Philip Cairns
Philip Cairns is an actor/writer/visual artist. His work has been published in Excalibur Monthly, Xtra! & The Body Politic. Philip has performed his writing at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, A Space, Free Times Cafe, Clinton’s, The Black Swan, Renaissance Cafe, The Theatre Centre and Paddy’s Playhouse. He has acted in scores of small theatre productions and numerous independent films.
Lindsay Sarah Czitron
Lindsay Sarah Czitron is a writer, activist, and musician. She picked up the guitar at summer camp at the age of 11 and has been playing ever since. She has performed at Fruit Loopz, Queer Cab at Buddies in Bad Times theatre, and at the first Hard and Able in August 2009. She is super excited to be performing at the second annual installment of Hard and Able.
Amanda Davidson a.k.a. Brown Sugar
Kirk deMatas
Kirk DeMatas is a poet currently living in the west end of Toronto. Though much of his early years were spent dancing and appearing in various stage productions, including a role as Chino in West Side Story, Kirk has spent many nights quietly curling up with his pen and paper – writing poetry.
In 2007, Kirk debuted his poetry in front of a packed house at Toronto's Trane Studio Jazz Lounge and has since performed at the lounge with music artists such as Ottawa’s R&B/Jazz artist Mellow Dee and Toronto’s own soulful flautist Jef Kearns. In March 2008, Kirk’s first book of poetry entitled “Wordspeak” was published. Tackling topics from slavery, racism and homophobia, to sex and the undefined spirituality within, this first book served as an introduction to Kirk, the poet.
In the midst of promoting his first book, all plans were placed on hold as he began work on his second book. He has spent the past two years confronting and slaying his own demons in hopes of meeting a late-2010 publication deadline.
Other plans for 2010 include an appearance in a dance film (short), an E.P., and more work on stage and film. http://www.myspace.com/kirkdematas.
Nish Is Rani
Shereen Mohiuddin
Shereen Mohiuddin is a photographer, aspiring film maker and a Mass Communications student. She likes being unique and is often told to be less "prim and proper", but that just makes her stronger. After beating the mental health system after struggling with depression, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, Shereen functions at a level even she can't fathom. This has left her and her peers baffled, and most importantly, inspired.
Rainbow & Romeo
Luka Sidaravicius
Luka Sidaravicius is a trans/genderqueer immigrant of colour who has experimented with drag, spoken word, theater and video. Luka is all about pushing the envelope and asking the question, "why?". Luka was part of Pride Cab '07, the Inside Out Queer Youth Digital Project ' 07, the Hysteria Festival '07, "The Panopticon- a genderplay production" , "Write from the Hip '08, and 'Wake" Luka received a Youthline award for outstanding contribution to art and leadership in 2008. PS: Luka can't hear very well.
Jay Stewart
Jay Stewart is a spoken word agent provocateur who against better judgement describes himself as 'deaf, bi, and sick.' He takes serious issues and turns them into controversial & hilarious pieces of art (i.e. Don't Hate, Just Masturbate & Shoot a Load, Not Yourself.) Jay was part of the 1st annual Young Creator's Unit at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre for creator/performers under the age of 25. Jay has performed and MC-ed at a variety of events including: Toronto's AIDS Conference, Goodhandy's, Writing Outside the Margins, Fruit Loopz at Pride, Queer Cab, Scarborough Pride, and the Inside Out Film Festival.
Onyinyechukwu Udegbe
Onyinyechukwu Udegbe is working on several creative projects that utilize ceramics, video and the written/spoken word. Most of her works include an examination of trauma, disability, and images of the ‘monstrous.’ Onyii has published several pieces of creative non-fiction, she is presently working on a re-narration of the Biafra War. She continues to create work that aligns and testifies to a lifetime of resistance in disability, African, and queer communities.
Kai Wa Yapp
Kai Wa Yapp is a writer in training. His wheels squeak, the back one wobbles and he has yet to remove the pink tassels hanging off of his handle bars. Between spoken word, some short stories and the occasional limerick, his most recent work includes two short scenes in Topological Theatre's "Airport Stories." He is also one half of the misguided caricatures "Three Gay Boys" and is currently broadening his horizons with photography work. Thanks to ajaystewartproject for giving him the opportunity to be a part of the amazing Hard &Able 2!
