Stage Door News
Stage Door News
July 10, 2014, TORONTO – b current is pleased to announce Naomi Abiola as their new Interim Artistic Director. She joins b current alongside fellow Artistic Director Jajube Mandiela. Abiola is a longstanding member of the b current team and takes on the role as Ngozi Paul steps down due to other artistic obligations.
In addition to her commitment to b current, Abiola maintains a connection to her Trinbagonian roots by training junior Calypsonians in Toronto. Primarily working as a theatre practitioner, specifically playwrighting, performing her own poetry and facilitating professional theatre training, Abiola has also trained award winning Calypsonians and will do the same here in Toronto focussing on presentation, performance and the art of composing calypsos. This summer, she will begin training last year’s award winners from the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival celebrations. This training culminates in a showcase being held at b current’s studio (601 Christie St, studio 251) on August 23, 2014 at 6:00 pm.
b current is a talent incubator and theatre company focused on developing and supporting diverse talents through the newly renamed mandiela rAiz’n the Sun Training Program, their various education and mentorship initiatives. Abiola began her work with b current through the rock.paper.sistahz festival in 2011, as a performer. Since then she’s taken an active role investing in the development of diverse youth through b current’s rAiz’n Summer aRts intensive and as the 2013-2014 season Program Lead of the mandiela rAiz’n the Sun Professional Artist Training Program.
The mandiela rAiz’n Training Program began in 1999 and offers unique artistic development opportunities to its members. The program provides a nurturing environment and springboard for the careers of many artists, including alumni like Joseph Jomo Pierre, whose new play Twisted will be seen in b current’s 2015 season, produced in partnership with Factory Theatre; celebrated dubpoet d’bi young, Ngozi Paul (“’Da Kink in My Hair”), Artistic Director Jajube Mandiela (“Degrassi”), trey Anthony (‘da Kink in My Hair) and many more. The program was historically geared towards young, emerging, Black artists but today is open to all diverse persons who want to hone in on their artistic skills through workshops, new collective and individual performance material, internships, apprenticeships and mentor pairings. The program includes five parts, all overseen by Abiola: the mandiela rAiz’n Ensemble, rCurrentz, rAiz’n Connexions, rAiz’n summer aRts and rAiz’n Futures.
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About b current
b current is the hotbed for culturally-rooted theatre development. The company develops new works by diverse artists primarily rooted in the cultural, social, and political experiences of the Canadian and international Black Diaspora.
b current produces outside of the box performance pieces and ideas in addition to their main stage theatre productions. Since inception they mounted over a dozen mainstage plays, as well as over 70 public performances including public readings and workshops.
Originally founded as a place for black artists to create, nurture and present their new works, b current has grown to support artists from all diasporas. For over 22 years they have been creating space for diverse voices to be heard, with a focus on engaging the communities from which those stories are rooted. To learn more, visit www.bcurrent.ca.
Photo: Naomi Abiola.
2014-07-10
Toronto: Naomi Abiola is new interim Artistic Director of b current