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February 4, 2024

Why Black Women Whisper

Spoken Word Reading

Ontario

Be a part of a creative work unfolding on stage: Anne-Marie Woods aka Amani’s poetic storytelling is woven with music and percussive elements enhanced by Rudi Quammie Williams and Orin Isaacs.

meet the poet playwright

Photo by Linda Marie Stella

Overview

Why Black Women Whisper is a poetic, multi-genre piece performed in spoken word, combining storytelling and performance with a backdrop of African rhythm and drums. Composed by Anne-Marie Woods, the story confronts the impact of racism and the systemic barriers placed on the voices of Black women and the efforts instituted to silence them. How does that affect relationships, love, identity and belonging? The title is a metaphor that speaks to the pain of what Black women go through when they speak up and what happens when they can’t.  

Presented by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment.

About Anne-Marie Woods

Anne-Marie Woods, aka Amani, is a poet, playwright, producer, director and arts educator with a vibrant career that spans over 25 years. Woods is passionate about youth arts and culture and often describes herself as a” British-born Trini with Scotian overtones.” Her career has taken her from singing with the Nova Scotian acapella quartet Four the Moment in New York City to the St. Lucia Jazz Festival and Toronto, where she performed spoken word in When Sisters Speak. She has headlined global stages from Germany to the United Kingdom and Trinidad. As a theatre artist, Woods has served as a playwright-in-residence at Young People’s Theatre and had two of her plays produced at Black Theatre Workshop in Montreal. A recipient of the Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in Entertainment and the Bob Marley Day Award, she is an Educator for Outreach and Public Programming for the City of Toronto Archives. 

Credits

Writer, Lyricist, Composer Anne-Marie Woods Assistant Director Hannah Yohannes Youth Production Assistant Shechinah Chigwende Guest Poet Azalyne

Cast
Dominique Brownes – Anika
Shahaddah Jack – Akua
Karen Jewels – Micah
Konima Parkinson Jones – Jewel
Michelle Walker – Hannah
Janisa Weekes – Patrice
Musical Cast
Rudi Quammie Williams
Orin Isaacs

Dates & Times

February 4
2pm – 3:30pm

February 4
8pm – 9:30pm

More Info

Recommended ages 14+

Venue

Fleck Dance Theatre in Queen's Quay Terminal

207 Queens Quay West, 3rd Floor
Follow signs and take escalator or elevator

Google Map

Keywords Performance