Author of novels drawing on African and Caribbean history enjoyed international acclaim, including the New Academy prize, which stood in for the Nobel in 2018 Maryse Condé, celebrated for works such as Segu and Hérémakhonon, stands tall as a luminary of the West Indies. Through her bold narratives as both a novelist and essayist, she […]
By Stephen Weir We are witnessing a transformative period in Toronto’s theatre scene. Seasoned Caribbean Canadian actors and actresses secure roles in stage plays, often requiring them to adopt African accents at the Soulpepper Theatre. Just last week at the Tarragon Theatre, a Governor General prize-winning playwright, originally from the Grenadines, debuted a pair of […]
By Stephen Weir In a ground-breaking fusion of classic Russian drama and Nigerian history, Toronto’s vibrant theatre scene is set to welcome a bold and innovative production presented by Soul Pepper and Obsidian Theatres on the last evening of Black History Month. A quirky adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s timeless classic, “Three Sisters,” will take centre-stage […]
Chekhov’s play ‘Three Sisters’ reimagined with Black cast by Neil Armstrong Aficionados of theatre will have a chance to see a new production with a Black cast at the Soulpepper Theatre premiering March 7th. The adaptation of Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov’s play, “Three Sisters, which was written in 1900, and reimagined in […]
By Stephen Weir We call him the Reacher Preacher, but everyone else in the GTA and the Caribbean knows him as Mr. Marvin Ishmael or Trini. Ishmael, a long-time Trinidadian Canadian author, actor, musician, playwright, director, and educator, is all that and more, but he is NOT a preacher. However, that might be about to […]
By Lincoln DePradine Theatre arts have always been a vehicle for not just entertainment, but also tackling serious societal issues. And this is reinforced in “Woke’’, which is about to make its stage debut in Toronto. “Woke’’ is being presented as part of the anniversary celebrations of Ballet Creole, whose choreographer and artistic director is […]
By Stephen Weir The Tarragon’s Extra Space seats only about 100 patrons. And while they have a much larger theater in their midtown building (near Casa Loma), the size is of extreme importance to anyone contemplating seeing a new play that actually takes place in Guyana. Don’t think you can get away with waiting […]
By Stephen Weir Walter Borden, the best Black stage actor in Canada, is currently busy performing in front of live audiences and educating people from the diaspora. At 81 he proclaims, “I am the mirror of your inner truth – I am you!” However, there was a notable issue at the Sunday matinee attended […]
Review of ‘The Amen Corner’ at Shaw Festival By Canute Lawrence The opening performance of James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner at Shaw Festival 2023 took place in Niagara-On-The-Lake on Saturday, August 19. The Shaw Festival Theatre was packed to capacity. Billed as ‘a must-see’ production, Baldwin’s 1953 play is set in a Pentecostal church in […]
Inclusivity, belonging, a tilt towards equity-deserving groups of diverse backgrounds are the calling card of the partnership between the Toronto International Film Festival and RBC. The partnership aims to help advance projects from emerging creators with diverse backgrounds who identify as BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+ and/or are from other equity-deserving groups. Each year, two producer/director teams […]
