On a humid night in 1958, the sea around St. Kitts refuses to sleep. A group of Black sailors, stranded after a storm, step ashore to dance, argue, and dream their way through a long, restless night. In their laughter and longing lives the pulse of an entire generation — the Windrush generation — searching for freedom on the edges of empire.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Arts and Entertainment
- Category: Theatre
Mary Antonini brings depth and joy to the Shaw Festival’s 2025 season, starring in Blues for an Alabama Sky, Anything Goes, and White Christmas. Her journey from Broadway to Shaw reflects resilience, artistry, and the importance of Black joy on stage.
AfroToronto.com interviewed Mary Antonini, one of the Shaw Festival’s most dynamic performers, about her role in the Canadian premiere of Blues for an Alabama Sky. Directed by Kimberley Rampersad, the play is set in Harlem during the 1930s, weaving together joy, struggle, and resilience during the Harlem Renaissance.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Arts and Entertainment
- Category: Theatre
Two decades after Blood.claat premiered in Toronto, d’bi.young anitafrika returns to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sankofa Trilogy.
This podcast episode marks a deeply personal, full-circle moment for me and AfroToronto.com. Twenty years ago, in November 2005, I sat in the backspace of Theatre Passe Muraille during the Stage3 Festival with director Weyni Mengesha and playwright-performer d’bi.young anitafrika. They were workshopping blood.claat, a daring new monodrama that would become the foundation of what we now know as the Sankofa Trilogy.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Arts and Entertainment
- Category: Theatre
From Broadway to Hallmark films, Vanessa Sears has captivated audiences with her dynamic performances. Now, she returns to Toronto for her most personal project yet: Shedding a Skin, a groundbreaking one-woman play about identity, burnout, and the radical power of connection.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Arts and Entertainment
- Category: Theatre
An interview with Jay Northcott, a multidisciplinary artist, director, playwright, and burlesque dancer. They joined the 2023 season of the Stratford Festival as an assistant director on the production of King Lear. We discuss the importance of including diverse perspectives and stories within the Black experience to create a more inclusive and vibrant artistic landscape. Topics include celebrating the richness of "black identities" and encouraging the exploration of different narratives and the intersection of art, identity, and self-belief.
In the conversation, Jay dives into their journey, reflecting on the challenges they faced as a young multiracial individual growing up in a predominantly white neighbourhood in Spruce Grove, Alberta. They open up about their artistic influences, drawing inspiration from pop culture icons like Paris Hilton and Beyoncé. Aesthetics and fashion heavily drive their artistic expression, creating unique and engaging live performances.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Arts and Entertainment
- Category: Theatre
An interview with multifaceted actor and performer Joella Crichton. We dive deep into Joella's artistic journey, exploring the unique creativity she discovered within the Afro-Caribbean community as both an actor and Carnival Queen. We learn how her role as a performer becomes a means of self-exploration and human connection, delving into the toolbox of skills she utilizes to bring her stage characters to life.
Joella Crichton's journey as an actor began when her mother asked her what she truly wanted to do. Armed with her passion for acting, she got accepted into the prestigious acting conservatory program at York University. However, while studying there, Joella realized the Eurocentric views of the plays they were analyzing. This realization led her to embark on a mission to find her own voice within those texts and celebrate the diverse voices within them. Inspired by the rich tradition of oral storytelling in the Caribbean, Joella became determined to tell stories that matter and showcase her unique voice.
Join us as we uncover Joella's insights into the power of theatre and her experiences working on this year's Stratford Theatre Festival productions of Les Belles-Soeurs and Wedding Band.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Arts and Entertainment
- Category: Theatre
Stephen, a non-binary performer, brings a fresh perspective to these iconic plays. They shine a light on the significance of having diverse voices in theatre and showcase the remarkable talent of the black queer community.
As always, Stephen's passion for the arts shines through as they discuss their love for various artistic forms such as visual art, movement, poetry, and even their own personal style of performance. They express a desire to see more Black people in the audience, as they believe that diverse perspectives and experiences are essential for a richer cultural landscape.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Arts and Entertainment
- Category: Theatre
An interview with two actors currently on stage at the Stratford Festival's 2023 season. They're performing in two plays: Much Ado About Nothing as well as King Lear. Austin Eckert is a Nigerian-Canadian actor from Regina, Saskatchewan. He went to college in Victoria, BC, at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. He has been working in theatre, film and television for the past eight years. This is his second season at Stratford. Also joining the conversation is Andre Sills. Andre is a Guyanese-Canadian veteran actor and producer. This is his ninth season at Stratford since his debut in 2005. He's a graduate of George Brown College's Theatre program.
During the course of this engaging exchange, we delve into the pressures of striving for excellence at all times and the dream of being allowed to fail in a world where tokenism has too often straight-jacketed the evolution of Black stage performers.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Arts and Entertainment
- Category: Theatre
A discussion with Detroit-based director Sam White, who is currently in her second and favourite season at the Stratford Festival. She discusses how the Stratford Festival has changed over the years and how she works with her cast and crew to create a unique experience for Alice Childress' "Wedding Band." We also delve into Sam's mentors and inspirations who helped build her up, including her parents, who continue to influence her work, and she talks about her passion for sharing Shakespeare's work in the Rust Belt.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Arts and Entertainment
- Category: Theatre
