About PeerLess Productions
PeerLess Productions is a force for change for those who are marginalized, specifically the neurodiverse and other disabled communities, who do not see themselves represented in the professional performing arts world. PeerLess was established in 2013 as we had worked with neurodiverse and other disabled artists with huge potential, however there were no role models they could emulate and no advanced training opportunities for them in this region. It was out of this lack of a regional, professional, disabled theatre culture that PeerLess Productions was born. Since then, disability arts and culture in Canada has continued to grow and develop, however there is still a notable lack of neurodivergent artists represented in leadership roles. This may be because there is a perception that disability arts organizations should be led by those with a lived experience of disability, however this model tends to exclude neurodivergent artists. PeerLess has built a model based on inter-abled collaboration in which neurodivergent artists and their allies collaborate together to lead and create. Our company members include 6 artists living with Down syndrome and 3 neurotypical artists (all bios included in the supplementary material). Past productions have sold out completely and been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Council for the Arts and the City of Kingston Arts Fund.
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