Biographies
About Why Not Theatre
Why Not Theatre is an international theatre company based in Toronto, Canada, operating at the intersection of art, innovation and social change. Rooted in values of community and collaboration, Why Not challenges the status quo, rethinking how stories are told and who gets to tell them. Since its inception, the company has developed and produced more than 50 new plays to critical and public acclaim. These works have toured to over 80 cities and garnered over 40 awards and nominations. Why Not is led by Founder and Co-Artistic Director, Ravi Jain, Executive Director, Karen Tisch, and Co-Artistic Director, Miriam Fernandes.
Ravi Jain Director
Ravi is a highly acclaimed theatremaker known for making politically bold, accessible and thought-provoking theatrical experiences that are changing the face of Canadian theatre. A visionary artistic director, versatile director, astute producer and playful actor, he has spent his career reimagining what theatre can be, impacting the lives of both audiences and artists alike. Ravi has been a trailblazer in pushing the theatre sector forward. On stage, his productions, which consistently play with different forms of storytelling, bring underrepresented stories from unlikely storytellers to the fore, inviting audiences to reimagine stories they once knew and be open to ones that are unfamiliar. Off stage, he works to better the lives of artists and arts workers, spearheading innovative producing models for emerging artists, creating training programs for marginalised voices and proposing bold policy ideas to activate civic spaces with art and rethink access through more affordable payment models. Ravi was born in 1980 in Etobicoke, Ontario. Growing up in an Indian home and attending French school in an English-speaking province opened his eyes to the beauty and depth of hybrid cultures and sparked a passion in him for travel and international collaboration. His passion for language led him to start his career as an actor, training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts, before making his way to École Jacques Lecoq where he found his raison d’être – to effect change through theatre.
Performers
Shawn Ahmed Yudhishthira
Shawn is an actor and filmmaker from Toronto, known for bringing humanity to roles both hilarious and harrowing. On-screen, you might recognize him inciting a mutiny aboard the UNN Agatha King ( The Expanse ), melting hearts as a Hallmark hunk ( Holidazed ) or smoking reefer and writing an alien into his sitcom (DC’s Legends ). On stage, Shawn’s highlights include two seasons at the Shaw Festival and acclaimed performances with Shakespeare & Co. Sharing Mahabharata in Perth is an honour – and if someone could point him toward the quokkas, he’d be even happier.
Neil D’Souza Krishna
Neil is an actor and writer. His work includes Out of Season (Hampstead Theatre), How To Hold Your Breath (Royal Court), Much Ado (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Man Of Mode (National), Austin (ABC), Slow Horses (Apple TV), Diamonds (Netflix), Renegade Nell (Disney), Eastenders (BBC), In The Long Run (Sky), The Goddess and Dear Harry Kane (BBC Radio 4). His writing credits include The Goddess (BBC), and three plays for London UK theatres, including Out of Season (2024). Neil teaches acting and writing and is a member of the RADA audition panel.
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