Stage Door News
Stage Door News
The Watah Theatre, founded by Canadian Poet of Honor and YWCA Woman of Distinction, d’bi.young anitafrika, is excited to announce its third annual Mikey Smith Raw Works Festival. The festival is a culmination of Raw Works from the first term at The Watah Theatre.
Session One of The Watah Theatre Professional Development Residencies explores the questions Who Am I? How Am I? What is my purpose? The session culminates in The Mikey Smith Raw Works Festival, named in honour of Jamaica’s brilliant, dynamic, prophetic and political dub poet Michael Smith. Smith, born September 14, 1954 was stoned to death on August 17, 1983 for his humanitarian views and voice.
After a week of performances at The Watah Theatre, the festival will culminate in two fundraising events: Love is the Cure, hosted by Black Lives Matter Toronto to save The Watah Theatre. The event will take place at Daniels Spectrum on Saturday, December 3 and will feature dance, poetry, spoken word performances and a closing party. Saga Collectif is also having a fundraising performance of Black Boys for The Watah Theatre on Dec 4 at 2:30pm Buddies and Bad Times Theatre.
The Watah Theatre, previously anitafrika dub theatre, is a performing arts company that specializes in the (w)holistic development and mentorship of primarily Black identified artists and also welcomes artists who are People of Colour, Indigenous and/or LGBTQQIP2SAA. Founded in 2008 and incorporated in 2014 as a non-profit by d’bi.young anitafrika, the organization cultivates artists as mentor-leaders of integrity. Past Watah Theatre alumni include CBC’s Amanda Parris, Stratford’s Bahia Watson, Manifesto’s Che Kothari and RISE Edutainment’s Randell Adjei.
This year’s Artists-in-residence are: Sashoya Shoya Oya, Saba Ahktar, Anjreen Akan-dreen, Angaer Arop, Naomi Bain, Savannah Clarke, Mahlet Gebreyohanness, Faith-Anne Mendes, Alix Mukonambi, Najla Nubyanluv, Kamika Peters, Rahda Pithadia, Anne-Audrey Remarais, Racquel Gretchen Smith, Alexandra Sproule.
Mikey Smith Raw Works Festival
Featuring The Resident Artists of The Watah Theatre
November 28 – December 3, 2016
The Watah Theatre | 55 Mill Street, #317 & #313
Distillery Historic District
6:30pm Doors | 7:00pm Show | 9:00pm End
ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE
mikeysmithfestival.brownpapertickets.com
Love is the Cure
December 3, 2016
Daniels Spectrum | 585 Dundas Street East
8:30pm Doors | 9:00pm Show | 11:00pm Party
ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE
eventbrite.ca/e/love-is-the-cure-savewatah-tickets-29361310470
Saga Collectif - Black Boys
December 4, 2016
2:30pm | Buddies In Bad Times Theatre
12 Alexander Street, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1B4
2016-11-23
Toronto: The Watah Theatre announces "The Mikey Smith Raw Works Festival" November 28-December 3