d’bi.young anitafrika is one of 21 Black Directors featured in Obsidian Theatre’s 21 Black Futures Project.

OBSIDIAN THEATRE ANNOUNCES FIRST MAJOR PROJECT UNDER NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

MUMBI TINDYEBWA OTU

21 BLACK FUTURES

21 playwrights, 21 directors, 21 actors

21 visions of the future of Blackness

Monodramas written by Peace Akintade, Keshia Cheesman, Lisa Codrington, Miali-Elise Coley Sudlovenick, K.P. Dennis, Cheryl Foggo, Shauntay Grant, Lawrence Hill, Kaie Kellough, Stephie Mazunya, Tawiah Ben M’Carthy, Motion, Omari Newton, Amanda Parris, Joseph Jomo Pierre, Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Jacob Sampson, Djanet Sears, Luke Reece, Cherissa Richards, and Syrus Marcus Ware

In the wake of a historic 2019-2020 season which saw the company produce three acclaimed productions, win the Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award (Passover), two Dora Awards (Caroline, Or Change)and four Toronto Theatre Critics Awards (Caroline, Or Change and Pass Over), as well as saying goodbye to long-time Artistic Director Philip Akin and welcoming incoming Artistic Director Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu, Obsidian Theatre is pleased to unveil the first programming to be developed under Tindyebwa Otu’s leadership and to offer a window into the company’s plans for the future. At a unique moment in history, Black stories are needed more than ever. The necessity for the Black community to heal, to connect and to re-envision a future outside of current systems is raw, real, and fully felt.

As the company enters its 21st year of operations, in February 2021, during Black History Month, Obsidian Theatre will premiere 21 BLACK FUTURES. An anthology of 21 filmed monodramas, commissioned from 21 multigenerational Black playwrights across the country, directed by 21 Black directors and performed by 21 Black actors. Premiering digitally on CBC’s GEM throughout February 2021, 21 BLACK FUTURES will respond to the question, “What is the future of Blackness?”