Black Theatre Workshop

Black Theatre Workshop is a professional not-for-profit theatre company based in Montreal, and is Canada's oldest Black theatre company in Quebec.

History

Black Theatre Workshop was incorporated in 1972 but has roots going back to the Trinidad and Tobago Drama Committee. The Drama Committee was created by Clarence Bayne and Arther Goddard, both of whom were the founders of the Trinidad and Tobago Association and wrote its first Constitution and bylaws. Dr Bayne invited a number of professional Black Trinidadian artists resident in Montreal in the late sixties (1968) to conduct Black Workshops as part of the activities of the Drama Committee. [[It was the Black Workshops under the auspices of the Trinidad and Tobago Association that produced the first professional play of the BTW, written by Professor Lorris Elliott, and named "How Now Black Man". Dr. Bayne was appointed by the Trinidad and Tobago Association to be the Executive Producer of that production and to represent the Association's interest. Except for a brief absence from the company 1970-1972, Dr, Bayne continued to hold the position of Executive producer and president of the company for early the formative years of the company between 1973-4 to 1990]]. He negotiated the first professional grant from Canada Council with matching funds from the Multicultural Directorate (Ottawa) that launched the company as a professional theatre company in 1984, making it eligible for funding from all three level of the cultural funding agencies]] [1]. The Black Theatre Workshop company is committed to reflecting Black culture and community by developing and providing visibility for Black Canadian artists; and the creation of a Black Canadian theatre and literature. Black Theatre Workshop is an award-winning English-speaking theatre company. Its first play "How Now Black Man" was produced in 1970 under the name '''Black Workshop''' at the Centaur Theatre.[2] But Black [Theatre] Workshop defacto existed from July 17 1968.

Over the years the theatre has had many artistic directors including Dr. Clarence Bayne, Errol Sitahal, Terry Donald, Dwight Bacquie, Lorena Gale, Don Jordan, Winston Sutton, Fleurette Fernando, Nancy Delva, Kate Bligh and Rachael Van Fossen, and Tyrone Benskin. Since August 2011, the Artistic Director has been Quincy Armorer. He is a graduate of the Theatre Department at Concordia University and also studied at the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre at the Stratford Festival.[3]

Mission

Black Theatre Workshop's mission is to encourage and promote the development of a Black and Canadian Theatre, rooted in a literature that reflects the creative will of Black Canadian writers and artists, and the creative collaborations between Black and other artists. Black Theatre Workshop aims to promote and produce Black theatre that educates, entertains and delights its audiences.[4]

Awards and merits

Among its early ambitious productions was Derek Walcott's Dream on Monkey Mountain (1973-74 season). Then Executive Director Dr. Clarence Bayne secured a Canada Council grant in 1976 and contributed new plays for the theater, including The Black Experience, Bonanza 70 and Martin Luther King Who?. Many prominent Black Canadian Playwrights have had their work produced by the theater including George Boyd (Wade in the Water, Le Code Noir), Vadney Haynes (Blacks Don't Bowl), Lorris Elliot. (How Now Black Man, David Edgecombe ( Sunavavitch, Coming Home to Roost, and Strong Current), Dwight Bacquie, ( Marvin: Dream of a Lifetime), Walter Borden,(Tightrope Time: Ain’t Nuthin’ More Than Some Itty Bitty Madness Between Twilight and Dawn), one of the first plays in the history of Black Canadian literature to directly present themes of male homosexuality[5]. Djanet Sears (The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God, Afrika Solo, Harlem Duet), Andrew Moodie (Riot, A Common Man's Guide to Loving Women, The Lady Smith), d'bi Young (blood.claat: one woman story), Donna-Michelle St. Bernard (Gas Girls, ), Lorena Gale (Angelique) the infamous story of Marie-Joseph Angélique a slave woman who was hung for allegedly setting fire to her master's house and most of what is today known as Old Montreal. Some emerging playwrights as well including Omari Newton (Sal Capone: The Lamentable Tragedy of), Anne-Marie Woods (She Said/He Said), Chimwemwe Miller (When Elephant was King) Djennie Laguerre (Rendez-Vous with Home).[6][7]

