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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · 17d

Pirate & the Lone Voice was commissioned by @theatrebtw.bsky.social

CAST
Jeremy Lewis as Lone Voice
Mel Pickering as Pirate

CREATIVE TEAM
Director: Lydie Dubuisson
Set & Costume Designer: Eo Sharp
Sound Designer: Elena Stoodley
Stage Manager: Lia Wright
Dramaturg: Makambe K. Simamba

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · 17d

Black Theatre Workshop presents
𝘗𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘝𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦
by DM St. Bernard
October 6-25, 2025

Rebels. Gossip. Tunes.

Dive underground in Guinea Bissau, where two pirate-radio teens dodge the law, spill tea, and spin tracks.

A collage-style graphic featuring a group of protesters in silhouette, a grass hut, palm trees, a radio signal tower, a transistor radio with a parrot perched on the handle. The background has a textured impression suggestive of African print.

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · 20d

· Dehumanization is at the root of prisons and genocides.

It is all one struggle.

Free Gaza.
Free Congo.
Free Sudan.

never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · 20d

· People are only “criminals” because of what has been deemed “crime”. (This has historically included smoking cannabis, marrying outside of your race, singing a song in your language, being gay, building a very tall snowman…)

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · 20d

We undertake this effort acknowledging that
· Our current carceral state evolved out of colonial violence inflicted on Black and Indigenous people, who remain drastically over-represented in prisons.

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · 20d

Panoptikon is about the experience of incarceration: surveillance, criminalization, dehumanization.

Our work is grounded in abolitionist values, driven toward dignity for all persons.

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · 20d

It is all one struggle.

Panoptikon is about the experience of incarceration: surveillance, criminalization, dehumanization.

Our work is grounded in abolitionist values, driven toward dignity for all persons.

We undertake this effort acknowledging that
· Our current carceral state evolved out of colonial violence inflicted on Black and Indigenous people, who remain drastically over-represented in prisons.
· People are only “criminals” because of what has been deemed “crime”. (This has historically included smoking cannabis, marrying outside of your race, singing a song in your language, being gay, building a very tall snowman…)

· Dehumanization is at the root of prisons and genocides.
It is all one struggle.
Free Gaza.
Free Congo.
Free Sudan.

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Sep 10

We are grateful for the support of Ontario Arts Council, Hamilton You Poets and McMaster University Humanities Department.

never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Sep 10

Public events include:
Sept 13
OUTSPOKEN
open mic and hip hop performance

Sept 14
SOLIDARITY SUNDAY
day of action with panel speakers

Sept 20
PANOPTIKON
workshop presentation

Ongoing
PRISONER BOOK DRIVE

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Sep 10

New Harlem Productions is in residence at McMaster University’s Lyons Family Studio! As a guest of the Humanities Dept we are exploring text, tech, movement, mics, access and integrity. A timely immersion in a community of curiosity, in an environment of innovation and a spirit of discovery.

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Sep 5

Monday, September 8 at 7pm

Join us in celebrating the latest Canadian Theatre publications at the Playwrights Canada Press Fall 2025 Book Launch hosted by Janine Marley (A Vue From the Box) and co-presented by Canada's Theatre Museum.✨📚✨

RSVP: www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticket...

The background is a dark green draped theatre curtain. At the top are the words “Playwrights Canada Press Book Launch” in gold Art Deco style text with an elegantly lined banner overtop. Below it is the following text in white and gold text: “Monday September 8, 2025 7pm, Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge St 3rd Floor, Featuring Anthony Perpuse Bilal Baig Christol Bryan Donna-Michelle St. Bernard Erin Shields Marina Gomes Michaela Jeffery Nathan Redburn Sadie Epstein-Fine Sanita Fejzić Sean Minogue Seika Boye Tijiki Morris Hosted by Janine Marley Co-presented with Canada’s Theatre Museum.” On the left are 14 hexagon shapes placed together with the photos of all the participating authors.

Book cover for the First Stone by DM St. Bernard features a painting of two Black children with clean-shaven heads. One child's chin resting on the other child's shoulder.

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Sep 3

Seeds of chaos. Future kindergartens full of Gordons. 👏🏾

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Sep 2

BOOK LAUNCH!
September 7

Infinite Audition by Charlie Petch
@sawpoet.bsky.social

at Theatre Passe Muraille
with Toronto Festival of Authors and Brick Books
@brickliterary.bsky.social

Register for the livestream: www.eventbrite.ca/e/1632439001...

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Aug 27

Written in green and blue chalk on a sidewalk: Try your best. It's pretty good.

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Aug 9

The magic makers inside of this workshop:

Aria Evans
Timea Wharton
Jaz Fairy J
Olga Barrios
Keita Fournier-Pelletier
Uche Ama
Lili Robinson
Myekah Payne
Sebastien Marziali
Shanae Sodhi

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Aug 9

New Harlem & From the Corner's recent workshop of Finishing by CS Fergusson-Vaux left me thinking about leadership, legacy and love in spaces of Blackness, queerness, disability.

Development of this potent new work made possible by support from @ontarioarts.bsky.social

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Aug 5

This is why I look to you for guidance ✊🏾💛

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Aug 5

New Harlem is developing some new works with prominent hip hop elements. We are looking to broaden our casting pool and our community of practice.

Emcees who act
Actors who rap

We would like to hear from you
form.jotform.com/251975605075...
Soft Deadline: August 21, 2025

Emcee submissions

Please click the link to complete this form.

form.jotform.com

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Aug 4

🌊 I am honoured to be this season's playwright in residence at Theatre Aquarius thanks to Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts 📬

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Jun 24

You cannot distract us
from the fact that
you're doing heinous shit
by doing other heinous shit.

We have the capacity
to condemn it all.

We have the will
to resist it all.

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Jun 15

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · May 6

PANOPTIKON is coming to Tremors Festival in Vancouver: June 6-8, 2025.

Panoptikon illuminates experiences of incarceration in a series of snapshots about isolation, aggression, softness and sandwiches.

Featuring Kareem Vaude, Nicci Pryce, Kern Albert and DM St. Bernard

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · May 3

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Apr 16

"Some of us see this as a responsibility. Do you get that?"

At Progress Lab rehearsing Sound of the Beast with Rumble Theatre in preparation for Awaken Festival at Gwaandak Theatre. Feeling fortunate to get back into the boots and onto the mic. Can't wait to share this work with Whitehorse.

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never not trying @belladonnatheblest.bsky.social · Apr 13

Productivity is not the goal of every moment.

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