is a mainstay of the Canadian Storytelling world. He is also an author, community organizers and the creator and producer of CBC Radio's Talking Stick.  In 1999, he received the first Jane Jacobs Prize to honour his contributions as a storyteller to enhance Toronto's cultural life

Part existential crisis and part leap of faith, Veronica Antipolo started storytelling and stand-up comedy as hobbies that became such transformational experiences that she continued to share stories, as well as, help others find and share theirs. She is a professional oral storyteller, coach, comedian, and writer who explores themes of self-identity, empowerment, diversity, equity, and inclusion to foster connections, build communities, and spark social change. 

Veronica has been featured in CBC Radio’s “The Doc Project”, Reader’s Digest, Stories We Don’t Tell: The Book, award-winning RICE Asian comedy podcast, Toronto Storytelling Festival, Museum London. She has worked with clients such as the London Catholic District School Board, McMaster University, Toronto Metropolitan University, Western University, and the Words Literary and Creative Arts Festival. Find out more at SassyLaV.com and MosaicPearl.com

Tricia Williams is an actor/singer/writer – Select theatre credits include Toronto Fringe favourites: Disarming Venus (actor/writer/singer), Hymns and Hearse (writer/actor), The Sorauren Book Club (actor/Toronto Fringe Festival Patron’s Pick). Other plays include The Mary-Go-Round Project (actor/writer), Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (actor), In the Dark (actor), She Never Bought Me an Easy-Bake Oven (actor/writer) and The Martha Stewart Projects (actor/writer). As a singer, Tricia’s performances with the Delightful Divas includes the March of Dames, 5 Minute Feminist Cabaret and An Evening with Jack Layton. Selected television/film credits - Dan for Mayor, The Border, Da Kink in My Hair and Plague City. Tricia is a founding member of the Obsidian Theatre Company.

Norm Reynolds returns to the BTAS stage after adapting his previous tale of encounters with playwright Edward Albee into his award winning one man digital show "Making It Up", (One Playwright to Another).  It streams on demand at the Melbourne Fringe Festival October 1-20. Reynolds has recently adapted Anne Tyler’s novel "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant" for the theatre. He is a thirty year member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada. https://linktr.ee/nreyn13

Martha Chaves- is a Latin Canadian award-winning stand-up comedian, actor, and comedy writer. Daryl Jung from Now Magazine called her “Witty, sassy,  provocative, and very funny.”  In 2023 TLN named he one of the Ten Most Influential Hispanic Canadians in North America. 

Her TV credits include multiple appearances in the Just For Laughs, the Winnipeg Comedy Fest, and the We Are Funny That Way Festivals, to mention a few and her two national comedy specials, Something About Martha on CTV and the Comedy Network, and Comics! on the CBC.

Martha’s often heard on CBC radio’s The Debaters and Laugh Out Loud and is a cast member of CBC’s Because News. Her album Chunky Salsa is available on all platforms and heard on Sirius XM.

Christel Bartelse is an actor, writer, producer, clown, teacher and comedian, known for her five solo shows which have toured across Canada, the US and twice to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  She is the creator of the Podcast all KIDding and cohost/coproducer of Chris and Christel’s Collection at the Peacock Pub. She’s terrible at updating her website but check her out at christelbartelse.com

Briane Nasimok is a Gemini-nominated writer, comedian, producer and the creator/performer of Fringe favourite, “Confessions of an Operatic Mute”. A current member of the Storytelling Toronto Board, his television credits range from YTV’s “Uh Oh” to MTV’s “Test Pattern”.  Briane had a previous career as a Canadian film star, which is why most people don’t know him.   He also has a website – brianenasimok.com.