AZEEM NATHOO

Azeem is thrilled to return to the Guild Festival Theatre to support their initiative towards Existing Audience Engagement supported by the Metcalf Foundation. As a performer he as worked in both England and Canada over the past 20 years and is a recipient of a Tyrone Guthrie Award at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival along with three Broadway World Toronto Nominations for his performances at Guild Festival Theatre in 2023 and 2024. He wrote his first play “1184”, which explored the coexistence between the Christian, Muslim and Jewish inhabitants of 12th century Andalusia; premiering at Theatre Passe Muraille in April 2022 and earning two Dora Mavor Moore Nominations for costume and lighting designs. This endeavour also required Azeem to co-found Phoenix Arts, adding to his journey in Artistic leadership which began as one of nine co-producers of and Tragedie of Lear at the Palmerston Library in 2017 (six My Entertainment World nominations) and as Soheil Parsa’s Assistant Director for Modern Times Stage Company’s 2018 production of Bloom at Buddies in Bad Times. Through Phoenix Arts, Azeem has offered Free Audition Clinics virtually to artists during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as skills workshops to Refugee and Newcomer artists in partnership with Modern Times pro bono in summer 2024. His teaching practice extends to George Brown College where he co-directs Shakespeare workshop performance to first year theatre students. He continues to learn about best practices and governance as a Board Member with Theatre Passe Muraille.