Paul Smith (he/they) is a Thursday-born performer, writer, and director from Stittsville, ON., based in Toronto, ON. Today, they are exploring where bridges can be made to connect and care for both new and late-generation artists, how Black and African cultures are two sides of the same coin, and how spirituality, identity, and myth can adapt narratives that center marginalized bodies into stories of reclamation, innovation, or protest. Recent projects of theirs include Anansi v. God(s) (Toronto Metropolitan University & Tarragon Theatre), The Gathering (Diaspora Dialogues & Tarragon Theatre), the Acting Cohort of TEPS (Factory Theatre), Bearbie (PlayersTO), Bush of Ghosts (BlueBird Theatre Collective), Rockabye (ARC Stage), and the Artist Mentorship Program (Black Theatre Workshop & the National Arts Centre). When not thinking about the symbiotic relationship between theatre and film, or moderating a talkback, Paul is learning to be patient with themself, and listening to Frank Ocean (on repeat). For more, find Paul here: linktr.ee/paul.smith.
