Emerging Creators Unit
June 19 + 20
community + education partner
education programming supporter
Since January, the Emerging Creators Unit artists have been working with Tawiah M’Carthy, Philip Geller, and guest mentors to develop new works, and hone both artistic and producing skills. At our Queer Pride Festival, the three ECU artists share a sneak peek into their projects and processes.
Now in its fifteenth year, the ECU offers an intensive, process-focused opportunity for emerging performance creators to develop their artistic practice and producing skills through the creation of a new project.
June 19 + 20, 7:30PM
Online
ASL interpretation provided by Aneesa Mustafa, Denica Brown, and Latasha Lennox.
The Emerging Creators Unit sharings take place over two evenings. On June 19, the three creators will share a glimpse into the projects they’ve been developing, with excerpts of some pieces, and discussions with collaborators. On June 20, join the ECU for a group Q&A to learn more about their processes and their experiences in the ECU, followed by a social event on Gather.town.
For a limited time, you can watch the Emerging Creators Unit sharings here. Just click on the show title in the tabs below.
Photo Credit: From Left to Right Ajahnis Charley, Janis Mayers, Babe Waters (Photography John Paillé, MUA Mikey Elliot, Hair Styling Israel Garcia, Graphic Design “Whose Land is it Anyway?” Chris Rouleau)
27 Club
by Ajahnis Charley
The year is 2046, and folks hitting the age of 27 have to prove their worth… or die. Combining sketch with playwriting, this dark comedy, speculative fiction piece digs into the pressures of youth, and the value of comedy.
Ajahnis Charley is a comedy writer and performer delivering daring works that only a young debt-ridden gay could do. His directing debut, the short documentary I AM GAY, was produced by the National Film Board of Canada and featured in the 2021 Inside Out Film Festival. He writes for satire site The Beaverton, CBC news comedy show Because News, and the CBC podcast Tony Ho. He also is an alum of Canadian Comedy Award-winning sketch troupe The Sketchersons. He has written and performed his own solo sketch show THOTS & PRAYERS and won the Producer’s Pick award at the 2020 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival.
Park Life
by Janis Mayers
Blending physical theatre, poetry, and in situ wanderings, Park Life follows Jade’s recovery from addiction alongside the revitalization of her neighbourhood, Regent Park. The paths diverge as the quick fixes of gentrification are contrasted with long-term healing and renewal.
Janis Mayers is a Toronto born theatre artist with a background in media production and athletics. The 2018 RUTAS festival poster image has immersed herself in collective creation and artistic development. A member of ensembles such as Derives produced by Sans Productions and The Solitudes, produced by Aluna theatre. She completed an artistic residency at the Banff Centre and most recently a seasonal residency at Aluna theatre. Recently expanding her horizons, she has undertaken playwriting and developed Park Life an independent production that will be shared this June and has most recently been picked up by the 2021 Caminos festival.
Whose Land is it Anyway?
by Babe Waters
Babe Waters brings a QTBIPOC twist to classic 1970s game show tropes. This interactive, fever-dream piece asks audiences to see the real life of impacts of their consumption of other cultures.
Babe Waters is a queer performance artist and drag queen whose work holds a mirror to their communities through curated pop culture references. Described as fabulous yet filthy, Babe Waters has brought their tongue-in-cheek work across Turtle Island and around the world including Australia and Aoetearoa with pieces like Drop Deadly Gorgeous: The Pageant, Failure the Game Show, and the League of Lady Wrestlers.
Buy Tickets
Tickets are free but need to be booked ahead. Click the link above to book a ticket, which will give you access to the sharings on both June 19 + 20.
If you have any issues with the booking system, please e-mail us at tickets@buddiesinbadtimes.com.
Queer Pride 2021
Emerging Creators Unit
June 19 + 20
Emerging Company in Residence
June 22 + 23
Pride Tea Dance
June 27
Pride Pen Pals
Sign up by June 8
