TFS Launches Stage Production of ‘Luces Nocturnas’ at Papermill Theatre

A group of Toronto Film School’s talented Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre students will bring a story about a country in the throes of a civil war to the stage when they launch their production of Luces Nocturnas at the Papermill Theatre later this month.

Conceived and directed by Rosanna Saracino, the 75-minute play is set in the 1930s, during the Spanish Civil War, in a country fractured in two – between the left-wing socialist Republicans and the right-wing fascist Nationalists.

“Citizens are disappearing by the hundreds of thousands. Atrocities are committed daily. And bodies pile up in the streets,” Saracino said.

“The war itself is a disease, which gives way to hysteria, mob mentalities, othering, self-preservation, hunger for power, and unflinching cruelties.”

Designed by Colton Strong

The play, she further explained, is episodic – with scenes moving from the hilarious and grotesque absurdism amongst the citizens, to the realism of the war amongst those locked in a struggle for power, to the fairy-tale land of a young girl’s imagination.

“In this fractured world, her fantasy world weaves us in and out of the trauma which surrounds her,” Saracino said, noting that the play is ultimately a warning.

“It is a call to action against hate, fascism, ignorance, and othering. It is a love song, and a mourning for life lost.”

Luces Nocturnas, which is stage managed and assistant directed by Samie Nakhforoush, will take to the stage at the Papermill Theatre for a three-performance run on Sept. 20, 21, and 22 as follows:

Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.


Friday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m.


The Papermill Theatre is located at Todmorden Mills, 67 Pottery Rd. Tickets are free and are available at the door.

The Creative Team Behind Luces Nocturnas:

Skye Anderson

Originally from Prince Rupert, BC, Skye Anderson relocated to Toronto to pursue acting studies at Toronto Film School. Since starting the program, Skye has collaborated with production teams on a variety of projects for theatre and film. Skye wrote, directed and produced her own film, Clairvoyant: Reunion, which provided her the opportunity to refine her storytelling skills. She also enjoys travelling, quadding, baking, reading and playing pool.

Joshua Bowman

Born in Oshawa and raised in Newcastle, Joshua Bowman is a Canadian actor and streamer. Growing up, Josh developed a deep passion for film and television, which led him headfirst into the media industry at Toronto Film School. He has experience as a streamer on Twitch as an affiliate, and in making short videos that he publishes on his social media. Joshua also has a passion for fitness and weight training.

Jessica Cadena

Jessica Cadena was born and raised in Mexico City. She is an aspiring performer who moved to Toronto in 2022 to pursue an acting career. After taking classes in local acting studios, she accepted her invitation to train at Toronto Film School. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Annyar Charles

Born and raised in St. Vincent, Annyar Charles is a person of many talents. Her passion for acting came to life when she received her acceptance letter from Toronto Film School. Prior to attending TFS, she took drama courses for three years and participated in the performing arts while attending Westview Centennial Secondary School. In Term 3, Annyar wrote and directed the short film Betrayed. She hopes to begin her career in commercials and progress into film and theatre.

Hannah Do

Hannah Do was born in Vietnam, raised in Vancouver, BC, and now lives in Toronto. She is a classically trained actor currently studying in the Acting for Film, TV, and Theatre program at Toronto Film School. Hannah’s theatre experience includes training at the Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she played the role of Hemy in Singing In The Train. She enjoys playing piano, dancing, and graphic design in her free time. She is trilingual; fluent in Vietnamese, Korean and English.

José Asele Ikamba

Born in Kinshasa, José moved to Canada in 2016 to pursue his graduate studies in Engineering at Laurentian University. Currently living in Toronto, he’s studying at Toronto Film School in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program. In his third therm at TFS, he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in his own short film, Brotherhood. He also plays soccer and has a good taste in fashion and style.

Veronica Laicini

Born and raised in Toronto, Veronica Laicini is an Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre student at Toronto Film School. Her passion for acting was inspired at a young age, starring in productions of Wicked and Cinderella. Veronica is a trained opera singer. She wrote and directed a silent short film, Million Dollar Man, and also worked on the short films Ice Cream Malibu and In My Head. She enjoys baking, and videography, and has competed in swimming, show choir, contemporary dance, and boxing.

Shereign Mala

Shereign Mala is a Fijian-born native from Hamilton, Ontario, who is now studying acting at Toronto Film School. Prior to TFS, she studied at Armstrong Studios and earned a diploma in film. Shereign has worked on films including Street Soldiers and Run Kai Run, one of which was featured at the TIFF Bell LightBox. Her productions of Dear Loneliness and Maylani earned awards at Hollywood Shorts and Calcutta International Cult Film Festival. Shereign is trilingual and is honing her dialects, dance, and combat abilities.

William Malcolm

William Malcolm was born and raised in Bowmanville, Ontario. After high school, he trained as a firefighter, before enlisting in the army for three years. While he valued his experiences in the military, he ultimately decided pursue his passion for film and enrolled in the acting program at Toronto Film School. While directing his first short film, Chatterbox, he uncovered a passion for directing that he hopes to pursue in future. William is skilled in firearms handling, combat, repelling, and winter survival.

Anita Misick

Born and raised in Toronto, Anita Misick is currently a fifth-term student studying Acting for Film TV & Theatre at Toronto Film School. She performed in three short films at TFS and also wrote and directed her own short film, Don’t Sleep. She also enjoys singing, dancing, and playing basketball in her free time. Anita’s dream has always been to become an actor and inspire others to pursue their dreams like she has been inspired herself.

Anes Mohamednur

Anes Mohamednur is an Eritrean man who was born in Saudi Arabia. In defiance of the obstacles he faced, he opted to move to Toronto in 2016 to pursue his passion for the entertainment industry. In 2022, he enrolled at Toronto Film School, where he has taken on numerous roles with great dedication and enthusiasm. Anes’ dream is to act in feature films and to become a TV host. Other passions include soccer, music, and dancing.

Alpha Chrislord Nyarko

Alpha Chrislord Nyarko considers himself an artist who channels his creativity primarily through acting and filmmaking. With a fiery passion for acting, Chrislord’s tireless pursuit to embody characters with authenticity and depth showcases his commitment to delivering compelling performances that leave a lasting impact. Chrislord’s charisma, determination and infectious passion makes him a rising talent in the world of entertainment.

Ariane Piché

Born and raised in Montreal, Ariane Piché relocated to Toronto in 2022 to attend Toronto Film School. She is a bilingual artist with a passion for theatre performance, whose work has been featured in francophone productions of Romeo and Juliet and Antigone. Her theatre experience includes writing a play inspired by Francois Archambault’s You Will Remember Me. Ariane has also written and produced a short film called No Body No Crime.

Alyssa Roulston

Alyssa Roulston was raised in Jarvis, Ontario and relocated to Toronto to attend Toronto Film School, where she’s currently studying in the Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre program. In her third term, she enjoyed the opportunity to direct, write and star in the short film, Begin Again. While not acting, she spends her time writing scripts for future projects. She has written a children’s book called Ruby Goes Camping, loves to design knitting patterns, and is now learning American Sign Language.

August Sieben

August Sieben grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta, where she had the opportunity to pursue her passion for performing. Upon graduation from high school, she joined Toronto Film School to develop her talent as an actor in TV, film and theatre. While at TFS, August had the opportunity to write and direct a short film, The Perfect Man. August is an insightful talent who draws inspiration from her many experiences, including all-star cheerleading, rugby, and horseback riding.

Mirjan Terziu

Mirjan Terziu was born in Albania and moved to Edmonton, Alberta when he was 10. There, he uncovered his passion for the stage, performing in plays such as The Search for Odysseus, The Night of the Iguana, and Metamorphoses. During his time at Toronto Film School, Mirjan has discovered a love of acting for the camera and has been featured in PSAs, commercials, short films, music videos, and on-camera interviews. Mirjan is a bilingual performer, speaking English and Albanian.

Sonia Tewari

Born in Denver and raised in Toronto, Sonia Tewari is well known for her craft as an actor/director/producer. Her theatre experience includes roles in plays by Tennessee Williams and Mary Zimmerman. She strives to learn more every single day and is determined to pursue her career in the film industry. Sonia is a Virgo, which means she is a perfectionist when it comes to her craft, is super passionate about what she does, and doesn’t stop working until her visions are brought to life.

Gerardo Vargas

Born and raised in Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Gerardo Vargas is a former architect and paramedic turned bilingual actor. He uncovered his passion for acting at a young age and performed in multiple productions in Mexico including: Ana Frank, 39 Steps, Peter and the Starcatcher, Alice in Wonderland, Carrie, Cyrano de Bergerac, as well as several short films. In 2022, he relocated to Toronto to attend TFS, and has since performed in several plays and film projects.

Samie Nakhforoush – Stage Manager / Assistant Director

Samie Nakhforoush is an actor who really enjoys the power of storytelling and entertaining people. A former professional swimmer, he performed in his first play in elementary school, an experience that made him fall in love with acting. Samie has acted in many short films, including Home, Chase, and Shadow of a Statue. After finishing his journey at Toronto Film School, Samie plans to continue working towards becoming the best actor he can be.

Rosanna Saracino – Director

Rosanna is a director, performance coach and educator. As a director she has worked in film, TV, documentary, dance, opera, and devised work. Some of her favourite stage projects include Nasty by the Maelstrom Collective, Suitcases for Canadian Stage Theatre, and In Adagio at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. As a performance coach, she has created and developed curriculum for a number of courses, but most recently in psychological safety practices for various post-secondary institutions, and trained actors, directors and educators in these techniques. She has trained and coached countless performers through the years, from actors and singers, to dancers and magicians, in all media formats. Her work as an educator spans over 20 years at various institutions and she is appreciative of TFS’ openness to reflecting the important changes to artist training needed to reflect the professional entertainment industry.