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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We're All in Jeopardy 

We’re All in Jeopardy, a multi-media comedy is the latest production by  PeerLess Productions, the company that brought Kingston Rare and Down Syndrome by the Dozen.  Co-created by a professional cast of mixed-ability artists, the show is a surreal version of the popular game show, with characters you will root for, sing along with, or maybe even heckle.  We’re All in Jeopardy mixes live-action, green screen technology, film, and animation under the direction of Kathryn MacKay with music by David Archibald.​ In this alternate and fictional Kingston, several local celebrities have come together to play Celebrity Jeopardy with the goal of raising money for worthy local restaurants affected by the pandemic.  Some contestants have better motives than others, but all will profit in ways they never expected.

"The feeling in the audience, was for lack of a better word effervescent. Not having seen most of those guys since “By the Dozen,” to see how they’ve grown and matured and increased enormously in confidence, which is largely thanks to you. Nathan putting on the crown and flashing the shirt is now one of my all-time theatre memories."
​- John Lazarus

"We were there Wednesday and loved the show! Great job by all!"
- Pat Anne

"When you need Hope, she appears. What else could I possibly say? A fun, insightful, beautiful experience. Get out and support these incredibly inspiring human beings."
​- Will Britton 

Down Syndrome by the Dozen

​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. 

Nathan from 'Down Syndrome by the Dozen' (2014)

READ MORE ABOUT DOWN SYNDROME BY THE DOZEN

Judith Thompson's Rare

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 cast from Down Syndrome by the Dozen (2014)