NOWADAYS THEATRE is a Toronto-based not-for-profit company founded by Aida Keykhaii and Mohammad Yaghoubi in 2016, with over a decade of acclaimed work in Iran under its Farsi name Inrooz-ha, meaning “Nowadays”. Our work has also been presented internationally across Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Kurdistan, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Turkey, and the United States.

Mohammad Yaghoubi is an 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 is a Dora-nominated actor, director, producer, and theatre instructor with nearly two decades of professional experience.

NOWADAYS THEATRE creates socially relevant performances that spark conversation and bring communities together. We collaborate with artists of colour and diverse backgrounds, sharing Iranian Canadian stories with universal themes that celebrate Canada’s cultural diversity and encourage meaningful cross-cultural dialogue and connection.

Since founding NOWADAYS THEATRE in Canada, we have focused on building a sustainable presence within the Canadian theatre landscape. While our early productions were performed in Farsi for Toronto’s Iranian community, we expanded our reach to broader audiences with our first English-language production “A Moment of Silence” at SummerWorks in 2016 with the support from Toronto Arts Council.

In 2018, with support from the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council, we produced ‘Dance of Torn Papers’ in both English and Farsi, each version featuring a different cast. The English-speaking production brought together performers of Chinese, Francophone, Iranian, Iraqi, Italian, and Pakistani backgrounds, while the Farsi-speaking production provided opportunities for emerging Iranian artists and audiences to connect through their shared language and culture.

In 2018 we presented “Swim Team”, directed by Aida Keykhaii which was recognized in NOW Magazine’s “Best of the Fest” list and received an honourable mention for direction in the Canadian Stage Awards. Later that year, 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, we presented the English premiere of ‘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.

In January 2020, with support from the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts, we presented the English premiere of “Winter of 88”, written and directed by Yaghoubi, at the Next Stage Theatre Festival, where it received rave reviews, including a 5N rating from NOW Magazine. In January 2022, we returned to the festival to present the English premiere of “Heart of a Dog”, with support from the Toronto Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. Later that year, in August, we explored new storytelling formats through “Persimmon”, a 360-degree video project, also supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.

In February 2024, “Earworm”, written and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi had its world premiere, presented in association with Crow’s Theatre. Performed bilingually in English and Farsi, the show’s success led to an extended run through March 3, featuring 21 English and 9 Farsi performances. The production earned a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination, glowing reviews, and a Critic’s Pick accolade from The Globe and Mail.

More recently, “Nostos” by Mohammad Yaghoubi had its world premiere at the Toronto Fringe Festival in July 2026 and received strong reviews and audience acclaim, reinforcing our commitment to creating new works that speak across languages and cultures.

To date, NOWADAYS THEATRE has presented fifteen productions in Canada, and our purpose has remained the same: creating thoughtful theatre that fosters connection, supports diverse artists, and contributes to a vibrant and inclusive Canadian theatre community.

Our logo was designed by Iranian artist: Amir Esmi.