REVIEWS
Elham - English
Review by Karen Fricker. Toronto Star, 2023
“Ghazal Azarbad is a standout as the tough, ambitious Elham, whose only barrier to medical school in Australia is passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language.”
Elham - English
Review by Catherine Kustanczy. The Globe and Mail, 2023
“Azarbad and Taherian offer compelling, highly watchable portraits of women who, though at different points in their lives, are equally passionate about their culture and cognizant of the need to leave the country.”
Elham - English
Review by Ross. Front Mezz Junkies, 2023
“The strongest of the bunch, or should I say the most conflicted and competitive, is Elham, a hopeful med school student played intensely by Ghazal Azarbad (Soulpepper’s The Seagull). She can’t help herself. It’s as if she has to lash out at everyone to hold her place and position in the room and in life. She’s edgy and hard to like, although in the way Azarbad portrays her with such secretive compassion, we can’t help but feel for her and want her to have a win.”
Elham - English
Review by Janine Marley. A View from the Box, 2023
“Ghazal Azarbad’s Elham is feisty and fun, definitely the character we champion throughout the play. Azarbad is fantastic, she takes us on a full journey with Elham and we are all fully along for this ride!”
Elham - English
Review by Aisling Murphy. Intermission Magazine, 2023
“Elham, a future doctor who, from her first moment onstage, establishes herself as a rebel to the English language (a nuanced, powerful Ghazal Azarbad).”
Eeeerk - The Little Mermaid
Review by Colin Thomas, 2022
"Ghazal Azarbad as Eeer-k: well, basically, I want to be Ghazal Azarbad when I grow up. This time out, she’s brightly sexy with her blue lips, blue hair, and wide eyes. And the woman can sing! Like she’s torchy. Who knew?"
Eeeerk - The Little Mermaid
Review by Rick Chung, 2022
“One of the night’s biggest highlights had Azarbad unleashing her inner funk-soul sister to Prince’s “Kiss”—setting up the big kiss moment.”
Eeeerk - The Little Mermaid
Review by Janet Smith, 2022
"Azarbad also puts in a stunning turn taking on Prince’s 'Kiss'"
Eeeerk - The Little Mermaid
Review by Jo Ledingham, 2022
“Ghazal Azarbad blows the York apart when she belts out a song.”
Juliet - Romeo and Juliet
Review by Jo Ledingham, 2022
“Azarbad gives Juliet some attitude and some wit that is more 2022 than Elizabethan; she also finds the sweetness and innocence in Juliet that’s necessary for the play to work.“
Juliet - Romeo and Juliet
Review by Colin Thomas, 2022
"Azarbad’s performance is always responsive — she nails Juliet’s horror at the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt for instance."
Maggie - Bunny
Review by Colin Thomas, 2022
‘I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of seeing Ghazal Azarbad onstage: the frank generosity she brings to the role of Sorrel’s best friend Maggie is a balm. (Female friendship is one of the central subjects of this script.)’
Maggie - Bunny
Review by Jo Ledingham, 2022
Slipp was supported by a very strong cast most notably Ghazal Azarbad as Sorrel’s friend Maggie. Azarbad nicely underplayed the role in the lead-up to what, in less capable hands, could have been melodramatic.
Queen of Hearts - East Van Panto, Alice in Wonderland
Review by Colin Thomas, 2021
“Let me just sing the praises of one more actor. Ghazal Azarbad’s Queen is the diva of divas, confidently chewing the scenery as if it were a light snack.“
Viola de Lesseps - Shakespeare in Love
Review by Lee Hall. Georgia Straight, 2019
"The first highlight is Ghazal Azarbad as Viola. She’s charming, dynamic, and truly the heart of the play as she bubbles with joy for poetry and romance. Her chemistry [...] is beautiful and sweet, and she shines in passion and comedy alike."
Viola de Lesseps - Shakespeare in Love
Review by Marsha Lederman. The Globe and Mail, 2019.
"Ms. Azarbad is transcendent, in a performance that can indeed teach the torches to burn bright."
Viola de Lesseps - Shakespeare in Love
Review by Colin Thomas. 2019.
"In a consistently impressive cast, Ghazal Azarbad is the standout as Viola. Azarbad is direct, warm, and intelligent, and she makes such simple, moving sense of the Shakespearean language that her presence becomes the most consistent point of emotional access."
Salena - It's a Wonderful Christmas-ish Holiday Miracle
Review by Colin Thomas, 2019.
"Ghazal Azarbad’s Salena is fantastic. When she was alive, Salena was a hedge fund manager and Azarbad gives her an unexpectedly persuasive combination of tenderness and self-serving aspiration. She also spins every damn line for everything it’s worth."
Entrances and Exits: an improvised farce
Review by Mooney on Theatre, 2018
"Ghazal Azarbad pulled out one of the best gags of the night with a marijuana pot as a birthday present (this was the joke that kept on giving to the other castmembers, too)."
Siobhan, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Review by Jerry Wasserman. Vancouver Sun, 2018
"One element works very well. Siobhan, beautifully played by Ghazal Azarbad, partly narrates Christopher’s experience, vividly framing his agonies as well as his small personal triumphs. She reads from a notebook in which he’s written his story and moves with him as he moves silently around the stage, often in strict geometric patterns."
Siobhan, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Review by Irving Bolton. TwoCents&TwoPence, 2018.
"The star of the show for me was Ghazal Azarbad who plays Siobhan, Christopher's mentor at school. The character is one of Christopher's few confidantes, and acts as a the show's de-facto narrator, quoting from Christopher's journal, and often speaks Christopher's lines, representing his inner monologue. Azarbad guides the audience through the story and is the most accessible character for us to interpret Christopher's struggles. Her performance is heartwarming and beautifully enunciated, adding richness and depth to the script. Elegant and rhythmic pacing enhanced the significance of each line that was shared or swapped, blending Siobhan and Christopher's characters into a coalesced stream of consciousness."
Photo by Ming Hudson