Aida Keykhaii
Aida Keykhaii is a Canadian-Iranian Actor, Director, producer, and theatre instructor with over a decade’s experience in the Industry.
She holds an M.A. in Theatre Directing and a B.A. in Acting from the University of Tehran. She is the co-founder of NOWADAYS THEATRE, the 2018-19 Company in Residency at Canadian Stage, where she made her Canadian acting debut in ‘The Only Possible Way’. During the Pandemic in 2021, Aida directed the English premiere of ‘From The Basement To The Roof’ on Zoom and had a main role in the project. Then she performed in the English premier of ‘Mother’ at the Toronto Fringe Festival 2021. For performing in the English premier of ‘Winter of 88’ at the Next Stage Theatre Festival, 2020, and for performing in ‘Heart of a Dog’ at The Next Stage Theatre Festival 2022, Aida received amazing feedback from audiences and critics.
Select Theatre and Film Credits: ‘What we do in the Shadows’ (F.X.), ‘Coroner’ (CBC), ‘Children of Fire’, ‘Harbour House’, ‘Persimmon’, ‘Heart of a Dog’, ‘Children of Fire’, ’Drought and Lies’, ‘Heart of a Dog’, ‘Mother’, ‘From The Basement To The Roof’, ‘Winter of 88’, ‘The Only Possible Way’, ‘Swim Team’, ‘Proof’, ‘Dinner with Friends’, ‘Sleeping in an Empty Cup’, ‘The Pillowman’, ‘Iceland’ and ‘we are All fine’.
Select Awards and Honours: The Iran Festival of University Theatre for Outstanding acting, Olive; The International Iran Festival of University Theatre award for Outstanding directing, Goodbye; Honourable Mention from Canadian Stage in Direction and NOW’s annual list of the “Best of the Fest” for Outstanding Production, Ensemble, and Direction, Swim Team.
Resume
Aida Keykhaii
Actor, Director, Producer, Co-Founder & Co-Artistic Director of Nowadays Theatre Company
Written & Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at the Toronto Fringe Festival, Toronto, Canada.
| Language: Persian, English | |||
| SELECTED ACTING, DIRECTING and Producing EXPERIENCE: | |||
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Nov 2022 |
Harbour House (Film), (Actor),
Directed by Rob Michaels, East Liberty Entertainment, Canada. |
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October 2022 |
Children of Fire(Actor),(Stage play, English Premiere),
A Nightwood Theatre production in association with Aluna Theatre directed by Beatriz Pizano |
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Jan 2022 |
Heart of a Dog (Actor & Producer), (Online presentation, English Premiere),
Written & Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at the Next Stage Theatre Festival, Ada Slaight Hall, Daniels Spectrum, Toronto, Canada. |
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Dec 2021 |
What we do in the Shadows (FX), (Film), (Actor), | ||
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Sep 2021 |
Coroner (CBC), (Film), (Actor) | ||
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May 2021 |
From the Basement to the Roof (Director & Actor), (Online presentation, English Premiere),
Written & Directed by Mahin Sadri, on Zoom. The project was supported by Canada Council for the Arts. |
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| Jan 2020 | Winter of ‘88 (Actor), (Stage play, English Premiere),
Written & Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi. At Next Stage Theatre Festival, Factory Theatre Mainspace, Toronto, ON. |
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Nov 2019 |
Swim Team (Director)(Stage play),
Written by Jaber Ramezani. Theatre Centre, Franco Bony, Toronto, ON. |
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March 2019 |
The Only Possible Way (Actor)(Stage play, English Premiere),
Actor. At Canadian Stage, Upstairs Theatre, Toronto. |
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Nov 2018 |
Dance of Torn Papers (Co-Directing with Mohammad Yaghoubi)(EnglishPremiere)
Written by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Studio 313, DanceMakers, Toronto, Canada. |
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Oct 2017 |
Sleeping in an Empty Cup (Director)(Stage play),
Written by Naghmeh Samini, at Fairview Library Theatre, Toronto, Canada. |
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Aug 2017 |
The Monsters (Actor)(Stage play),
Written by Naghmeh Samini and Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Fairview Library Theatre, Toronto, Canada. |
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Jun 2017 |
Iceland (Director)(Stage play),
Written by Nicolas Billon, at Fairview Library Theatre, Toronto, Canada.
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Feb 2016 |
Proof (Actor)(Stage play),
Adapted based on the play by David Auburn, directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Fairview Library Theatre, Toronto, Canada. |
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Sep 2016 |
The Pillowman (Co-Directing with Mohammad Yaghoubi)(Stage play),
Written by Martin McDonagh. At Fairview Library Theatre, Toronto, Canada.
