Tana Sirois

Actor, theatre-maker, director, producer, facilitator.

She holds a BA in Acting from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, and an MSc in Creative Arts & Mental Health from Queen Mary University of London. She is co-founder of the non-profit arts & culture center, Culture Lab LIC in NYC, and Artistic Director of Dirt [contained] Theatre Company, which has been producing socially conscious theatre with an absurd twist since 2010. Tana is a member of the international movement theatre collective, The How, and of the feminist musical comedy troupe, Broad Comedy, where she has helped raise over $2,000,000 for Planned Parenthood and The ACLU through comedy. Her original play "Crushing Baby Animals" played at The IRT theatre in NYC, and her two-person movement theatre piece, "My Favorite Person" ran in NYC at Culture Lab LIC and HERE Arts, and at Thuafier in Istanbul. She has been producing theatre for over 17 years, acting for over 30, has directed Off-Broadway, and performed in over 100 theatrical productions across the USA, UK, and Turkey. She utilizes improvisation to devise movement-based work that strives for eloquence in absurdity and authenticity in chaos. The research she has undertaken at the intersection of art and mental health has inspired her to create work centered around issues of equality and identity, and the ever-changing nature of the self. She is currently developing an autobiographical solo show titled “UnTethered”, which examines Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, demisexuality, and intimacy, and asks if we should tether to the things that make us feel safe or if the power lies in the letting go. She believes in the efficacy of art for social justice, and holds a deep respect for the profound healing power of the theatre.