Aida Keykhaii

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Aida Keykhaii is a Canadian-Iranian Dora Award nominee actor and director, producer, 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. Aida received excellent feedback from audiences and critics for her performances in the English premiere of “Winter of 88” at the Next Stage Theatre Festival 2020 and “Heart of a Dog” at the Next Stage Theatre Festival 2022. Her most recent stage appearance was in “Earworm,” presented by Nowadays Theatre in association with Crow’s Theatre in February 2024. For her outstanding performance in “Earworm,” Aida was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance by an Individual. 

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 the NOW’s annual list of the “Best of the Fest” for Outstanding Production, Ensemble, and Direction, Swim Team.

SELECTED ACTING, DIRECTING AND PRODUCING EXPERIENCE:

Feb 2023
‘Earworm’ (Actor), (Stage play, English and Farsi Premiere),
 Written & Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Crow’s Theatre, Toronto, Canada..
July 2023
‘Fertility Slippers’ (Stage play), (Actor)
 Written by Ece Aydin, Directed by Christopher Legacy, Fringe Festival, Toronto, Canada.
March 2023
‘White Rabbit Red Rabbit’ (Stage play), (Actor)
 Written by Nassim Soleimanpour, Small World Centre, Toronto, Canada.
Nov 2022
‘Harbour House’ (Film), (Actor)
 Directed by Rob Michaels, East Liberty Entertainment, Canada.
October 2022
‘Children of Fire’ (Actor)
 Directed by Beatriz Pizano. A Nightwood Theatre production in association with Aluna Theatre, Toronto, Canada.
Jan 2022
‘Heart of a Dog’ (Actor & Producer), (Online presentation, 360 Degree Video),
 Written & Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi. At the Toronto Fringe Festival, Toronto, Canada.
Dec 2021
‘What we do in the Shadows’  (FX), (Film), (Actor)
Sep 2021
‘Coroner’  (CBC), (Film), (Actor)
July 2021
‘Dance of Torn Papers’ ( (Actor), (Online presentation, 360 Degree Video),
 Written & Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi. At the Toronto Fringe Festival, Canada.
May 2021
‘From the Basement to the Roof’ (Actor & Director), (Online presentation, English Premiere),
 Written by by Mahin Sadri, on Zoom. The project was supported by Canada Council for the Arts.
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.
Nov 2019
‘Swim Team’  (Director)(Stage play),
 Written by Jaber Ramezani. Theatre Centre, Franco Bony, Toronto, ON.
March 2019
‘The Only Possible Way’ (Actor), (Stage play, English Premiere),
 Written & Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi. At Canadian Stage, Upstairs Theatre, Toronto.
Nov 2018
‘Dance of Torn Papers’ (Co-Directing with Mohammad Yaghoubi)(Stage play),
 Written by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Studio 313, DanceMakers, Toronto, Canada.

Aug 2018

‘Swim Team’ (Director)(Stage play),
 Written by Jaber Ramezani. SummerWorks Lab, Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON.

Oct 2017

‘Sleeping in an Empty Cup’ (Director)(Stage play),
 Written by Naghmeh Samini. At Fairview Library Theatre, Toronto, Canada.

Aug 2017

‘The Monster’ (Actor)(Stage play),
Written by Naghmeh Samini and Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Fairview Library Theatre, Toronto, Canada.

Jun 2017

‘Iceland’ (Director)(Stage play),
Written by Nicolas Billon, at Fairview Library Theatre, Toronto, Canada.
-Also staged for 39 nights almost sold out in December 2016 and January 2017, at BARAN Theatre, Tehran, Iran.

Nov 2016

 ‘Moon in the Water’(Actor)(Stage play),
Written & Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at BARAN Theatre, Tehran, Iran.

Sep 2016

‘The Pillowman’ (C0-Directing with Mohammad Yaghoubi)(Stage play),
Written by Martin McDonagh, at Fairview Library Theatre, Toronto, Canada.
-Also performed on 06 of October 2016, at the second international festival of Martin McDonagh, Theatre U Mosta, Perm, Russia.

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.

Feb 2016

‘Proof’ (Actor)(Stage play),
Adapted based on the play by David Auburn, directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Fairview Library Theatre, Toronto, Canada.

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.

2014

 •‘The Monster’ (Actor)(stage play),
Written by Naghmeh Samini and Directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran.
 •‘The Heart of a Dog’ (Actor)(Stage play),
 Adapted & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, based on the novel by Michael Bulgakov, at IRANSHAHR, Tehran, Iran.

2013

‘Dinner with Friends’ (Director)(stage play),
 Written by Donald Margulies, at Iranshahr, Tehran, Iran.

