By Stephen Weir We call him the Reacher Preacher, but everyone else in the GTA and the Caribbean knows him as Mr. Marvin Ishmael or Trini. Ishmael, a long-time Trinidadian Canadian author, actor, musician, playwright, director, and educator, is all that and more, but he is NOT a preacher. However, that might be about to […]
By Lincoln DePradine Theatre arts have always been a vehicle for not just entertainment, but also tackling serious societal issues. And this is reinforced in “Woke’’, which is about to make its stage debut in Toronto. “Woke’’ is being presented as part of the anniversary celebrations of Ballet Creole, whose choreographer and artistic director is […]
By Stephen Weir The Tarragon’s Extra Space seats only about 100 patrons. And while they have a much larger theater in their midtown building (near Casa Loma), the size is of extreme importance to anyone contemplating seeing a new play that actually takes place in Guyana. Don’t think you can get away with waiting […]
By Stephen Weir Walter Borden, the best Black stage actor in Canada, is currently busy performing in front of live audiences and educating people from the diaspora. At 81 he proclaims, “I am the mirror of your inner truth – I am you!” However, there was a notable issue at the Sunday matinee attended […]
Review of ‘The Amen Corner’ at Shaw Festival By Canute Lawrence The opening performance of James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner at Shaw Festival 2023 took place in Niagara-On-The-Lake on Saturday, August 19. The Shaw Festival Theatre was packed to capacity. Billed as ‘a must-see’ production, Baldwin’s 1953 play is set in a Pentecostal church in […]
Inclusivity, belonging, a tilt towards equity-deserving groups of diverse backgrounds are the calling card of the partnership between the Toronto International Film Festival and RBC. The partnership aims to help advance projects from emerging creators with diverse backgrounds who identify as BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+ and/or are from other equity-deserving groups. Each year, two producer/director teams […]
By Canute Lawrence On Saturday, September 16, Antigua and Barbuda will showcase the Canadian premiere of its HaMafilm’s ‘‘Deep Blue’’ at the 18th Annual COMMFFEST Global Community Film & Arts Festival at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front Street East at 7:30 PM. ‘’Deep Blue,’’ dubbed an environmental love story is HaMafilms’ […]
A groundbreaking venture has emerged on the entertainment scene, promising to shake up the industry with its commitment to diversity and thought-provoking storytelling. Rodney Diverlus, Sandy Hudson, and Anubha Momin have officially launched ‘Above the Palace’, a Toronto-based production company dedicated to crafting film, television, live performance, and digital media projects that challenge conventional […]
By Stephen Weir Last weekend, I took my to explore the vibrant preparations for this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival at the Mas camps. Among the camps I visited, Carnival Nationz Mas camp at the Tam Heather Curling and Tennis Club in Scarborough stood out as a hub of activity. Led by the dynamic team […]
At the 43rd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards ceremony By Stephen Weir One of the highlights of Tuesday night’s 43rd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards ceremony was the awarding of The Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award. The winner was da Kink in My Hair, which marked its 20th anniversary in 2022 with a short run […]
