DAY 5 - SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2025
PERFORMANCE & CREATION WORKSHOP
Black Pledge is excited to bring together some of the country’s incredibly skilled and talented artists and teachers for day long workshops. These workshops are exclusively for Black creatives with a relationship to performance.
Compassion care funds for child care, transportation or other needs are available courtesy of Balancing Act. Participants can indicate if they need the compassion fund in the registration form. Lunch will be provided. Email ggrant@theblackpledge.ca for the promo code for no cost registration.
REGISTER
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
The day runs from 10:30am - 5pm. Participants can choose one workshop per day. Workshops are happening simultaneously at the Wild Seed Centre for Art and Activism.
10am - 10:30am - Welcome
10:30am - 11:00 - Opening Ritual
11:00am - 1:00pm - Workshop - Part 1
1:00 - 2:30pm - Lunch (will be provided)
2:30pm - 4:30pm - Workshop - Part 2
4:30pm - 5:00pm - Closing Ritual
Alicia Richardson
The Sound of Trust: Voice as Vehicle for Confidence
This workshop will explore techniques for breath support, down-regulating from performance jitters, waking up the vocal instrument, and delivering your words with conviction. There will be partnered exercises that involve touch, please note these are encouraged but optional. If available to you, please bring a yoga mat (additional mats will be available for those in need.)
ALICIA RICHARDSON is an actor/writer, and vocal coach who hails from Boynton Beach, Florida. She graduated from York University’s MFA Acting & Diploma of Voice Teaching Programs. Now a Permanent Resident of Canada, Alicia calls Toronto her home. Her body of work spans television, film, theatre, and voice - over. As a voice and dialect coach, Alicia has worked for Soulpepper Theatre Company ( Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; The Brother’s Size; Jesus Hopped the A Train ), The Shaw Festival ( Trouble in Mind ), Cahoots Theatre ( Our Place ), and as a member of faculty at George Brown College and Sheridan College.
Velvet Wells
Devising and Thriving through Improvising
Before you hit the stage playfully exploring your Who What and Why, and finding your way back in The Moment if things go awry. No script or prework required, for all performing styles and experience levels
Velvet Wells is a queer, Black, disabled, award-winning lyrical comedian, creator, playwright, and producer. Most recently, they performed-produced “I Scream, You Scream… Justice” in the 2025 Ottawa Fringe Festival. Previously, they've toured “(Re)Tired Magical Black Man", "All Request Radio", and "Personal Demon Hunter." Off stage, they are an improvisational and anti-oppression facilitator, and proud member of Black Pledge Collective.
Lydie Dubuisson
Qu’est-ce qu’on fait? (What are we doing?)
During this workshop, artists will have the opportunity to reflect on their creative calling(s), their process and how their experience as artists impacts their community. Au cours de cet atelier, les artistes auront l'occasion de se questionner à propos de leur situation et processus créatifs, tout en réfléchissant à l'impact de leur expérience, en tant qu'artiste, sur leur communauté. Artists are encouraged to bring whatever they are working on. Interaction and activities will be in both French and English.
Lydie Dubuisson is a director, playwright, curator and dramaturg from Tiohtià:ke Montreal. Her work examines intersectionality, collective memory and multilingual creative processes. Over the years, she has directed projects for Black Theatre Workshop, Roseneath Theatre, Les Francos de Montréal, Just For Laughs, Collectif Potomitan, among others. Dubuisson wrote Quiet/Silence, Sanctuary/Sanctuaire, and she co-wrote Blackout: The Concordia Computer Riot, published by Playwrights Canada Press. Lydie Dubuisson was artistic associate at Black Theatre Workshop from 2020 to 2023.