Let Me Pass This Song to You
Intermission is hosting creative and critical responses to select shows from Soulpepper’s Around the World in 80 Plays as a part of the Taking on the World mentorship program for emerging IBPOC artists and arts writers. Taking on the World is a partnership between Intermission, Soulpepper Theatre Company, Brock University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Windsor, with funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Why should you listen to Soulpepper Theatre’s audio-drama of Death and the King’s Horseman?
It will expose you to something that is culturally specific.
It will provide you with an opportunity for introspection.
It will challenge you to question your values.
But most importantly, it is written by Wole Soyinka.
Our hero.
His writing is poetic and palpable.
His words were written to be said aloud.
Why not start with an audio-drama?
It will give you the chance to just listen.
We will never forget our interview with Tawiah M’Carthy (director) and Wole Oguntokun (Elesin/dramaturg). They talked about their experience with this project. As recent graduates of the National Theatre School of Canada‘s acting program, as two young Canadians of West African descent we were intrigued by the process. How does one approach the work? M’Carthy and Oguntokun emphasized the importance of unlearning. There is a diligence required when it comes to acquiring the rhythm of this piece, you must approach the characters as people, table work is not essential when it comes to a Nigerian play. We left the meeting with a deep sense of gratitude. Everything that we learned in school could not apply to this piece. It left us with curiosity and immense hope for the future. And we encourage all of you to take the leap. To dive into the story. To allow yourself to also be forever changed.
A special thanks to Intermission Magazine, Soulpepper Theatre Co., SSHRC-CRSH and the organizers of Taking on the World for giving us this opportunity.
Around the World in 80 Plays runs until June 30 on Soulpepper’s website. For tickets and more information, click here.
Magda "isi bhakhomen" Uculmana-Falcon
Magda “isi bhakhomen” Uculmana-Falcon (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, Latinx artist with Peruvian and Nigerian heritage. Within the realm of theatre, they are committed to exploring the role of playwright, director, and actor. Through storytelling they hope to build worlds that give black children permission to breathe, to release, and to heal. They are also a recent graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada's acting program.
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Espoir Segbeaya
Born in Munich, Germany and raised in Nelson, BC in the magnificent mountains of the West Kootenay Region, Espoir is an Afro-Canadian trilingual, actor, storyteller, and performer of music across many mediums. She is a black woman whose pronouns are she and her. Espoir is a classically trained singer, with special interest in ensemble and choral music. She seeks to stretch the perimeters of her definition of theatre daily and is currently expanding her practice to include voice over/narration and puppetry. She is a recent grad of the National Theatre School of Canada’s Acting program. In 2019-2020 at NTS, she performed in Burning Vision directed by Mike Payette and played the titular role in Nell Gwynn directed by Krista Jackson. In 2020-2021 Espoir was part of the Artist Mentorship Program at Black Theatre Workshop. She is also featured in The Rest is Electric podcast.
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iPhoto caption: Getty/Soulpepper Theatre Company.
Death and the King(‘s Horseman)
"There are bridges to be built. There are stories to be told. There are apologies to be made. There is forgiveness to be offered."
iPhoto caption: Mother of Moons by Danilo McCallum.
Sometimes you get dreams about a king, sometimes you get dreams about a baby, and sometimes, you get dreams about a flood.
iPhoto caption: Mother of Moons by Danilo McCallum.
iPhoto caption: Getty/Soulpepper Theatre Company.
It is much easier to listen to birds than to each other.
iPhoto caption: Getty/Soulpepper Theatre Company.
The Parliament of the Birds: A Contemporary Door Into the Seven Valleys
"The valleys are different for all travellers. There is no single path through the valleys."
iPhoto caption: Getty/Soulpepper Theatre Company.
The events that take place in our lives don’t define us but give us the motivation to keep trying to be the truest versions of ourselves.
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