Iris Asserlind

Born and raised in Surrey, British Columbia, Iris Asserlind (they/them) is a writer, stage manager, performer and arts educator in the city. They discovered their passion for the arts early on, performing with the EJS School of Fine Arts. They graduated from the University of Windsor’s Drama in Education and Community program where they honed their applied theatre skills, creating diverse, inclusive, rich, and safer spaces for performers of all ages and levels. Iris is also a poet and writer who enjoys sharing the world of spoken word with young people, and frequents Toronto slams and open mics. They are passionate about representation and belonging, and aims to create theatre that reflects and involves all communities in Toronto and across the country. Iris also has the privilege of being a senior teacher with Children’s Arts Theatre School. They are thrilled and grateful to be a part of the YPT team this year, and cannot wait to bring the joy of theatre to even more young people.

Iris has a keen interest in puppetry, mask work, sketch comedy, collective creation, devising, and scriptwriting. 

Select recent stage management credits include Girls Night Cabin Fever (Ghouls and Girls Theatre, Toronto Fringe); The Two Gentlemen of Verona (New Broods Productions); and immersive theatre projects Peter Pan and The Wendy Lady, and Tales of the Grotesque (White Mills Theatre Co).