January 29 - February 8, 2026/Mainstage Theatre
New by Pamela Mala Sinha
Director: Summer Mahmud
Producer: Bini Shah
Nominated for the Governor General’s Award for Drama in 2024, New tells the story of a Bengali bride’s arrival to a small Canadian university town in 1970 to meet the husband she’s never met. The play is a beautiful examination of tradition vs. counterculture, authentic identity, and the meaning of freedom and is not to be missed.
This production is generously supported by
The Director and The Producer
SUMMER MAHMUD/DIRECTOR
Summer Mahmud is a Queer Pakistani-Tanzanian immigrant, a director, playwright, musician, and performer, and an avidly curious being. They have worked professionally as a theatre creator and musician in Karachi, Tio’Tia:ke, and Tkarón:to. Their process is centred around form and the musicality of experience. They are particularly interested in unearthing the existential conditions that connect us across borders – be they international, interpersonal, or internal. They are rooted in the here-ness and the now-ness of theatre. In recent years, their work has been supported by Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre, Modern Times Stage Company, Teesri Duniya Theatre, IMAGO Theatre, and Black Theatre Workshop.
BINI SHAH/PRODUCER
Bini Shah is a Toronto-based producer and multidisciplinary creative with experience across stage management, production operations, and collaborative design support. She has contributed to projects in theatre and live performance, including working on a Toronto Fringe production, volunteering with Alumnae Theatre, and serving as an emerging artist director to support new voices in the community. Bini’s artistic focus lies in stories that carry nuance, honesty, and emotional depth. She is dedicated to building thoughtful, well-supported creative processes and fostering environments where artists can take risks, collaborate meaningfully, and feel grounded in their work. Her practice emphasizes accessibility, community engagement, and strengthening pathways for emerging talent. New reflects her ongoing commitment to nurturing inclusive storytelling and contributing to a thriving, connected artistic community.
The Actors
NIKKI BARRAN/AISHA
Nikki Barran is delighted to be playing Aisha in New. Toronto audiences may have seen her take on Robin Hood with NAGs Players, sail the seas as Salty Nik the Pirate with Pirate Life Toronto, or stir things up as Cherie in Bus Stop with Village Players. She’s also tackled joyful theatrical chaos as Annie in The Play That Goes Wrong. When she’s not on stage, Nikki performs with her improv troupe, Sauced Improv, wrangles her three demanding cats, and is endlessly supported by her amazing partner. She’s thrilled you’re here supporting live theatre … and will absolutely overthink your applause level on the way home.
GURMEET BAJWA/ASH
Gurmeet Bajwa is an actor who is constantly exploring the craft with truth and honesty. He believes that we are living a story with pre-written backgrounds and our characters growing in the environment around us with every new moment we live and cherish. From his beginnings with YUVAA theatre in Punjab, India, performing in diverse Punjabi and Hindi plays, to his arrival in Canada in 2019, his journey reflects a passion for storytelling. In Hollywood North, he continues to grow as an actor, engaging in short films, theatre, and dynamic creative collaborations. He is grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to playing the part of Ash in New.
STEPHANIE BISRAM/NUZHA
Stephanie Bisram is thrilled to be a part of this production of New at Alumnae Theatre! An Indo-Guyanese actor born and raised in the GTA, she trained at York University’s Acting Conservatory, where she performed in a range of productions including Radium Girls, Paradise Lost, and Dead Man’s Cell Phone. Since graduating, Stephanie has expanded her work into television and commercial projects. She would like to thank this lovely cast and crew for their dedication and support!
NOOR ALIMRAN/SACHIN
Noor Alimran has trained as an actor both in both theatre and on camera across various studios in Toronto for several years. Additionally, he has trained in contemporary dance, kathak, and jazz funk. As a principal dancer with several dance companies, Noor has performed at the Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival for three years and in various company shows and corporate events. His journey through theatre gave him an opportunity to perform in a political satire and Patron’s Pick of Fringe at the 2019 Fringe Theatre Festival. When he isn’t performing on stage, Noor has enjoyed working as a choreographer and also a dramaturge to bring real, grounded, and human stories to the stage using dance and acting performances to bring awareness to ignored and forgotten stories of human struggles. Besides theatre, Noor has a keen interest in music and has been training in Indian classical music (vocal).
RAJ BETEILLE/QASIM
Raj Beteille is an actor and writer residing in Toronto. While he has featured in popular Netflix India shows like Sacred Games and Dark Waters, he aspires to build his body of work in Canada as well. He’s currently writing his own musical, BOaRDERS, as he simultaneously devotes time to his Conservatory program at The Second City, juggling various film and theatre endeavours too. He’s grateful for the opportunity Alumnae Theatre has bestowed upon him – to play this wonderful character.
