Its World Theatre Day, but also Women's History Month, so I let loose my rabid feminism by opening with snapshots of women doing theatre work.
First, The Official Word
Jessica Kaawha is a Ugandan playwright and academic who's works include her own 15 plays and a Luganda translation and adaptation of Mother Courage. She's also the author of this years message in celebration of World Theatre Day:
[Psst. You can follow @WTD11, too.]
Paulette Poujol Oriol [1926-2011]
I knew of Paulette Poujol Oriol as a writer, but only discovered with her recent passing that she had a rich career in theatre. You can get a pretty good overview of her contribution to Haitian arts and letters via her d’Ile en Ile profile page, which includes, amongst other things, this extensive video interview:
papai
d'bi.young.anitafrika is one of zo kòt [ie: true true friend]. Originally from Jamaica, d'bi launched her professional career as a writer and dramatist in Canada, before finally settling in South Africa to found the pan afrikan arts instiute. papai "is a cultural movement committed to the holistic development of afrikan artists, through the use of self-knowledge, orality, rhythm, political content and context, language, urgency, sacredness, and integrity." Please do note hesitate to dig into those virtual pockets, and look under the cushions of your virtual couch to make a gratefully received donation.
Down in Port-au-Prince Foudizè Téâtre is hosting the second edition of its Kont Anba Tonèl storytelling festival. More details via the event page [Facebook] and Le Nouvelliste.
Interestingly enough, a tribute event to Georges Anglade on the eve of World Theatre Day focuses solely on the geographer, forgetting the lodyansè who published four volumes of Haitian humor.
Montreal's Black Theatre Workshop is accepting applications for Since Mama Done Got off the Couch!, a two-day seminar "explor[ing] the evolution of the African voice in North American and Western theatre – from the honoured tradition of the "kitchen sink drama" to the power and passion of "dub-theatre". Its not happening for a while [May 27-28 2011] but there's only 30 spots available and the deadline is April 4th. Step to it, peoples!
New Yorkers should take a peek at the New Black Fest's American Slavery Project, a "monthly reading series that celebrates the work of African American playwrights who boldly and refreshingly explore slavery and/or the Civil War."
In other news
Today, March 25, Librairie La Pléïade hosts a book signing with Barbara Prézeau Stéphenson, spotlighting her book La richesse culturelle d’Haïti, mythe ou réalité ?". Published in 2007, its an essential look at the development of Haiti's cultural industries to date with a few recommendations towards policy and funding priorities. Prézeau is now at the helm of ARCADE, the long awaited cultural mega-investment, a joint initiative of the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication and the European Union.
Nyata Nyata represent! Zab Maboungou is founder and artistic director of the sole contemporary African dance company in Montreal (in the Americas?)- and where I was trained via PATPAD. She's also one of the speakers at Harvard University's African Dance Diaspora: A Symposium on Embodied Knowledge.
