NOWADAYS THEATRE is a Toronto-based not-for-profit company founded in 2016 by Aida Keykhaii and Mohammad Yaghoubi, following over a decade of artistic work in Iran, where the company was known among Iranian audiences by its Farsi name, Inrooz-ha, meaning “Nowadays”.

Mohammad Yaghoubi is a multi-award-winning playwright, director, screenwriter, and theatre instructor with nearly 20 years of experience, who established himself in Tehran, Iran, before immigrating to Canada. Aida Keykhaii, also a highly respected artist in Iran, has worked for nearly two decades as a director, actor, producer, and theatre instructor.

The company prioritizes socially relevant works that provoke public discourse and promote community engagement. Its mission includes fostering cross-cultural dialogue and celebrating Canada’s cultural diversity. One of its signature initiatives is translating Canadian plays into Farsi and Iranian plays into English to build artistic bridges between communities. Reflecting its mandate to support equity and inclusion, NOWADAYS THEATRE frequently collaborates with multicultural artists and according to the definition of priority groups, the company employs artists of colour.

Our works have been performed internationally in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Kurdistan, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Turkey, and the United States, as well as across Canada.

In 2018, with support from the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council, the company produced ‘Dance of Torn Papers’ in both English and Farsi, each version featuring a different cast. The English-language production included performers of Chinese, Iraqi, Pakistani, Italian, Iranian, and Francophone backgrounds, while the Farsi-language production featured young Iranian actors and was presented for the Farsi-speaking community in Toronto.

During the 2018–2019 season, NOWADAYS THEATRE was selected as the RBC Emerging Company in Residence at Canadian Stage. With support from the Toronto Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts, the company presented ‘The Only Possible Way’, written and directed by Yaghoubi, at the Upstairs Theatre in March 2019. The cast comprised Iranian newcomers to Canada and refugees.

Later that year, the company presented ‘Swim Team’, directed by Aida Keykhaii, at the SummerWorks Festival and the production was recognized in NOW Magazine’s “Best of the Fest” list and received an honourable mention at the Canadian Stage Awards for Direction.

In January 2020, the company premiered the English version of ‘Winter of 88’, written and directed by Yaghoubi, at the Next Stage Theatre Festival, with support from the Canada Council for the Arts. The show received rave reviews, including a 5N rating from NOW Magazine.

In January 2022, the company premiered ‘Heart of a Dog’ at the same festival, with support from the Toronto Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. Later that year, in August, it explored new storytelling formats through Persimmon, a 360-degree video project also supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Most recently, in February 2024, ‘Earworm’, written and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi—had its world premiere in association with Crow’s Theatre. Performed bilingually in English and Farsi, the production received glowing reviews, earning a Critic’s Pick accolade from The Globe and Mail and a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination.

To date, NOWADAYS THEATRE has performed twelve plays in Canada, including Proof, The Pillowman, The Monsters, Sleeping in an Empty Cup, Iceland, Angels in Iran, A Moment of Silence (English premiere), Swim Team (English premiere), Dance of Torn Papers (English premiere), The Only Possible Way (English premiere), Winter of 88 (English premiere), Heart of a Dog (English premiere), Persimmon (a 360-degree video project), and Earworm (English and Farsi).

As we look to the future, our commitment to creating meaningful and diverse theatrical experiences remains unwavering. We believe in the transformative power of storytelling, and we are dedicated to providing a platform for voices that deserve to be heard.