Samuel Takes a Break by Rhianna Ilube @ The Yard Theatre

…in Male Dungeon Number 5 After a Long But Generally Successful Day of Tours

Yes that’s the whole title. And the mouthful of a title hints at the darkly serious yet funny play that marks the debut of Rhianna Ilube at The Yard Theatre. The play tells the story of a tour guide, Samuel, and his colleague, Orange, and the cast of individuals who come to take a tour of the Castle in Ghana where humans were held as captives before being shipped to North America as slaves. It tells us a story of modern times reckoning with the long reach of colonialism in a deeply insufficient way. It tells us a story of contemporary humans grappling with the depths of the distant, and not-so-distant past.

The cast is rounded out by two actors who play all of the couples making the visit; all 4 are directed superbly by Anthony Simpson-Pike, who creates a physical and intentional space which allows the audience to be taken in and not question the jumps in space, time, and reality. All 4 actors are equally exceptional, and the production as a whole was thoughtful, yet felt dangerous and at the edge of acceptability.

An absolutely incredible play, production, and set of performances. One can only hope for a remount.

Playwrights You Should Know

So….the other morning I read a list of “30 female playwrights you should know”. I was really excited to click the link. And while I really do appreciate the work of the women listed there, the list felt painfully incomplete. My first instinct was to tweet it, along with “Lets’ list 30 more”. So i’ve decided to create my own list. Look these fabulous playwrights up - links to their public info are included where applicable.

1. Tara Beagan - ntlakapamux and irish “canadian” theatre artist, author of (among others) Reckoning, free as injuns, and In Spirit

2. Hannah Moscovitch - Canadian playwright, author of (among others) Bunny, Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, and Secret Life of a Mother

3. Falen Johnson - pissed off Mohawk playwright and writer (as per her twitter), author of Salt Baby, Ipperwash, and more…and co-host of the amazing Secret Life of Canada podcast.

4. Kate Hennig. Kate has been writing in one way or another for most of her life. Her writing includes plays, poetry, stories, articles for industry publications, a dissertation, two blogs, and a research paper. Writer of The Virgin Trial, The Last Wife, and more.

5. Yolanda Bonnell - Bisexual/Pansexual/Queer emerging performer and playwright of Anishinaabe/Ojibwe and South Asian descent, author of bug, White Girls in Moccasins, and more.

6. Debbie Patterson - Winnipeg playwright, director and actor, author of Candy from a Baby, Molotov Circus, Sargent & Victor & Me, and countless more, and creator of Sick + Twisted Theatre.

7. d’bi young - Jamaican-Canadian dub poet, monodramatist, and educator, as well as a 3 time Dora Award-winning actor and playwright, writer of The Orisha Trilogy, The Ibeyi Trilogy, and more.

8. Susanna Fournier - writer, actor, and the artistic producer of PARADIGM productions. Writer of Antigone Lives, Vincent, ALL THE WAYS YOU SCARE ME, and more.

9. Columpa Bobb - Canadian photographer, actress, playwright, poet and teacher of Coastal Salish descent, and writer of Singing Shards, Jumping Mouse, The Race, and more.

10. Trey Anthony - playwright, actor, and producer. Creator of Da Kink in My Hair, How Black Mothers Say I Love You, and more.

11. Yvette Nolan - Canadian playwright, director, actor, and educator. Writer of Annie Mae’s Movement, BLADE, The Unplugging, and more.

12. Alix Sobler - writer of theatre, television, and film, including The Glass Piano, The Secret Annex, Sheltered, and more.

13. Pamela Sinha - writer, actor. Writer of Happy Place, Crash, New, and more.

14. Djanet Sears - playwright, actor and director, nationally recognized for her work in African-Canadian Theatre. Afrika Solo, Harlem Duet…the list goes on.

15. Marjorie Chan - multi-disciplinary theatre artist working as playwright, librettist, director and dramaturge. Writer of Women of the Ward, Ocean Child, and more.

16. Audrey Dwyer - multi-disciplinary artist with over twenty years of experience working as an Actor, Director, Playwright, Teacher, Facilitator and Mentor…writer of Calpurnia & more.

17. Anusree Roy - Playwright, actor, librettist. Writer of Pyaasa, Brothel #9, and more (including operas!)

I’ve put together 17. All from this Northern land, mostly off the top of my head or with a quick google search refresher. Who would you add?

EDIT: Adding a few more.

18. Carolyn Gray - Canadian Playwright. My favourite of Carolyn’s plays is The Elmwood Visitation, and her North End Gothic is a delightful script you should all read.

19. Kat Sandler - Canadian playwright, dramaturg & actor. Kat has an array of plays including Mustard and Bang Bang.