Following the success of last year’s inaugural edition, Black Theatre Workshop (BTW), Canada’s longest-running Black theatre company, returns with a bigger sophomore instalment of Club Zed Playwrights’ Festival from May 14 - 17.

Club Zed is the only professional development focused and black forward festival of its kind in Canada. Dedicated to nurturing the voices of Black Canadian playwrights through a Black perspective, over four days, participants and audiences will experience readings, new works in progress, panel discussions, and professional development workshops, all designed to foster dialogue, connection, and artistic growth.

The festival is the brainchild of Dian Marie Bridge. Before relocating to Montreal to become BTW Artistic Director, Dian worked at a number of Toronto theatre’s biggest names; Obsidian Theatre, Playwrights Guild of Canada, Storytelling Toronto, Volcano Theatre, Luminato Festival, and more!

Notable Toronto-based speakers include; d’bi young anitafrika who created Toronto’s Watah Theatre and is due at Toronto Fringe Festival this July to direct Sashoya Simpson’s Lulu, the twice nominated for the Governor General's Literary Award Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, the award-winning playwright & director, and adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Djanet Sears, and more.

Blending skills building, with networking and audience engagement, Club Zed celebrates and encourages writers and audiences to share new work, listen, learn, and build lasting relationships. Events such as Club Zed are a pivotal tool in maintaining Canada’s theatre industry.

Club Zed is The only professional development focused and black forward festival of its kind in Canada

This year’s edition features workshops and discussions with Some of Canada’s most renowned Black artists; Maguy Métellus, Rachel Mutombo, d’bi young anitafrika, Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, and more

All evening events including Play Readings are open to the public

Free activities include an Opening Night Mixer (Wednesday May 14), and the Book Launch of The First Stone featuring readings by Author and Playwright Donna-Michelle St.Bernard (Saturday May 17).

Festival highlights include: An In Conversation With Series offering Insightful conversations with guests Maguy Métellus, Marcia Johnson, Diane Roberts, Djanet Sears and Donna-Michelle St.Bernard, professional development workshop Working Through Drafts hosted by Playwright Rachel Mutombo, and a Black Women in Theatre Symposium hosted by d’bi young anitafrika with guests Marcia Johnson, Djanet Sears, Diane Roberts & Donna-Michelle St-Bernard.

More info at blacktheatreworkshop.ca.