2015-2016 Watah Mainstage Workshop Presentations
Audre Lorde Works-In-Progress Theatre Festival
Addicted
by Raven Dauda
Feb 23-28, 2016
Addicted follows Penelope Day – an alcoholic in a rehab where magical things happen.
While in treatment Penelope befriends a cocky Irish teen, and the two of them do what they can to sustain their sobriety. Together they work on ending Penelope's five hundred year old family curse; a curse that is driving her mad, leaving her to question what is real and what is not.
With otherworldly visits from her ancestors, Penelope goes on a life saving preternatural quest where she must look at her herstory in order to save her future.
Boldly and humorously Addicted asks… “What are you addicted to?
Raven Dauda has been a professional actor and storyteller for over twenty years. Notable productions include: Orphan Black, Annedroids, Nikita, What Would Sal Do?, Anatomy of Assistance, Bejide, The Firm, Across the River to Motor City, The Natalie Cole Story, 4.48 Psychosis, Intimate Apparel, Tout Comme Elle, and Da Kink In My Hair. Raven has received Dora Awards for her performances in The Penelopiad, and Miss Julie: Freedom Summer, and Dora Nominations for her performances in Doubt: A Parable and The Minotaur. Upcoming projects: NBC’s Heroes Reborn and Addicted, her premiere biomyth monodrama.
Oughtism
by Faduma Mohamed
March 7-13, 2016
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 reinforces the belief that everyone deserves to experience love in all of its forms. Tariq falls for his neurotypical neighbour, Reign, and they slowly develop a romantic relationship.
Oughtism 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.
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.
The premiere piece in d'bi.young anitafrika's new triptych entitled The Orisha Trilogy is Esu Crossing The Middle Passage. Set aboard a slave ship, the play voyages a womxn's journey into the trans-atlantic trade, embodied by the spirit of Esu, the trickster god of Ifa, who sits at the crossroads. Choreographed by Coba's Co-Artistic Director BaKari I. Lindsay using his African-centred dance methodology A-Feeree, Esu Crossing is anitafrika's first foray into a new world of choreo-theatre. The play runs at The Storefront Theatre April 1-17, 2016.