The Watah Theatre announces
SHE MAMI WATA & THE PUSSY WITCHHUNT
Part two of the Orisha Trilogy by d’bi.young anitafrika
The Watah Theatre is pleased to announce d’bi.young anitafrika’s second instalment in her new triptych – The Orisha Trilogy. Following rave reviews of the premiere play – Esu Crossing The Middle Passage – the second play, She Mami Wata & The Pussy WitchHunt, will be taking Theatre Passé Muraille’s Backspace stage by storm from May 4-22, 2016.
She Mami Wata & The Pussy WitchHunt centres on gender, sexuality, and the erotic through the life of four friends – Niki, Michael, Kizzy and Everdon – growing up in present-day Jamaica, who are challenged to re-negotiate their complex relationship under 'buggery' laws. Raised in the violence and silence of misogyny and homophobia, Niki lives on the margins of church, the burlesque-pole and womxn's thighs. As the play unfolds we learn that Niki is not the only one living on clouds and in shadows. She Mami Wata is anitafrika’s continued exploration of divinity, activism and the Black diaspora through the Yoruba-Ifa Orishas: Ochun (river goddxss of childbirth and erotic love), Yemoja (mother goddxss of the sea), and Oya (goddxss who defends and protects womxn).
Anitafrika is the winner of two Dora awards for Blood.claat. Other awards include: KM Hunter Theatre, Mayor’s Arts, Vital People, Canadian Poet of Honor, Toronto Leadership Lab Fellow and YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Arts. She is an internationally celebrated African-Jamaican dubpoet, playwright-monodramatist, arts-educator, and Artistic Director of The Watah Theatre, whose trans-disciplinary work (dubpoetry, theatre, music, dance, writing, storytelling) explores themes of identity, gender, sexuality, divinity, the erotic, race, class and the human experience. She is the creator of the human development framework – The Sorplusi Method – which has been employed by The Stephen Lewis Foundation, The Banff Centre, U of T, MaRS, Women’s College Hospital and other institutions globally.
Guiding anitafrika through this provocative journey is acclaimed Jamaican director, Owen Blakka Ellis, magical singer-composer Amina Alfred (of Esu Crossing The Middle Passage), gifted choreographers Ravyn Wngs (of ILL NANA/DCDC) & Lady Kori (of Brass Vixens Pole Dancing) and the brilliant storyteller Olunike Adeliyi (of Flashpoint) as Assistant Director.
MEDIA FOR ESU CROSSING THE MIDDLE PASSAGE PART ONE OF THE ORISHA TRILOGY by d'bi.young anitafrika
Toronto Star: 3.5 out of 4 stars for Esu Crossing the Middle Passage bit.do/StarEsuReview
Now Magazine: 4 N’s and Critics Pick for Esu Crossing the Middle Passage bit.do/NowEsuReview
Cowbell Blog: Powerful Deeply Moving Bold...Esu Crossing the Middle Passage bit.do/CowbellEsuReview
PRODUCTION TEAM
She Mami Wata & The Pussy WitchHunt
Playwright/Performer d’bi.young anitafrika
Director/Dramaturge Owen Blakka Ellis | Assistant Director Wendy Olunike Adeliyi
Musical Director/ Composer/Musician Amina Alfred | Choreographers Ravyn Wngs & Lady Kori
Set & Costume by Jenna McCutchen | Lighting by Sharmylae Taffe Fletcher
Stage Manager Samson Brown | ASM Shoya Simpson
Producer Brett Haynes | Executive Producer d’bi.young anitafrika
May 4-22, 2016 | Wednesday to Saturday at 7:30 pm | Sunday at 2:00 pm
Theatre Passé Muraille Backspace | 16 Ryerson Ave. T.O. Canada
ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE bit.do/SheMamiWata
CONTACT Brett Haynes
EÂMAIL producer@watah.org
*This production of She, Mami Wata & The Pussy WitchHunt is funded by The Toronto Arts Council Established Playwright Grant