Biography

Anaka Sandhu is a South Asian & gender non-conforming artist born and raised on Treaty One Territory (also known as Winnipeg, Manitoba). Anaka recently graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada (Acting, 2022), and is working towards finishing their degree (BA) at the University of Manitoba. 

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As someone who has a deep love for human connection and a fascination with everyday life, Anaka has always been attracted to the shared experience that comes with theatre and performance. The ability to shift a perspective, to mirror someone else’s complex feelings, to provide catharsis through laughter; it’s a feeling of oneness that Anaka is moved by.

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Before their time at NTS, Anaka studied political science and film at the University of Manitoba. This field of study in conjunction with Anaka’s lived experience often brings advocacy to the forefront of their work, and makes current global contextualization essential to their artistic practice. 

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During their training, Anaka gained invaluable experience working with and being mentored by Canadian theatre makers such as Jackie Maxwell, Tim Welham, and Jani Lauzon.

 

Since graduating, Anaka has worked on several films and TV shows (Spencer Sisters, Psycho Killer, King of Killers), made their debut at the Shaw Festival, and performed internationally at the historic Barbican Centre in London, England.

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As a genderfluid IBPoC artist, Anaka seeks to create space for stories that have historically been erased. They’re especially interested in challenging the notion of Western ‘classics’; examining stories that were not written with people like them in mind, and reimagining said classics in a manner that reflects our ever-evolving world.