If you don't know...Kanika Ambrose

…Let me introduce you!

Kanika Ambrose (she/her) is a Toronto-based playwright and librettist. She is the Artistic Producer of Paprika Festival and this year, she is Cahoots Theatre Company's Canada Council Playwright-in-Residence, developing her play our place. Last season, she was Obsidian Theatre Company's Ontario Arts Council Playwright-in-Residence developing her play Reception (2018).

Her work has been featured at Curtis Institute of Music, Tapestry Opera’s Tapestry Briefs, the 39th Rhubarb Festival, Black Lives, Black Words and Rising Tides Showcase. She is a Dora Award nominee for her role in Binti’s Journey, and was part of the Dora nominated Outstanding Production, Obeah Opera (2012-2020). Kanika is a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School and is founder of Dominican bélé dance group, Mabouya Dance Company.

She was featured as one of Cahoots Theatre Company's 30 for 30 theatre makers for their 30th anniversary season. You can watch a video of her talking about this experience here.

You can read the published Black Lives,Black Words, featuring Kanika’s play Keep Safe (2018) from the National Theatre Bookshop. You can also watch some recordings of performances around the world of the short plays in the collection, here.

You can watch her children’s opera made in collaboration with composer Nick DiBerardinao - Anansi and the Great Light (2019) here, premiering at Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

She has also been commissioned by Tapestry Opera and Obsidian Theatre Company to create new opera, Of the Sea, with composer Ian Cusson forthcoming in 2023. You can listen to Kanika talking more about this project here.

Keep an eye on Kanika’s projects as they get announced on her website here.

You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram!