Izad Etemadi is a Persian-Canadian performer / creator originally from Victoria, BC. He is best known for his portrayal of the charming, flamboyant and bearded Persian woman, Leila. Love With Leila, Leila Live! and A Very Leila Christmas have performed to sold-out houses, standing ovations and rave reviews from coast to coast. Love With Leila was recently awarded the 2016 Broadway World Award for Best Independent Production. His latest solo show Kooni premiered at the 2017 Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times followed by a run at the Queer Acts Festival in Halifax. Kooni explores life as a gay man in Iran using video and projections integrated with live performance. Last year he was commissioned by McMaster University to create We Are Not The Others: a play based on a research project with women immigrant to Ontario. The show was a hit with critics and audiences at the Hamilton Fringe Festival and will be presented at conferences over the next few months. Izad is the recipient of the 2017 Emerging Queer Artist Award from Buddies In Bad Times Theatre.