Actor, comedian and playwright Shaharah Gaznabbi Credit: Shaharah Gaznabbi
Happy New Year!
Today, I have an interview that will definitely brighten even the dullest January day, energize post-holiday spirits and make Small Change listeners want to find out where they can catch a production written by, or starring, Shaharah Gaznabbi!
Shaharah Gaznabbi will tell you that they are a Guyanese-Canadian ACTRA actor, playwright and comedian — but they are so much more. And, their enthusiasm for their craft as well as their engaging personality will leave you wanting more.
They are currently an 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 and Nightwood Theatre’s Innovators Program this year.
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?
Photo: Shaharah Gaznabbi in What Can Indian Look Like? Credit: Meg Hatfield (@_meghatters.snaps_ on instagram) at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023
Shaharah is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Playwriting and Devised Theatre in York University’s Theatre program. They also graduated from Second City Training Centre’s Conservatory Program.
Shaharah made their television debut playing the character of Noor, the teenage love interest of Mannix, in Season 3 of CBC's Run the Burbs.
Shaharah Gaznabbi playing Noor in Run the Burbs Credit: Shaharah Gaznabbi
Shaharah played Shere Khan — and other characters — in Kidoons production of Jungle Book that readapted Rudyard Kipling’s tale setting it in modern times and combining video, shadow play and original music with acrobatic acting.
Photo: Shaharah Gaznabbi as Kaa the python (right) with Rick Miller (left). Credit: Craig Francis
Recently, Shaharah transformed into a serious mother in the musical, A Pot Made of Sand, and the hilarious, cranky old woman who just wants to eat fatty patties at Harrods in Brick Lane Bargain – two plays from The Devi Triptych written by Radha Menon founder of Red Beti Theatre.
Their solo play, What Can Indian Look Like? Can It Look Caribbean?, is their take on Indian diaspora and finding culture after Caribbean colonisation in which they explore the responsibilities of a first-generation immigrant who is often left feeling the “wrong shade of brown.”
Shaharah’s play, Lost Scribe, inspired by the story of Sheherazade from 1001 Arabian Nights, is a Queer-Muslim exploration of what it means to create your own legacy. The play was featured at Red Beti Theatre’s 4th Annual Decolonise Your Ears (DYE) New Play Reading Festival in October 2024.
Queenie, Imum and Scribe, the female identifying characters in Lost Scribe, are predestined to fill societal roles that are usually held by men. Despite being set in about 800 CE, this play remains relevant in 2025 CE.
Find out why Shaharah not only chose to go into acting, but character acting, musicals, comedy, and children’s performances. Why they also write plays, direct and love being a dramaturg. And, what is yet to come!
Shaharah Gaznabbi just clowning around. Credit: Shaharah Gaznabbi
Find her on Instagram @huckkingfilarious and X @TheHarzGaz
Thanks to everyone who read today’s article and listened to my podcast. With your continued support, a little Nicoll can make a lot of change.
Music: Real Estate by UNIVERSFIELD is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. freemusicarchive.org.
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