2011

•‘Everyday mess of Marriage’  (Director)(stage play),
Written & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran.
 •‘Winter of ’88’  (Actor)(Stage play),
Written and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran.

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.

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 of ’88’ (Actor)(TV Drama),
Written by Mohammad Yaghoubi. Channel 4, Iran.

2008

•‘Goodbye’  (Director)(stage play),
Written & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran.
 •‘Machismo’ (Actor)(Stage play),
Adapted & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, based on the novel The Honorary Consul by Graham Greene, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran.

2006

 ‘Honey Moon’ (Director & Producer),((short film)),
Written by Mohammad Yaghoubi, Iran.

2005

 ‘The Only Possible Way’ (Actor)(stage play),
Written & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran.

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.

2001

‘A Moment of Silence’ (Actor)(stage play),
Written & directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran.

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.

1998

‘Olive (Actor)(stage play),
Directed by Shokoofeh Masoori, at Mowlavi Hall, Tehran, Iran.
1997
‘With the Wind’ (Actor)(stage play),
 Directed by Mina Ebrahimzade, at Theatre Shahr, Tehran, Iran.
 

HONOURS AND AWARDS

2018 – Canadian Stage (RBC Emerging Company In-residence).
2018 – Awarded grant by Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council to co-direct English premier of “Dance of Torn Papers”.
2018 – The “Best of the Fest” for Outstanding Production, Ensemble, Direction and Design for “Swim Team”.
Honourable Mention from Canadian Stage in Direction for “Swim Team”.
2016 – The laureate diploma for the most original vision of the play “The Pillowman” at the Second International Festival of Martin McDonagh, Perm, Russia.
2015 – Nominated for Outstanding acting by Iran’s Actors Society at the Iran Theatre Forum, The Monster.
2013 – Nominated for Outstanding acting by Iran’s Actors Society at the Iran Theatre Forum, Proof.
2010 – Nominated for Outstanding acting by Iran’s Actors Society at the Iran Theatre Forum, Drought & Lies.
2006 – Nominated for Outstanding acting by Iran’s Actors Society at the Iran Theatre Forum, The Only possible Way.
1999 – 〈 Received for Outstanding acting by The Iran Festival of University Theatre, Little Stars of Darkness.
           〈Received for Outstanding acting by in IRANZAMIN festival,  KHISHKHANE”.
1998 – Received for Outstanding acting by The Iran Festival of University Theatre, Olive.
1997 – Received for Outstanding acting by The Fadjr International Theatre Festival of Iran, With The Wind.
 

SELECTED TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Aug 2019 – Acting & directing workshop (with Mohammad Yaghoubi for 3 months),
At OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto)
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.
2018 – 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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– “Keykhaii as Homa is simply magnificent, and she acts rings around her colleagues in what is a Dora nomination-worthy performance.” • paulapitron.ca: Paula Citron, review on “Earworm” directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi and performed by Aida Keykhaii as Homa, Crow’s Theatre, February & March 2024

– “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.” • From review by Deanne Kearney (Mooney on Theatre) on ‘Winter of 88’ performed by Aida Keykhaii as Nasrin (Mother) and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi at the Next Stage Theatre Festival, 2020.

-Keykhaii delivers a bravura performance as Sharikov, growling, whining and twitching impulsively, always finding the canine aspects of her character.” • From review by Glen Sumi (NOW Magazine) on ‘Heart of a Dog’ performed by Aida Keykhaii as Sharik and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi at the Next Stage Theatre Festival, 2022.

-“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.” • From review by Christopher Hoile (Stage Door Review) on ‘Heart of a Dog’ performed by Aida Keykhaii as Sharik and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi at the Next Stage Theatre Festival, 2022.

– “I was most impressed by the body contortions of Aida Keykhaii’s in her performance as the stray dog.” • From a review by Joe Szekeres on ‘Heart of a Dog’ performed by Aida Keykhaii as Sharik and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi at the Next Stage Theatre Festival, 2022.

-“Keykhaii is such a fierce presence. She manages to sustain the character’s acute suffering without it ever feeling histrionic.” • From review by Istvan Dugalin (Istvan Reviews) on MOTHER, performed by Aida Keykhaii and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, an online performance at Toronto Fringe, 2021. “Heart of a Dog,”

– “Here, the performances are stunning, moving the lead female’s story from chaos to a relatable unsteady relief.” • From a review by Rachel Ganz (My Entertainment World on MOTHER, performed by Aida Keykhaii and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, an online performance at Toronto Fringe, 2021.