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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Down Syndrome by the Dozen

As disability arts projects become the norm (and we fervently hope that they will), new creative methodologies and working conditions will evolve, along with amazing artistic opportunities. With this project we have developed an innovative approach to collective creation and will produce a multi-disciplinary theatrical piece created by artists with Down syndrome, and their allies, seniors, and neurotypical designers. To our knowledge, we are the only theatre company in Kingston doing this kind of work professionally, and there are very few examples of this model anywhere else in Canada. We hope to make Eastern Ontario a thriving centre for accessibility in the arts and showcase the creative potential of artists with disabilities and the impact they can have on the artistic life of a community.
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​With Down Syndrome by the Dozen we became the first professional theatre company in Kingston to: i) produce a play written by a neurodiverse artist ii) include animated  characters inspired by the playwright's illustrations in a production iii) feature a professional, multi-abled cast iv) offer workshops led by neurodiverse artists to their peers. Since this production, we are thrilled to see that disability arts have now become a priority in Kingston's culture scene. 
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Judith Thompson's Rare

PeerLess is the only professional disability theatre company in the region and the success of our past productions have demonstrated a fierce need for for this type of arts organization in Kingston. Our premiere production of Rare written by Judith Thompson, featuring 6 local arists living with Down syndrome was a massive success. Not only did the production sell out completely before it even opened, but we were able to partner with the original Toronto cast and offer workshops to aspiring professional disabled performers. These workshops, all led by professional artists living with Down Syndrome were offered free of cost and unfortunately we had to turn people away. For many of the audience members and workshop participants this was the first time that they had seen themselves represented onstage and/or in a leadership capacity in the arts. Additionally, it demonstrated to them that living with a disability should not be a barrier to a career in the arts. For our next production we commissioned Jacob Ballantyne, a young man living with Down syndrome to write a play which we workshopped, rehearsed and produced. The success of this production, entitled Down Syndrome by the Dozen, demonstrated that disabled artists' stories deserve to be told. Like Rare, this production was completely sold out and the accompanying workshops were oversubscribed.