Images by Louis Bockner

BLACK & RURAL

Trailer by Holly Hoffman

Toronto Premiere!

Created and Performed by Shayna Jones

Presented by dance Immersion

Produced by Pi Theatre

Hosted by Tarragon Theatre: Extraspace – 30 Bridgman Ave, Toronto, ON M5R 1X3

Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 7:30 – 8:30 PM followed by a reception

Thursday, November 21, 2024, 7:30 – 8:30 PM 

Friday, November 22, 2024, 7:30 – 8:30 PM followed by an artist talk



Click HERE to get your tickets!

  • $30 (taxes and fees included)
  • $25 (taxes and fees included) for students/seniors/arts workers/Tarragon subscribers
  • 20% off for groups of 10 or more



dance Immersion is thrilled to present the Toronto Premiere of this incredibly moving one-woman show by Shayna Jones of B.C., produced by Pi Theatre. Black & Rural incorporates spoken word, movement, and music to create an essential theatre experience that gives voice to rural Canadians of the African Diaspora. 

Black & Rural is an artistic inquiry into the hearts and minds of Black folks tucked away on Canada’s countryside. Project lead, Shayna Jones, aims to seek out, honour, and showcase stories from rurally based Blacks (like herself) to nuance and challenge the monolith of what matters to Black Lives. Created and performed by Shayna Jones and produced by Pi Theatre, Black & Rural weaves spoken word, movement, music, and verbatim theatre together in a spellbinding performance that is resonating across the country. www.blackandrural.com



Shayna Jones
(she/her) is an award winning actor, a playwright, a folklorist, and a multi-disciplinary spoken word artist specializing in the traditional oral storytelling of African and Afro-Diasporic lore. As a professionally trained performer, vocalist, and fine mover, Shayna has crafted performances for countless audiences across Canada featuring Afro-centric Folk History, Folklore and Contemporary Experience. Learn more about Shayna and her work at: www.wearestoryfolk.com 


ADVISORY INFORMATION: Black & Rural is drawn from the true stories of Black Canadians, and explores their lived experiences with frankness and grace. This show features strong language. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to info@pitheatre.com.




BLACK & RURAL CREDITS

Written, performed, and created by Shayna Jones

Featuring voice-over performances by Tom Pickett, Omari Newton, Kwasi Thomas, Giselle Carke-Trenaman, Ivy Charles, Britney Buren, and Mariam Barry ‍

Directed by Richard Wolfe

Tour Manager: Kayleigh Sandomirsky

Stage Manager: Maria Zarrillo

Producer: Libby Willoughby

Lighting Design: Brad Trenaman

Associate Lighting Designer: Victoria Bell

Set Design & Costume Consultant: Cecilia Vadala

Sound Design & Composition: Rufus Cappadocia

Movement Director: Amber Barton

Dramaturg: Angela Konrad



About Director Richard Wolfe:

Richard (he/him) is the Artistic and Producing Director of Pi Theatre as well as a dramaturg and a specialist in contemporary theatre and performance.  He’s been nominated 6 times for Outstanding Director (winning twice) and once for Significant Artistic Achievement in Vancouver’s professional theatre.  Canadian and world premieres he’s directed include: Black & Rural by Shayna Jones, Truth & Lies (4 original plays about the digital world), Lampedusa, by Anders Lustgarden, Hir by Taylor Mac, Dance Like No One’s Watching by Munish Sharma (site-specific dance performance), At the Speed of Light by Peter Dickinson (original audio drama), The Events by David Greig (Canadian premiere at the PuSh Festival), Empire of the Son by Tetsuro Shigematsu (which has played in 18 cities to over 20,000 people), 1 Hour Photo by Tetsuro Shigematsu (nominated for a GG playwriting award) and the musical-chamber piece The Meal by Rick Maddocks – among many others. Richard is grateful to Timea Wharton-Suri and dance Immersion for bringing this beautifully human story by Shayna Jones to Toronto audiences. 

PLUS A BLACK & RURAL RETREAT!

SAVE THE DATE – Saturday, November 23, 2024!

EMBODIED KNOWLEDGE & STORYTELLING: A Black & Rural Community Retreat at Adinkra Farm

Shayna Jones, dance Immersion & b current Performing Arts are collaborating to offer Ontario-based African Diasporic artists a communal learning experience that includes embodied storytelling workshops, informal performances, collective drumming, and a home-cooked African-Caribbean meal!

More information and registration HERE!