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Aug 2016 |
A Moment of Silence (Producer)(Stage play),
Written & Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi. On 6th to 14th of August, SummerWorks Performance Festival, Factory Theatre Mainspace, Toronto, ON. |
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2015 |
Drought & Lies (Actor)(Movie),
Written by Mohammad Yaghoubi and directed by Pedram Alizadeh. Drought & Lies (Actor)(Stage play), Written and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, on February 28th in Montreal, on March 8th in Vancouver, and on March 13th in Toronto, Canada. |
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2014 |
The Heart of a Dog (Actor)(Stage play),
Adapted & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, based on the novel by Michael Bulgakov, Â at IRANSHAHR, Tehran, Iran. |
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2013 |
Dinner with Friends (Director)(stage play),
Written by Donald Margulies, at Iranshahr, Tehran, Iran. |
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2010 |
Writing in the Dark (Actor)(Stage play),
Written & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran A Moment of Silence (Director)(Stage play), Written by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Mowlavi Hall, Tehran, Iran. A Mouth Full Of Birds (Actor)(Stage play), Written & directed by Fares Bagheri, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran. |
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2009 |
Drought & Lies (Actor)(Stage play),
Written & Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran The Curious Savage (Actor)(TV Drama based on the play by John Patrick), Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi. Channel 4, Iran. Winter 1988 (Actor)(TV drama), Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi. Channel 4, Iran. |
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2008 |
Goodbye (Director)(Stage play),
Written & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi. at Mowlavi Hall, Tehran, Iran. |
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2005 |
The Only Possible Way (Actor)(stage play),
Written & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran. |
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2004 |
• We Are All Fine (Actor)(Movie),
Directed by Bizhan Mirbagheri. • Geraniums (Actor)(stage play), Written & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi. At Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran. |
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2001 |
A Moment of Silence (Actor)(stage play),
Written & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran. |
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1999 |
• Little Stars Of Darkness (Actor)(stage play),
Directed by Ali Oliyaee, at Mowlavi Hall, Tehran, Iran. • KHISHKHANE (Actor)(stage play), Written & directed by Hosein Kiyani, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran. |
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1998 |
Olive (Actor)(stage play),
Directed by Shokoofeh Masoori, at Mowlavi Hall, Tehran, Iran. |
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1997 |
With the Wind (Actor)(stage play),
 Directed by Mina Ebrahimzade, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran. |
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| HONOURS AND AWARDS | |||
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2018 |
Canadian Stage (RBC Emerging Company In-residence) | ||
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2018 |
Awarded grant by Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council to co-direct English premier of “Dance of Torn Papers”. | ||
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2018 |
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2016 |
The laureate diploma for the most original vision of the play “The Pillowman” at the Second International Festival of Martin McDonagh, Perm, Russia. | ||
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2015 |
Nominated for Outstanding acting by Iran’s Actors Society at the Iran Theatre Forum, The Monster. | ||
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2013 |
Nominated for Outstanding acting by Iran’s Actors Society at the Iran Theatre Forum, Proof. | ||
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2010 |
Nominated for Outstanding acting by Iran’s Actors Society at the Iran Theatre Forum, Drought & Lies. | ||
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2006 |
Nominated for Outstanding acting by Iran’s Actors Society at the Iran Theatre Forum, The Only possible Way. | ||
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1999 |
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1998 |
Received for Outstanding acting by The Iran Festival of University Theatre, Olive. | ||
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1997 |
Received for Outstanding acting by The Fadjr International Theatre Festival of Iran, With The Wind. | ||
| SELECTED TEACHING EXPERIENCE | |||
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2018 |
Acting & directing workshop (with Mohammad Yaghoubi for 4 months), resulted in a theatre project on stage named “Dance of Torn Papers” for three days at Studio 313, DanceMakers, Toronto, November 2-4, 2018. | ||
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2016 |
Acting workshop (for Four months) for Persian community
At OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto), resulted in a Persian language theatre project performed in 3 days at Small world Music Centre, Toronto |
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Interview with Aida Keykhaii
Review on Aida’s acting
– “The mother, Nasrin, played by Aida Keykhaii (in the theatre stage Winter of 88), steals the show as she is able to encompass the perfect mix of wit and worry of a mother.” Deanne Kearney, Mooney on Theatre
-Keykhaii delivers a bravura performance as Sharikov, growling, whining and twitching impulsively, always finding the canine aspects of her character.” Glen Sumi, NOW Magazine.
-“Aida Keykhaii is extraordinary as Sharik, acting basically as if she were possessed by the spirit of a dog. It’s a no-holds-barred performance that seems as if it might veer out of control, but, in fact, Keykhaii carefully details Sharik’s step-by-step transformation from dog to human, while revealing Sharik’s painful internal battle between her imposed humanity and essential caninity at every stage.” Christopher Hoile, Stage Door Review.
– “I was most impressed by the body contortions of Aida Keykhaii’s in her performance as the stray dog.” Joe Szekeres
-“Keykhaii is such a fierce presence. She manages to sustain the character’s acute suffering without it ever feeling histrionic.”Istvan Reviews: Mother.Review on Aida’s acting
– “Here, the performances are stunning, moving the lead female’s story from chaos to a relatable unsteady relief.” Review on MOTHER, directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi and performed by Aida Keykhaii and Maryam Mahdavi, Rachel Ganz, My Entertainment World