New Young Reviewers Program

Stephanie Fung (they/she) is an interdisciplinary artist and arts worker from Tkaronto/Toronto who is fascinated by the concept of convention and how we contest culture. A performer, writer, director, theatre critic—they are drawn to concepts that explore monstrosity, consumption, exposure, and grief. Learn more at http://www.stephaniefung.ca

Signy Lynch is a theatre scholar, critical dramaturg, educator, and Governor General’s Gold Medal winner (2022). Her areas of research specialization include contemporary intermedial, participatory, intercultural, diasporic and Black theatre in Canada; audience research; and theatre criticism. As of July 2023 she is Assistant Professor at UofT’s Mississauga campus, and Centre for Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies. She is co-director of the Centre for Spectatorship and Audience Research (centreforspectatorship.com). Her essay “Performing at Home in the Pandemic” (Canadian Theatre Review vol. 191) was named runner-up for Outstanding Critical Essay by the Canadian Theatre Critics Association (2022).

Toni Burrell (she/her) is thrilled to be part of this year’s New Young Reviewers cohort. A Theatre & Drama minor and STEM major, she brings a unique interdisciplinary lens to theatre criticism, having primarily critiqued theatre through university coursework and research presentations that advocate for the value of the arts across all fields. Toni is also an executive member of University of Toronto, Mississauga's Literature is Alive! organisation. Outside of criticism, she practices kintsugi, (which is the art of repairing broken objects with gold) and believes that even what's fractured deserves to be cherished. She also writes horror, crochets, and is a proud hamster Mom to Digory.

Amarah Hasham-Steele (she/her) is an emerging journalist, literary scholar, and arts enthusiast. After spending a year pursuing an M.Phil in Modern and Contemporary Literary Studies at Trinity College Dublin, she has recently moved back to Toronto to begin an Editorial Fellowship at The Walrus. She is passionate about all things theatre and about making the arts accessible! In her spare time, she can be found updating her Goodreads profile. 

A lifelong lover of Toronto theatre since falling in love with The Phantom at far too young an age, Rachel (she/her) is thrilled to join the 2025 New Young Reviewers Program. Rachel is an enthusiastic devotee of the performing arts and a passionate theatre critic - even if only in her own head. She is excited to finally have a platform to put her (very strong) opinions to good use.  

When she’s not chasing shows across Southern Ontario, Rachel can be found supporting the Toronto music scene, elbows-deep in a baking project, or walking her latest foster dog. This summer, she is eager to experience all that the Toronto Fringe has to offer - be it wacky, weird, wild, or wonderfully heart-warming.

Heather Lundrigan (she/her) is a Toronto based playwright, director, and accessibility nerd. She holds a BAH (Drama) from Queen’s University and has worked with the Hamilton Fringe, and with Nightwood theatre’s Innovator program. This year she will continue as a reviewer for Ontario Review for Disabled Arts. When Heather is not scribbling in a notebook, she’s making crafts with her friends. 

Zoe Magirias (she/he/they) is a Tkaronto based theatre artist about to receive their BFA at York University. Zoe is a lover of wearing many hats, having made her debuts as a playwright, director, and sound designer all within this past year. She also spent time performing, most notably as a member of The Disappeared in Open Heart Surgery Theatre’s "Erased" at Theatre Passe Muraille. Zoe is obsessed with adolescence, scary stories you tell on the playground, and folktales. She gravitates towards multimedia work, physical performance, and theatre that works in tandem with music and/or original score. She is very hungry for fresh, fresh theatre and is readying her cutlery to dig into all that Toronto Fringe has to offer this year. Zoe’s art is heavily informed by her Greek heritage, and she is excited to hopefully see some work that explores our relationships with culture and community. 

Florian Montague (they/he) is a multidisciplinary artist who has experience in various theatrical roles, including stage management, assistant directing, playwriting, singing and acting. They also enjoy illustration, with preference for traditional mediums. In their spare time, they enjoy reading fantasy novels, thrift shopping to add to their ever growing collection of vintage outfits, and bookbinding. 

Nirris Nagendrarajah (he/him) is a writer from Toronto whose work has appeared, or is forthcoming, in Metatron Press, MUBI Notebook, The Cleveland Review of Books, Ludwigvan, Polyester, OperaWire, Fête Chinoise, In the Mood Magazine and Cha: An Asian Literary Journal. His interests include film, literary fiction, opera, theatre, and he is currently at work on a novel. He can be found on all platforms @nireliofidelio. 

Shivani (she/her) is an engineer and an interdisciplinary artist. Growing up, she floated between many mediums, including fibre and beading arts, music, and writing. As an adult, she carries this curiosity with her, continuously trying new things and growing her artistic practice. Her work can be found in zines, or at open mics across the city. She is passionate about equity in the arts and STEM, and an avid fan of live performance. When she’s not working, you can find her in the audience at a theatre or concert hall. Find her at @artsinthecity_to on insta or https://artsinthecity.substack.com/ 

Samantha (she/her) is a Toronto-based artist and engineer. She loves exploring different ways of telling stories and collaborating with others from varied backgrounds and perspectives. She has been involved as an associate producer, dancer, and researcher for productions at University of Toronto and in the broader community. When not catching a new theatre show in Toronto, Samantha can be found conducting research towards her PhD in Biomedical Engineering. She is thrilled to be participating in this year's New Young Reviewer cohort!

Hunter Weaymouth (he/him) writes things down before they disappear, and sometimes they turn into plays or screenplays. A few have been awarded. More have been rewritten fifteen times at 2 a.m. He’s delighted to be part of the New Young Reviewers program with Fringe and Intermission, and trying not to overthink writing in third person.

Victor (he/him) is an queer and feminist activist, educator, and researcher. His scholarship and activism are situated in the fields of queer migration experience as well as transnational feminist work in the Pan-Asia area. To connect knowledge production with community engagement, he is interested in arts- based/arts-informed methodology, particularly in the forms of screening art and theatrical exploration.