Is God Is
By Aleshea Harris
An Obsidian Theatre Company, Necessary Angel Theatre Company, and Canadian Stage co-production
Heads will turn and genres will be smashed in the Canadian premiere of this award-winning modern myth.
On May 10th, 2022, Obsidian Theatre in collaboration with Necessary Angel and Canadian Stage will be hosting a Black Out Night for the Canadian premiere of Is God Is by Aleshea Harris.
Black Stories. Black Artists. Black Audiences. BLACK OUT NIGHT!
This Black Out Night is an evening, exclusive to the Afro/Black community, dedicated to celebrating Black stories, artists, and audience members by providing a safer space for them to experience theatre that is about the Afro/Black community and by the Afro/Black community.
In addition to a presentation of Is God Is, the night will include an invigorating conversation about how the Black aesthetic moves Canadian theatre forward.
For accessibility, tickets to this one night only event will be discounted to a rate of $15 when you use the promo code “BLACKOUT”.
There will also be a post-show talk with Black Pledge, moderated by Meghan Swaby.
Meghan Swaby is a first-generation Jamaican Canadian actor and playwright based in Toronto.
Her play Venus’ Daughter was produced by Obsidian Theatre in 2016 and was included on The SureFire List (Playwrights Guild of Canada) as one of the top 23 recommended plays in Canada. She has participated in playwriting residencies at various theatres and festivals, including Nightwood Theatre, Obsidian Theatre, Diaspora Dialogues, Playwright’s Workshop Montreal, the Stratford Festival, Noteworthy, and First Drafts. Her work has been performed internationally and was included as part of 50in50: Writing Black Women Into Existence at the Billie Holiday Theatre (Brooklyn, NY). She has been awarded grants from Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council for her writing.
Meghan is a graduate of the University of Windsor (BFA–Acting,) and an alumna of the International Actors Fellowship at Shakespeare’s Globe (UK).
She is the co-creator of Beneath the Ceiba Tree, a podcast about Caribbean folklore currently a podcast in residence with Crow's Theatre.
“Make your daddy dead,” A mother demands of her twin daughters from her deathbed, in the electrifying 2016 Obie and Relentless Award recipient from Aleshea Harris.
Their mother’s words set Racine and Anaia off on an epic journey for righteous revenge, from the Dirty South to the Hollywood Hills Letting no one stand in their way, they uncover the secrets of the mysterious fire that tore their family apart decades earlier. “I wanna step on somethin for once. See what it feel like. Must feel good,” says an unleashed Racine.
Equal parts ancient and modern, Spaghetti Western and Afropunk, this gripping thriller hurtles toward a conclusion that’s as inevitable as it is shocking.
Updated: June 1, 2022
The Canadian Stage theatre experience has been designed with the safety and comfort of patrons, artists, and staff as the top priority. Canadian Stage will continue to monitor and respond to governmental policy changes and advice from health authorities to ensure we are always up-to-date and offering the safest experience possible.
Things to know.
- Vaccination and Masks: Policies around face masks and vaccination are evolving. At the time of publication, face masks will be mandatory for all indoor performances, as will proof of full vaccination completed at least 14 days prior to the performance. Proof of vaccination and face masks will not be required for outdoor performances.
- Reduced Contact: As much as possible, interactions between staff and patrons will be contactless. This includes ticket scanning, box office transactions, and health screenings.
- Sanitation: Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the venue. All high-touch surfaces will be sanitized both prior to and following each performance.
- Protecting Your Purchase: We understand that things change. If a performance is cancelled or you are no longer comfortable attending the theatre, you will have your choice of one of the following:
- A full refund
- An account credit to use for a future Canadian Stage production
- A tax receipt in the amount of the ticket donation
Please do not attend if you have a fever or are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of attending, or if you have had close contact with anyone suspected or confirmed of having COVID-19.
All residents and visitors of Toronto must follow the City of Toronto's current Public Health regulations. Click here to view the current Public Health Regulations for the City of Toronto.
Liability Waiver
While we have put measures in place to enhance safety and help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission from person to person, an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in public places where people gather. By attending Canadian Stage performances, you voluntarily assume all risks related to possible exposure of COVID-19. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in removal from the venue.
Canadian Stage has been awarded the Safe Travels Stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council. This international symbol is designed to allow travellers to recognize companies around the world which have adopted health and hygiene safety measures that ensure customers experiences are safe.