Silver Ticket Award Mentor
ahdri zhina mandiela
performance poet, artistic director
Program areas: directing, dramaturgy, playwrighting
since the late 70’s ahdri zhina mandiela has worked as a performance poet with readings, performances, lectures, and workshops around the world. she’s the founder and past artistic director of the legendary b current performing arts in toronto, canada. her work in artistic mentoring and training, and as dramaturg or director of countless play scripts, performance pieces, mainstage and touring productions has profoundly influenced new and seasoned artists across canada and beyond.
mandiela introduced the ever-evolving dub theatre form with her seminal performance work and a b current inaugural production of dark diaspora… in dub (1991); established the company’s prestigious rAiz’n the sun training program (1999), and the much buzzed rock.paper.sistahz festival (2002-2018).
her current artistic push includes a new media documentary project: blackstage2, (followup to her 90’s seminal film, on.black.stage.women), plus fresh writings for page and stage.