X and Da Spirit (2023)
Produced by
b current and Theatre Passe Muraille
Playwright: Donovan Hayden
Director: Rais Clarke-Mendes
Venue
Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace
Run
February 4th, 2023 – February 11th, 2023
Synopsis
X is an unassuming Black man. That is until he encounters a mural beneath a bridge, where ‘da Spirit of the Struggle’ transmits the knowledge of Black resistance to him in an instant. Now he must find his place in the Struggle, guided by an artist, MC, who challenges X’s understanding of the movement and the personal consequences of activism.
This show is inspired by artist Donovan Hayden’s experiences during the massive Black Lives Matter protests that stretched around the globe since 2020, and his continued involvement in the movement. X and Da Spirit is a celebration of Toronto Blackness, resistance, and community through rap, dance, graffiti, music and spoken word. (passemuraille.ca)
Cast
| Donovan Hayden | X |
| Trinity Lloyd | MC |
Creative Team
| Donovan Hayden | Playwright |
| Rais Clarke-Mendes | Director |
| Chris Leal | Set Designer |
| Chris Leal | Muralist |
| Miquelon Rodriguez | Sound Designer |
| Jacob Lin 林鴻恩 | Lighting Designer |
Production
| Scotia Cox | Stage Manager |
| Brendan McMurtry-Howlett | Producing and Artistic Mentor |
| Donovan Hayden | Producer |
| Courage Bacchus | Deaf Interpreter |
| Robert Haughton | Deaf Interpreter |
| Dr. Jenelle Rouse | Deaf Community Consultant |
| Kimberley Johnson | ASL Interpreter |
| Aneesa Mustafa | ASL Interpreter |
| Katherine Teed-Arthur | Stagehand |
| Mitchell Ayres | Crew |
| John Cabanela | Crew |
| Frank Incer | Crew |
| Ian Kelly | Crew |
| Van Ward | Crew |
| Amber Pattison | Crew |
| Evelyn Rensing | Crew |
| Nicholas Simmons | Crew |
| Leighton Smith | Crew |
| Katherine Teed-Arthur | Crew |
Staff
| David Fisher | Venue Technician |
| Jonathan Rooke | Production Manager |
| Nicole Eun-Ju Bell | Assistant Production Manager |