JEN HASHIMOTO/ABBY
Previously at Alumnae Theatre: Muffy and Hatman in Stealing Home (Fringe), Kelly in Gunplay, Gina Wilkinson understudy in Shadows in the Nooks. JeN is super excited to be on stage with Alumnae Theatre again and to help tell this incredible story. She holds a BA Honours double major in Theatre and English from York University. She has graced the stages of numerous Toronto theatres, cherishing roles such as Lorna in Dead Accounts, Chava in Fiddler on the Roof, Elvira in Blithe Spirit, and The Prude in Things We Lost In The Fire. JeN is thrilled to be a part of the talented cast and crew of New. Thanks always to Tomo!
ZAHSHANNE MALIK/SITA
Zahshanné Malik is a professional Kathak dancer and Queen’s University graduate with an Honours degree in Drama. A lifelong performer and passionate creator, she began her dance training at four under some of the most esteemed Kathak gurus in Pakistan. By six, she was performing on stage and has since appeared in productions across the country and internationally. Her artistic journey extends beyond dance. Zahshanné made her acting debut in 2010 as Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia! in Lahore, a role that launched her path as a dynamic performer. She later refined her craft at the university level, training with celebrated artists from Canada’s Shaw Festival, and has acted and directed productions across Canada, Pakistan, and Europe. Zahshanné’s on-screen presence has made her a recognizable face in the entertainment landscape in Pakistan, with appearances in music videos alongside Atif Aslam and Mahira Khan, international brand TV commercials, and short films. Her recent live work includes featured vocal performances and opening the prestigious Oxford Literature Festival in Islamabad 2023. In 2020, she debuted as a playwright at NAPA, a work she continues to develop in 2026. Zahshanné is thrilled to be back on Canadian stages and excited to perform in New, a play featuring characters that feel like home.
The Production Team
SUKI CHEUNG/STAGE MANAGER
Suki is originally from Hong Kong and is excited to join this production and creative team as Stage Manager! She is driven by a strong passion for theatre, and her work spans Hong Kong, London, and Toronto, where she has developed cross-cultural experience and collaborative artistic networks. Her credits include the Edinburgh Fringe, West End New Musical Festival, the New Ideas Festival, and Hong Kong Festival Mississauga. In April 2025, Suki produced, wrote, and directed her original immersive drama, 1+2+3, at Haven Brews Café, a new work created to promote theatre education and cultural exchange within the Hong Kong diaspora. The production is slated for a remount in the Greater Toronto Area.
ASEFEH KATOOZIAN/SET DESIGNER
Asefeh Katoozian is an architect and multidisciplinary artist working across architecture, painting, and spatial design, as well as set and costume design for theatre and opera. She began her studies in structural architecture in Tehran and, after collaborating on various architectural projects in both indoor and outdoor spaces, continued her path in Austria. She earned her master’s degree in Scenography and Exhibition’s Architecture in Salzburg, where she also presented exhibitions that shared fresh approaches to colour, line, and paper with the audience. In her work, architectural forms and stage elements engage in a clear dialogue, allowing the meaning and atmosphere of a performance, whether theatre or opera, to emerge through the structure of the stage and the relationships between its components. She has worked on theatrical pieces by Bertolt Brecht and Albert Camus, as well as operatic projects including Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata. Her work across Iran, Austria, and Canada has shaped her understanding of space, light, and movement and has helped her develop her own visual language.
JAIME REDFORD/COSTUME DESIGNER
Jaime Redford (they/them) is a costume designer, stitcher, pattern drafter, and visual artist working in theatre and film in Tkaronto, Canada. They hold a degree in English and Visual Studies from the University of Toronto and a diploma of Fashion Design and Techniques from George Brown College, where their graduating collection explored the historical clothing of dolls and infants, playfully reimagined as couture. Since graduating, they have worked as a costumes apprentice on Murdoch Mysteries, stitcher and patternmaker at the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, and a freelance costume designer for creative and commercial projects. A lover of found objects and unconventional materials, their design practice prioritizes environmental sustainability, body liberation, and disability justice.
TUSHAR TUKARAM DALVI/LIGHTING DESIGNER
Tushar Tukaram Dalvi is a Mumbai-born, Toronto-based theatre artist with 15+ years of experience as a director, actor, producer, stage manager, and lighting designer. He founded Rangaai Theatre Company in 2016, creating immersive, sensory-driven performances. A recipient of the Associated Designers of Canada Mentorship Grant to train under Trevor Schwellnus, he is currently apprenticing in lighting design with Michelle Ramsay, supported by the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario’s Skills and Career Development grant. Light design credits: Ishq Ke Saat Muqaam (Tawoos Initiative), The Proposal (Mississauga Fringe 2025), Akathya (Rangaai Theatre Company), Aap Ka Khayal Aaya (Sawitri Theatre), The Cunning Linguist (Factory Theatre), Miss Cuckoo (Mississauga Fringe, 2024). Apprentice light design credits: Cicadas (NAC, Tarragon Theatre) and Hansel & Gretel Panto (Capitol Theatre).
