in the UK by Simon Jay, who is the creator and Editor of the Neurodiverse Review (NDS Review). In 2022, Simon began the first year of the NDS Review at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as he believed that “our community's work deserves to be reviewed by our own peers, not through an ableist lens”. After Shaharah Gaznabbi took part in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023 and met Simon, they were surprised that it was something that didn't already exist back home in Toronto. Therefore Shaharah and Simon are working together to create a Canadian Neurodiverse Review, bringing on and collaborating with Canadian Neurodiverse and Disabled Artists that are reshaping how we look at accessible Theatre practices in Ontario!
Meet the Team
Shaharah Gaznabbi
Co-Project Manager, Editor
Shaharah “Gaz” Gaznabbi (They/Them) lives in the realm of the interdisciplinary. An ACTRA Actor, Playwright, Comedian, & Puppeteer, and Artist-In-Residence at Tarragon Theatre as a recipient of the Ellen Ross Stuart Award. They were also part of Tarragon Theatre’s Young Playwrights Unit. Shaharah received The Neurodiverse Review's Birds of Paradise Emerging Talent Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023, where they presented their solo-show "What Can Indian Look Like? Can It Look Caribbean?" They then Created The Ontario Review for Disabled Arts (ORDA) right here in Toronto and launched “Cheers! The ORDA Review Podcast” alongside co-host and collaborator Hannah Smith to foster connections and conversations between Disabled Artists within Toronto, Nationally, and Globally.
Hannah Smith
Co-Projector Manager, Editor
Hannah Smith (she/her) is a Music Educator, Vocalist, Deviser, Director, Actor, and Composer based in Toronto, Ontario. Hannah leans into the rawness of the artistic voice and values the vulnerability and trust it takes for artists to find truth in their voice in creations.
Hannah’s past credits include Great Felt Greatness; as Co-Director, Dramaturg, and Performer (Sun); York University’s All Good Things Must Begin; as Assistant Director and Composer; Thistle Gardens at Theatre Passe Muraille as Stage Manager and Composer of Take Me (recently released as a single on Spotify and Apple Music). Hannah is currently creating and directing a devised show; Take It Away, which the workshop will be shown in the Fall 2025.
Reviewers
Dylan Carter
Dylan Carter
Reviewer
Lorna Craig
Lorna Craig
Reviewer
Heather Lundrigan
Heather Lundrigan
Reviewer
Zoe Magirias
Zoe Magirias
Reviewer
Eric Trudell
Eric Trudell
Reviewer, Web Designer
Eden Ulnik
Eden Ulnik
Reviewer
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