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award

Since 1986 the theatre has given out the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award, presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to African-Canadian artistic and cultural life in Canada. BTW presents the gala each year to celebrate the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King to non-violent social change. BTW presents an award for lifetime achievement, among recipients honorees include: Recipients of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award – In 1987, the 1st Vision Celebration Gala was given to Oscar Peterson: Music. In 1988, Ranee Lee: Music / Actor [Jazz]. 1989, Charlie Biddle: Music [Jazz]. 1990, Rufus Rockhead (posthumously): Music [Jazz]. 1991, Dr. Dorothy Wills: Community / Arts. 1992, Dr. Clarence Bayne: Theatre & Educator. 1993, Oliver Jones: Music [Pianist]. 1994, Professor Trevor Payne: Music. 1995, Dr. Daisy Peterson-Sweeny: Music. 1996, Salome Bay: Music / Actor. 1997, Lorraine Klaasen: Music [Singer]. 1998, Anthony Sherwood: Actor. 1999, Austin Clarke: Writer. 2000, Michelle Sweeney: Music [Singer]. 2001, Aldwin Albino: Music. 2002, Anthony Salah I. Wilson: Music [Steel pan]. 2003, Djanet Sears: Theatre. 2004, George Elliot Clarke: Poet. 2005, Jeri Brown: Music [Jazz]. 2006, Walter Borden: Theatre. 2007, Charles Ellison: Music [Jazz]. 2008, Terry Donald: Theatre. 2009, Ethel Bruneau: Dance [Tap]. 2010, Bertrand A. Henry: Theatre. 2011, Doudou Boicel: Music. 2012, Tonya Lee Williams: Film & Television. 2013, Gregory Charles: Music. 2014. Zab Maboungou: Dance. 2015, Dany Laferrière: Literature. 2016, Jackie Richardson: Theatre & Music. 2017, Winston Sutton: Theatre, Don Jordan: Dance & Theatre, 2018.[8]

In 2005 BTW was recognized by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Committee of Montreal for its Historic Contribution to the Development of Black Performing Arts in Canada. It has also received a Trail Blazer Award (Black History Month Round Table Award) in recognition of its exceptional dedication to the development of the community by promoting cultural diversity, educational awareness and social consciousness.


Dr. Clarence Bayne Community Service Award

This award has been created by the Black Theatre Workshop in recognition of and to honour of the exceptional dedication and contributions of Dr Clarence Bayne to Black arts and culture in Canada; and his tireless work in the development of the Black community in Quebec and Canada. He is an exemplary model of selfless devotion to community and commitment to the creation of a truly just, equitable and sustainable multicultural society in Canada. His contributions span some sixty years and addresses a wide range of issues and problems affecting the full participation, growth and development of Blacks in Canadian societies. The Workshop truly believes that his life achievements serve as a guide and motivator to successor generations of Black community leaders.

Dr. Clarence Bayne is a founding past President of the National Black Coalition of Canada; a founder of the Black Community Council of Quebec; a founder and member of the Board of Directors of the Queen Elizabeth Health Complex; a collaborator in the creation of the Monkland Community Center (NDG); a founder of the Montreal CEDEC. He is the Founding Director of the Institute for Community Entrepreneurship and Development (ICED) , Concordia University, Montreal. He is a founding member of the Quebec Board of Black Educators and Founding President of the Black Studies Center, Montreal. He is a founder and Senior Editor in Chief of the International Journal for Community Development and Management Sciences; a Full professor Emeritus in the Department of Supply Chain and Business Technology Management. JMSB, Concordia University. He is widely published in the field of social economy and community development.

A crowning achievement is that he is the founder and sitting member and past president of the Black Theatre Workshop of Montreal. For his selfless volunteer work Dr. Bayne has received a vast number of awards from numerous community organizations and public institutions; national and international governments: several Governor General Awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award; The Trinidad and Tobago Commemorative Award on the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Trinidad and Tobago; The Black History Month Laureate Award and a special mention as a member of the community group that spear-headed the naming of February Black History Month in Montreal; a Seniors Montreal Award; The Community Contact Award as one of 19 Top Contributors to the Black Community of Montreal; and the prestigious Martin Luther King life time Achievement Award (Black Theatre Workshop). Dr Bayne is also a published Black poet,essayist, and social critic whose writings appear in several academic journals and publications.

Thus, against this background and the critical importance of Dr Bayne’s contributions to the creation and development of Black theatre and culture in Montreal and Canada, making the srts a critical factor in community development and the building of a better society, the Black Theatre Workshop at each Vision Celebration shines the spot light on volunteerism and community building, by presenting the Dr. Clarence Bayne Community Service Award to someone who demonstrates exemplary selflessness, persistence, and creative drive in working for the betterment of our community and the creation of a better Canada.

References

  1. ↑ Le Black Theatre Workshop de MOntreal: un nouveau bilan by Clarence Bayne, L'Annuaire theatral 29, Methods en question, Printemps 2001, pp 141-155.
  2. ↑ Canadian Encyclopedia.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Bordon, Walter. "Borden, Walter". Canadian Theatre.com. Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  6. ↑ http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Black%20Theatre%20Workshop
  7. ↑ http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=d%92bi%20Young.anitafrika
  8. ↑ "Gala to Honour Founder of Dawson's Theatre Program," Montreal Gazette, January 28, 2010.
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