Presented By: Sid Williams Theatre Society
Winner of Patron’s Pick at Toronto Fringe Festival!
Aliya Kanani is a comedian and Canadian Screen Award-nominated actress (Scarborough).
In the award-winning show Where You From, From?, audiences join Aliya on a turbulent journey around the world with her tales of fitting in, sticking out and standing up.
Celebrated for its humor and deep engagement with themes of identity and belonging, this show resonates with audiences from all walks of life. As she disarms her audience with laughter and playful mischief, Aliya tackles complex topics like race, gender, and social labels, while debunking assumptions through her own stories and representation.
This show has sold out at some of the biggest festivals around the world, including Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Just for Laughs, Sydney Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, and Fringe World.
“She and the show are a treat” – Toronto Star
“While her ‘otherness’ is the central theme…the heart of Kanani’s show is in forming a ‘togetherness’ with the room and her audience.” – Melbourne Arts
Opening act: Scarlet Chen
More about Scarlet Chen:
Originally from China, Scarlet Chen "accidentally" found herself on stage after years of working behind the scenes in film. Since her stand-up debut on Gabriola Island in 2022, she has performed at international comedy festivals, opened for comedy icons like Maria Bamford, and branched into theatre by writing and debuting her first play.
Her solo show, Citizen Chen, is a comedy storytelling hour about immigration, identity, and the absurd things we do to fit in. Supported by CANCOM (The Foundation for Canadian Comedy) and the Canada Council for the Arts, the show sold out six consecutive performances across Canada's West Coast in May 2026, earning a standing ovation along the way. That August, Scarlet made her international debut with a 24-show run of Citizen Chen at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where audiences from around the world fell in love with it.
Scarlet continues to speak funny, and the world is starting to listen.
Scarlet's Instagram: scarletchen_comedy
Scarlet's TikTok: scarletchen.comedy
