Word Power - Keeping Oral Traditions Alive
There was one a time when storytelles brought the news, were healer, and entertainers, tellers advised on the ways of the world and passed on our history. CELAFI welcomed eveeryone to join in the magic of telling and participating in stories and celebrate storytelling the tree whose branches are reading and writing:
Participating Storytellers: Zambia's Dr. Mapopa Mtonga; Toronto's Emerita Emerencia and Ian Jones as they tell stories with drums and music; Ricardo Keen Douglas, satirical Itah Sadu with tals of Canada and the Caribbean, and master tellers of tales Nomadlozi Kubehka-Zimbabwe and Nise Malange-South Africa
THINK: Theatre In A New Key
THINK is a community based theatre group based in New York composed of talented Black Youth from 13 – 21 years of age.
Under the artistic director of Dale Byam, Think has developed from a community theatre workshop to an exciting repertory company with individual members conducting independent theatre workshops throughout the city. The core members of the company are Broadway veterans and we are very excited about bringing The Chalk Circle too Toronto as part of celebrating African Identity
WORKSHOP: Black Drama
Workshop Facilitator: Alwin Bully
Panel: Dirk McLean, Calvin Butler, Amar Harris, Mapopa Mtongo, Marcia Brown,Marcia Williams, David Collins, Kevin Sinclair, Jesse Cook, Nise Malango,
Theatre &
Playwrights
CELAFI 1997 celebrated the dawning of a new era of triumphant bold and original theatre in Canada, an epic chorus of voices distinguished by sensuality, humour and ancient and contemporary spirituality.
Understanding and appreciating the lineage of contemporary black theatre in Canada means confronting it's chameleon-like intercultural influences and manifestations. CELAFI presented a selection of groundbreaking works and works-in-progress by African Canadian playwrights, from full stage productions to intimate gatherings, a collection of programs that still challenge, provoke and entertain
Canadian "Black Theatre " is often characterized as "theatre of survival," wrapped in humour, sensuality, rhythms and spirituality. Understanding and appreciating the lineage means confronting its chameleonic intercultural influences and manifestations. CELAFI 1997 brought a number of significant contemporary theatrical works to the stage.
Beatrice Chancy, (Stage Reading)
Tuesday July 8 to 10, Theatre Passé Muraille Mainstage
World Premiere of the first major stage work by the extraordinary lyric poet George Elliott Clarke. In this awe-inspiring, brutal, sensual and hilariously theatre piece, Clarke reconnects his ancestors' existence and contributions to Canada's Nova Scotia history
Writer: George Elliott Clarke
Director: Colin Taylor
Admission $15 , $10 students and seniors, $12 CAN:BAIA members
Stay Black Or Die
Stay Black Or Die
Studio Theatre, Harbourfront Centre
Monday, July 8- Sunday, July 13,
Addenda Sumter-Freitage's skillful, moving look at growing up black in Winnipeg "Pick of the Fringe", this dazzling one-woman show resonated deeply with CELAFI theatre goers
Addena Sumter-Fretage, Writer Actor, Director
Who Is In the Rabbit's House
DANCE INTERACTIVE (DANCE- THEATRE - KIDS)
July12,1997, Ann Tindale Stage at Harbourfront
This drama is an inventive adaptation of an Masai tale about a demanding, short-tempered, possessive rabbit whose house has been taken over by an intruder. It is a new-music dramatization in Swahili and English customer in vibrant expressive masks, and staged against a Swahili village backdrop.
TBC Vivine Scarlett
First AfriCanadian Playwrights Series
July 7 - 13, various venues
This was the inaugural gathering of the The First AfriCanadian Playwrights Series presented in collaboration with Canadian Stage Company and Young People's Theatre.
Program and Curator: Djanet Sears
Monday
6-9pm AfriCanadian Playwrights Series
The First AfriCanadian Playwrights Series
Tuesday, July 8, 8pm, Young Peoples Theatre
On / Black/ Stage, ( AfriCanadian Playwrights Series)
a documentary film celebration of Black women theatre artist in Toronto, chronicles 30 years of performance in the making by ahdri zihna mandiela.
Thursday, July 10, 8pm, Canadian Stage Company
Angelique (AfriCanadian Playwrights Series)
Reading a new script by Lorena Gale inspired by the compelling and tragic story of Marie Josephe Angelique, a black slave, who in 1734, was accused of setting a fire which destroyed a substantial portion of Montreal, and was hanged. Was it to cover her escape with a white lover? Was she seeking revenge against her mistress? Or was it simply an accident?
Friday, July 11, 7pm , Canadian Stage Company
Oui (AfriCanadian Playwrights Series)
Reading of a new five-person play by Andrew Moodie (Arthur of Riot). In Oui, Moodie continues to confront the issues of our times with a play about the Quebec Referendum on sovereignty. Oui is intended to be a mirror, a reflection of ourselves, as we struggle over the future if our nation into the new millennium.
Saturday, July 12, 8pm, Canadian Stage Company
Coups and Calypso, (AfriCanadian Playwrights Series)
A sensual and revolutionary romance set in Trinidad against the backdrop of a military coup. Written by award winning poet, essayist and novelist Nourbese Phillip.
Sunday, July 13, 8pm, Young People's theatre
Caribbean Cindy, (AfriCanadian Playwrights Series)
A spry and funny musical re telling of the Cinderella story, by actor/writer Ricardo Keens Douglas.
Djanet Sears; Actor, Writer, Director
Theatre Round Table Discussion
Thursday, July 10 to Saturday July 12
Theatre Round Table discussion, Ryerson University in association with WUM Theatre
Thursday, July 10, 10 - 1pm
Black Theatre History in Canada
Friday, July 11
10- 1 pm Black theatre and the Avante-grade
2-5pm Trekking Black Theatre across Canada (touring)
Saturday, July 12
10 - 1pm Trekking Black Theatre across Canada (touring)
2-5pm On/Black/Stage