ANDREA STEWART/SOUND DESIGNER
Andrea is very excited to be back working with Alumnae Theatre and the cast and crew of New. She has been a professional audio engineer for six years, with a degree in Drama Studies from Queen’s University (2014) and diplomas in Music Industry Arts (2017) and Audio Post-Production (2018) from Fanshawe College. She loves to spend her time working around southwestern Ontario sound designing for one of her great loves – theatre! – and has been a part of over 15 productions in London, Kingston, and Toronto. You can also catch her two self-produced EPs under the stage name Bobbi Redd wherever you stream your music. Andrea sends much love to her family and hopes that you have a wonderful time expanding your cultural horizons with this play, just as she did. Enjoy the show!
KUHELI CHATTERJEE/COSTUME CONSULTANT + PROPS DESIGNER
Kuheli Chatterjee (Hailey) is a multidisciplinary artist. Her creative portfolio spans dance choreography, costume design, prop creation, and immersive set design – each project reflecting her passion for visual storytelling. Hailey crafts poems, plays, musicals, and theatrical productions infused with humour, fantasy, and historical nuance in English, Hindi, and Bengali languages. With a Master’s in Business Administration, she also serves as a seasoned grant writer, supporting artists, creative directors, and nonprofit organizations in North America and South Asia.
JAIN DICKSON/ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Jain’s career started in theatre where she worked as an actor, stage manager, and producer for 10 years. Jain then moved into television: selected credits include director of the The Crawlspace for TVO Kids, production supervisor for The Jungle Room and line producer for The Hoobs, a Jim Henson/Decode co-production. For the past 15 years, Jain has been working as a producer in children’s animation. Credits include Stella and Sam for Family Channel/Disney Jr and Bubble Guppies for Nick Jr, and she has just completed the second season of Vida the Vet, a pre-school series for Netflix, Corus, and CBeebies.
ZAHRA LOKHANDWALA/SET CONSULTANT + LIAISON
Zahra Lokhandwala, an architect and urban designer, channels her creativity into crafting immersive theatrical environments. Passionate about storytelling, she strives to transform spaces into memorable experiences. She began her journey with Alumnae Theatre Company as an assistant set designer and carpenter for Fireworks Festival 2023, later returning as set designer for Fireworks 2025 and for the Mainstage production of Other Desert Cities. For this show, Zahra continues to be part of this journey as a liaison, collaborating closely with the talented design team.
REBECCA LASHMAR/INTIMACY COORDINATOR
Rebecca Lashmar is a certified intimacy director and coordinator, working all over southern Ontario. She graduated from the University of Windsor’s BFA program, and she holds a graduate diploma in Arts Administration and Leadership from Queen’s University, as well as a Master of Arts from the University of Toronto’s Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies. Some of her previous intimacy credits include Age of Arousal (Alumnae Theatre), This Feels Like The End (Next Stage), and Rocky Horror Picture Show (Kordazone Theatre).
SCOTT POSTE/LEAD CARPENTER
Scott has worked on set building with the Alumnae Theatre on various productions over the past two seasons, as well as mentoring volunteers interested in various set construction methods. He currently volunteers with maintaining the theatre building and interiors. Scott also works with the Toronto Railway Museum on restoration of locomotives and rail cars. He is an experienced distance runner and volunteers at local races and marathons.
ANGELICA BONACINI/ASSISTANT SET DESIGNER
Angelica volunteered for Alumnae before and is excited to be working for the theatre company again, on this production, as the Assistant Set Designer. She is an actor with a degree in Musical Theatre (Randolph College) and holds a BA in Architecture (UofT). Her background allows her to approach theatre from both a performance and design perspective, bridging storytelling with spatial and visual thinking. With a deep love for theatre, art, and hands-on building, Angelica enjoys exploring how different creative disciplines come together to support a production. Her studies and work experience have given her an understanding of both sides of the stage, which informs her collaborative and detail-oriented approach to set design. She is grateful for the support of the team and excited to continue growing her skills behind the scenes.
MANDY LENA/SET BUILDER
Mandy Lena is a visual artist/actor based in Toronto and the United States. A graduate of OCAD University and Seneca College, she holds a BFA in Drawing & Painting and a post-graduate certificate in Corporate Communications. She is thrilled to lend her frame-building and construction skills to the conceptually stunning set design of this production of New. She is currently the Production Designer on an independent film and hopes to continue bringing stories to life by creating the environment in which characters live and breathe. As a visual artist, Mandy deals with themes of migration, iterations of self, hybridity, and place. For all the exciting creative endeavours Mandy has in the works, feel free to follow her IG @the_digital_rose
Accessibility
Alumnae Theatre’s Berkeley Street entrance and the Mainstage Theatre are wheelchair accessible. There is a wheelchair accessible restroom on the ground floor.
