STATEMENT

The Watah Theatre contributes to, supports and develops the legacy of Black Theatre in Canada by cultivating and sharing a unique African-Caribbean-Canadian feminist theatre aesthetic, heavily informed by the radical performance tradition of Jamaica’s dub poetry and dub theatre. The company insists on challenging systemic barriers that exclude Black and diverse theatre artists, giving Black and diverse arts practitioners a local, national and international platform to showcase and celebrate their work.

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IMPACT

Radical arts-engagement sits at the core of Watah's commitment to providing artists with the tools to self-actualize, create relevant art and uncover crucial mentorship skills for each one to teach one. The company insists on giving Black arts practitioners a local, national and international platform to showcase and celebrate their work. Since its inception, Watah has facilitated the growth and development of over 700 artists locally, nationally and globally through residencies, workshops and one-to-one mentorship.

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Watah has also published three popular anthologies through Sorplusi Publishing featuring the theatrical and literary works of alumni arts practitioners; making archiving a priority. The company has also produced 57 new plays (from 2008-2016) by resident artists in our annual festivals: Mikey Smith Raw Works, Audre Lorde Works-In-Progress and Word! Sound! Powah Festival of Monodrama.

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OBJECTIVES

It is our mission to create, support & nurture:

• the development & production of excellent Black & diverse theatre productions

• a space for Black & diverse artists who are under-represented in mainstream theatre, addressing challenges in accessing mentorship & professional development as theatre practitioners by eliminating racially & economically restrictive selection processes

• a new generation of African & diverse Canadian theatre-makers, arts-educators & mentors who are able to innovate future projects that further cultivate equity, justice, fairness, and accessibility in Toronto & Canada’s arts and social sectors

• an intersectional (w)holistic approach to artists’ lives, their art & their communities, allowing them to tell their stories, create their art & lead others with compassion, authenticity & professionalism

• a circular mentorship framework that nurtures strong engagement-based artistic practice between artists & community, developing artists who change the Canadian cultural landscape through their practice & their roles as ambassadors of change

• an established practice of archiving African & diverse Canadian theatre in Toronto & Canada’s arts and social sector through ongoing publication via Sorpluis Publishing

• collaborations with allies of individuals, groups & organizations who can support Watah's vision & mission

 

ALUMNI

Watah Alumni include change-makers such as Amanda Parris of CBC's The Exhibitionist, Randell Adjei - founder of R.I.S.E, Che Kothari of Manifesto, Kim Katrin Milan & Naty Tremblay of The People Project, Natasha Adiyana Morris of Piece of Mine Festival, Mriga Kapadiya of Nor Black Nor White Fashion House, Lishai Peel - poet & arts educator, and Liza Paul and Bahia Watson of Pomme is French for Apple. These artists today, are leaders in their own creative fields, incorporating the Anitafrika Method's transformational skills-building and mentorship techniques as crucial facilitative, pedagogical and social frameworks in their creative and activist endeavors.​

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