Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

3 SISTERS HAVE LEFT RUSSIA FOR NIGERIA 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 at the downtown Soul Pepper Theatre, reimagined as a Black version set against the backdrop of Nigeria during the Biafran War. This avant-garde production first performed in the UK four years, makes its Canadian debut tonight with the first of five previews this evening. The 4-Act play has its official opening on March 7th and closes March 24. Written by London based Nigerian poet and playwright Inua Ellams, his 4 act play promises to provide a fresh perspective on Chekhov's exploration of spiritual emptiness. and societal upheaval by transporting the narrative to a pivotal moment in Af...

  Late Breaking Good News For Obsidian   OF THE SEA! OPERA Just as the Caribbean Camera was going to press, the Slaight Family Foundation  announced a $15-million donation to be spread among 22 Canadian theatre companies that continue to be affected by the pandemic. The money  is to be used over the next two years for theatre production and marketing by those receiving this infusion of cash.  One of the theatres that is to receive a portion of Wednesday’s surprise announcement is Toronto’s Obsidian Theatre. Founded in 2008 by the late media mogul and philanthropist John Allan Slaight, the Slaight Family Foundation has donated  given $185 million to a variety of health care and wellness initiatives, not including the latest arts funding. Allan Slaight’s son Gary ,  president and CEO of the Slaight Family Foundation,  and a one-time major investor and part-owner of FLOW radio,  commented, “We’re very happy to support these organizations so they...

Phil says goodbye and Mumbi says hello The Obsidian Theatre, the country's  leading culturally diverse  theatre  company is now going through a major change.   After twenty years, the theatre’s founder and CEO has retired. He has been replaced by a young African Canadian director who will take over the running of the company in August. Philip Akin has been acting and directing for over 40 years. In 2000, he was a founding member of Obsidian Theatre, Canada’s leading black theatre company, and has served as its Artistic Director since 2006. Earlier this week Obsidian announced that   Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu is the new Artistic Director of the Obsidian Theatre.   In a press release issued by Obsidian Ms. Otu “was raised in Kenya and Victoria, BC. She is a critically acclaimed Toronto-based stage director with over a decade of professional experience and is the Founder/Artistic Director of the Dora Nominated experimental theatre compan...

It Isn’t A Game In The Other Side Of The Game Amanda Parris Toronto fervently wishes that the name Lester Donaldson would not be spoken and that 29 years after his death the city could return to being known as Toronto The Good.   But if wishes were kittens, Amanda Parris’s debut play, Other Side Of The Game, would still be a lion’s roar against Toronto’s treatment of the Black community – from police shootings in the last century to carding in the 2000s. Lester Donaldson is a name from way back.  He was a mentally disturbed Black man who was shot dead by police in a Toronto rooming house.  It was 1988 and the community rose up and marched, shouting Lester’s name at the police and City Hall. It was the spark that lit a roman candle under Dudley Laws who shortly thereafter formed the Black Action Defense Committee (BADC). There were more shootings of innocent Black men and BADC hit back with more  and larger demonstrations and finally a riot. In Oth...

Pioneer of Black Theatre In Canada To Retire   By Stephen Weir Philip Akin has announced that he will be stepping down after 14 seasons as the Artistic Director of  Obsidian Theatre. I n 2000, Akin, along with 12 other prominent Black artists came together with the vision for an organization by and for Black theatre creators. Obsidian Theatre was formed, after  a black volcanic glass that alluded to creation and breaking new ground. He served on the board of directors, and as the company’s administrative producer before becoming Artistic Director in 2006.  He will remain in his position until 2020; the search for new artistic leadership begins now. As an artistic leader Philip is known for speaking his mind, always in support of Black artists, even if it isn’t the popular opinion. In a release sent to the Caribbean Camera Akin talked about his willingness over the years to kick butt. "It was part of my DNA that walls should come down, and if it took smas...

Marie-Joseph Angélique will Burn Down The House By Stephen Weir It is not as though the story of how Angélique, a young Montreal domestic slave, set fire to Montreal and was hanged for her trouble is a state secret. However, the fact that there was slavery in Canada, and at least one black woman fought back in 1724, is not a well-known fact. “ The trouble with history is knowing whose version of the facts are real.   While the establishment might see Angélique, as a villain, the Black community will have a different take, " said Luke Reece a Producer at Obsidian Theatre. " Next week we are opening AngÄlique a play that tells her story and gives a vibrant account of Canadian Black history. " Angélique, a classic Canadian play written by the late Lorena Gale, is based on the transcripts of the trial of an enslaved Black woman who was tortured and hanged for the Montreal fire 245 years ago. The current drama (mounted initially by the Quebec based Black Th...

(But others may swing) By Stephen Weir for the Caribbean Camera Zoe Doyle (l), Vlad Alexis and Sarah Afful (r) -  Obsidian Theatre Company photo A big part of Black History Month in Toronto is celebrating the Diaspora on “the boards”.   This month, Canada’s leading black theatre organization opened hang,   a very dark comedy that is a #MeToo take on crime and punishment. Maybe it is because February’s dance card is so filled with events it takes a lot to get noticed. hang speaks to what is going on in the world and is desperately in need of an audience.   The first play of the season for Obsidian has been running for a week and has yet to attract its traditional base, or even a critical review – till now. Obsidian Theatre Company, now in its 16 th year, says it was born out of a passionate sense of artistic responsibility. The mandate is” to bring the Black voice, in its many artistic dialects, to Canada’s cultural forefront”.  The theat...