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2016 WORD! SOUND! POWAH! MONODRAMA THEATRE FESTIVAL

JUNE 13-19, 2016

THE WATAH THEATRE
presents

Word! Sound! Powah! Festival of Monodrama

June 13-19, 2016 Word! Sound! Powah!

Festival of Monodrama

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CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS


Session three of the residencies   focused on Mentorship and leadership  runs from April to June. Artists-in-residence explore the questions What is the relationship between the art that I create and the communities I am accountably responsible to? How do I define the sacred? What does integrity mean to me? The session culminates in the Word! Sound! Powah! Festival of Monodrama named in honour of Jamaicas Rastafarian tradition of truth, rights and justice. 
The Watah Theatre's week-long exploration of trans-disciplinary works of art featuring over 15 artists-in-residence is curated by Watah's Artistic Director, d'bi.young anitafrika.

 

*Trigger Warning*
Please note that presentations by artists-in-residence are for those 16 and older. The plays feature mature content which may be triggering. There will be a talk-back after each performance as well as a wholistic health practitioner available to provide further support.

 

FESTIVAL PROGRAM


Monday June 13th | 6:00 - 10:00PM
Mahlet Gebreyohannes | Danielle Smith | Shen 
Sage Secrets of Mumbi Tindyebwa
@ The Watah Theatre 

 

Tuesday June 14th | 6:00 - 10:00PM
Clover Fannin | Yosef Selassie | Kareen Weir | Angaer Arop

Paul O'honsi
@ The Watah Theatre 

 

Wednesday June 15th | 6:00 - 10:00PM
Ilana Divantman | Tuku Matthews | Lana Kouchnir | Sashoya Shoya Oya

Ase Eschu Bafamet
@ The Watah Theatre 

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Thursday June 16th | 6:00 - 10:00PM
Sarah Michaels &
Oughtism by Faduma Mohamed
@ Dancemakers Theatre 

 

Friday June 17th | 6:00 - 10:00PM
Najla Nubyanluv &
Oughtism by Faduma Mohamed
@ Dancemakers Theatre 

 

Saturday June 18th | 1:00 - 4:00PM
Youth Arts Day

 

Saturday June 18th | 6:00 - 10:00PM
Samson Brown | Alexandra Sproule
Oughtism by Faduma Mohamed
@ Dancemakers Theatre 

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Sunday June 19th | 2:00 - 5:00PM
Graduation Celebration + Book Launch: Black Solo Volume 2
@ The Watah Theatre 

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1. SAGE SECRET LECTURER - MUMBI TINDYEBWA - JUNE 13, 2016 @ 6PM (doors) 7PM (show)
LOCATION: The Watah Theatre, 9 Trinity Street #317 | TICKETS: $10 ADV | $15 Door
The founder and artistic director of IFT (Its A Freedom Thing) Theatre, Mumbi is a Kenyan-born, Toronto-based theatre creator and director. She is currently the co-director for the AMY (Artists Mentoring Youth) Project and was a 2015 artist-in-residence at the University of Toronto. Working with companies like Obsidian Theatre, Canadian Stage and Buddies in Bad Times, Mumbi has directed and assistant directed a diverse selection of productions, co-productions and in festivals, including the Rhubarb Festival, Luminato, World Pride Toronto and the Festival of Ideas and Creation. Her directing highlights include Nightmare Dream (IFT Theatre/Newface Entertainment, sponsored by Obsidian Theatre), Because I Love You (IFT Theatre/TD Then and Now Festival) and Dancing To A White Boy Song (IFT Theatre/Newface Entertainment/ Summerworks). Mumbi holds an Honours BAin Theatre from York University, a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto, and has participated in the Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Direction at the Stratford Festival.


2. OUGHTISM - MAINSTAGE WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
DATES: June 16-18, 2016 | SHOWTIMES: 6:00 Doors | 7:00pm Show | LOCATION: Dancemakers, 9 Trinity Street #313 | TICKETS: $15 ADV | $20 Door
Playwright | Performer: Faduma Mohamed
Director | Dramaturge: d'bi.young anitafrika
Stage Manager: Samson Brown
Assistant Stage Manager: ShOYA Simpson
Set & Lighting Designer: Sharmylae Taffe-Fletcher
Oughtism, follows the life of Tariq, a nonverbal autistic savant. The play explores the hardships families endure, especially living with autism while poor; with particular emphasis on how siblings of autism experience embarrassment, frustration and hopelessness. 
The play challenges the scientific pursuit to find a cure for autism. John White is the spokesperson for Golden Mind, an innovative biotechnological centre which is focused on aiding parents choose their child's traits. Golden Mind presents to the public a prenatal cure for autism. When Leah, Reign's sister starts working at Golden Mind, Reign considers undergoing the autism-extermination procedure. Ultimately, Oughtism urges audiences to question their own humanity. 

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT:
Faduma Mohamed is a spoken word poet and storyteller who started writing at the age of eight and performing at the age of thirteen. She attends the University of Toronto studying English and Women and Gender Studies. She has completed her internship as an editorial writer with Urbanology Magazine. She is also one of the organizers of R.I.S.E Edutainment. Above all, she's an advocate for autism and believes in the power of envisioning dreams into life.

 

3. FREE YOUTH ARTS DAY
DATE: June 18, 2016 | TIME: 1:00 - 4:00 PM | LOCATION: The Watah Theatre, 9 Trinity Street #317 ADMISSION: FREE

Bring the young ones (and not-so-young ones) for an afternoon of fun, featuring arts & crafts, face-painting and storytelling by Watah's talented Artists-in-Residence.

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Dancemakers Theatre 
9 Trinity Street, #317 & #313
Distillery Historic District

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