Meet The 2024 Selection Committee

  • Drawing her name from her Portuguese heritage, Força the Lady-King is a woman on fire. Dubbed Toronto’s “force of nature”, her acts are as changing and unpredictable as the elements. Força’s signature high-energy choreography, enigmatic facial expressions, dynamic audience interaction, comedic timing, and powerful stage presence bring both classic decadence and neo-burlesque fantasies to life to create an experience that is evocative in every sense.

    Força has graced some of the largest burlesque stages worldwide.

    In 2019, she was invited to perform in the "Best Debut" category at the Burlesque Hall of Fame! She has since been featured on the stages of Sin City Burlesque Festival, New York Burlesque Festival, and Teaser Burlesque Festival in New Orleans. A trained actor, director, and designer, she is an award-winning performer who is sure to leave your heart racing. Both brains and beauty, Força holds a PhD from the University of Toronto focused on burlesque! Her research has been featured in the Canadian Theatre Review and at conferences across North America. Força's research is focused on community knowledge production within neo-burlesque, and is informed by feminist and anti-oppressive research principles. She believes strongly in research as praxis and regularly hosts lectures inspired by her research both in academic and community-based spaces.

    Photo Credit: Marisa Parisella

  • Chris Cochrane is a Trans Black activist and public speaker. She speaks and educates about her lived experience through her intersectionality. Chris works toward creating spaces for QTBIPOC people, as well as working with 2SLGBTIQIA+ youth to ensure those spaces will be upheld for years to come. Chris is the former Vice Chair of Halifax Pride (2020-2022) where she uses that platform to ensure equity for all of the community ,while focusing on our marginalized and racialized communities. Chris is also the Recipient of The YMCA Peace Medal for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. Known for her drag persona Elle Noir, where she is as fierce on stage as she is her activism. Elle Noir is a 19 Year veteran of Drag. Known as a local legend and Winner of The Best Halifax Drag Performer for the last 6 years consecutively.

  • Jeremy Webb (he/him) is the twelfth Artistic Director in Neptune Theatre’s history and has been working at Neptune ever since 1998, in so many capacities.

    For Neptune he has directed Murder For Two, The Play That Goes Wrong, Billy Elliot, Elf: The Musical, Alice, Fully Committed, Woman In Black, The Rocky Horror Show, Peter Pan, Mamma Mia!, Shakespeare In Love, Cinderella, Noises Off, Little Thing Big Thing and Calendar Girls. He is currently directing Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (starring Billy Boyd & Dominic Monaghan from The Lord of The Rings movies.)

    He won the 2010 Mayor’s Award for Achievement in Theatre. In 2013, Jeremy won the Creative Arts Nova Scotia Established Artist Award. In 2014, Off The Leash/Jeremy Webb won the 2014 Touring Performers Award, presented by The Atlantic Presenters Association. In 2017, he was awarded The ACTRA David Renton Award of Excellence (for service to the film & TV union.)In 2022, he was awarded the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal for service to the arts.

    He is delighted to be invited to add his theatrical experience to the selection panel and is proud that Neptune is supporting this most glorious art form by welcoming the Festival into the theatre.

  • Kyann Pepper (she/her) is a master of balance in both the corporate and creative realms. By day, she works in accounting, building spreadsheets and counting dough. In the evenings she works toward her Bachelor of Business Administration at Crandall University.

    Kyann is also an aerial artist and devoted instructor at The Studio Aerial Arts and Fitness in Moncton, NB. Her passion for elevating others extends to her baby, TalentNB. An entrepreneurial spirit all her life has led Kyann to create her own production company in 2022. Since its creation, TalentNB has successfully produced several sold out shows. With a unique blend of professional poise and artistic flair, Kyann’s journey is an inspiring fusion of corporate chaos and creative expression.

    Photo credit: MeatGlobe photography

  • Worker bee by day, and a bag of seduction by night, Beef Pattie is a black mixed with black with a splash of sass performer, who gives viewers an experience no one wants to miss but only a few can handle. Part masc, part fem, full fool, Pattie loves to add a little comedic flare and genderfuck essence anytime they hit the stage. The newest member of the Neo Novas, Beef Pattie continues to leave audience members of all kinds, in awe. Reminding you that amazing things come in big packages and Pattie is bursting at the seams. Your boyfriend, girlfriend and sweeties in between are hungry for Beef Pattie.

    Photo Credit: Seymore Snaps

  • Newfound Lad (he/they/she) is a burlesque/drag performer, educator and dance artist currently based between Toronto/Tkaronto, ON and Newfoundland/Ktaqmkuk. After earning his BFA in Dance in 2017, Lad began performing burlesque by joining BoylesqueTO, Canada’s Premiere Boylesque Troupe. Since then they have performed, taught and toured across North America. Highlights include the Toronto and Vancouver Burlesque Festivals as well as the Burlesque Hall of Fame (Las Vegas, NV). Most recently they headlined for Frostease Burlesque in Anchorage, AK. Drag entered their artistic practice in 2020 after a move home to NL during the pandemic. They’ve quickly blossomed into a Draglesque entertainer carving their own unique path in the art form. They recently competed on Season 2 of OutTV’s “Call Me Mother.” Newfound Lad seeks to blur the lines of gender, play on Newfoundland/nautical themes and be god damn entertaining. Newfound Lad is ready to hook, line and sink their way into your heart.

  • The Hunchback of Notre GLAM! Burlesque performer MissShapen (She/her) puts the "oh!" in scoliosis. She has a couple of extra curves, and loves boosting body diversity in burlesque with her twisted spine and twisted ways. If you like your sultry with a side order of silly, MissShapen is sure to please your palate.

    MissShapen has been involved in the burlesque community as a Stage Kitten and performer since 2017, and is the 2020 High Heel Award recipient of the Golden Tassel award for Best Burlesque as well as the 2023 Imperial Burlesque Canada award for Best Stage Kitten. She had her international debut (virtually) as part of the 2021 DisabiliTease Festival.

    Part of MissShapen's purpose onstage is to increase visibility for persons with scoliosis, and to raise awareness and acceptance of this condition.

    Photo credit: Josh Szeto

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