The Black Pledge Collective is proud to present Beyond Black Squares, a series of workshops to address anti-Black racism in theatre and live performance, from October 2023 to September 2024. 

The workshops will be facilitated by Black Pledge Collective members who are both skilled facilitators and Black artists who have worked extensively in theatre. Each workshop will feature case studies tailored to different groups/disciplines who work in theatre as well as an introduction to Black theatre in Canada and social justice frameworks.

As a workshop participant, you’ll also be invited to be a part of Black Pledge Collective’s new Discord Community. The BPC will keep this community animated and we hope that it will be a space of knowledge sharing and exchange toward the goal of dismantling antiblack racism in theatre and uplifting and celebrating black artists and Black work nationwide.

Date: October 25, 3-6 p.m. ET
Location: Online
Cost: Sliding scale starting at $100

Workshop for Directors

Calling directors, choreographers, casting directors, fight directors, intimacy directors and coaches, join us for a workshop about how you can better support and work with Black artists and arts workers. This will be a participatory workshop where participants will have the opportunity to both learn and share.

ASL interpretation and live captioning will be provided.

We do not want finances to be a barrier to attending these workshops. Please contact admin@theblackpledge.ca if you are unable to attend due to financial barriers.

Meet the facilitators


  • Naomi Bain is a multifaceted artist, blending activism, writing, performance, community education, futurism, and textile design into a vibrant tapestry of creative expression.

    Naomi’s artistic journey was nurtured at the renowned Watah Theater during the Black Box Season, where they honed their craft under the mentorship of the esteemed actor and creator, d’bi young anitafrika. With an unwavering commitment to community, Naomi found their purpose within the Sherbourne Health Center’s Supporting Our Youth (SOY) initiative. Here, they became an integral part of the Human Equity Access Team, acquiring invaluable experience in addressing LGBTQ+ issues within diverse communities. Beyond their artistic and LGBTQ+ advocacy roles, Naomi is a dedicated educator and facilitator at Freedom School Toronto. Through this program, they passionately champion the rights and advancement of Black students within the educational landscape.

    At the core of Naomi’s being lies an unshakable dedication to effecting positive change, not only within their immediate communities but also on a global scale. With an unapologetic spirit, Naomi continues to be a driving force for transformation and empowerment.


  • Sedina Fiati is a multi-award-winning, Toronto-based performer, producer, director, creator and activist for stage and screen. Proudly Black, queer and femme, Sedina is deeply invested in artistic work that explores the intersection between art and activism, either in form or structure or ideally both. Sedina holds a BFA in Music Theatre from the University of Windsor and is a proud graduate of Etobicoke School of the Arts. Favourite and recent artistic projects: The World Goes ‘Round (Nightwood Theatre, director), Peace Camp (Children’s Peace Theatre, director 2019 - 2021, 2023), Every Day She Rose (Nightwood Theatre, co-director), Switch: The Village (collective member, QTBIPOC street performance, SummerWorks 2020 - 2023), Feminist Fuck It Festival (multidisciplinary festival, co-creator and co-producer), Tokens (performer, web series, Canadian Screen Award Winner - Best Supporting Performance). Sedina recently completed 2.5 years as Artist-Activist in Residence at Nightwood Theatre. Upcoming projects: Last Dance (a web series).

    Photo credit: Robert Obumselu


  • Dr. Rita Shelton-Deverell, born in 1945, at Houston Negro Hospital, worked in live performance until 1975. Then she fell into broadcasting seriously full-time (CBC, co-founding VisionTV, APTN) until her 60th birthday. Next, Rita returned to theatre as a performer/ playwright and producer/director of TV drama.

    In 2019-21, her play Who You Callin Black Eh? won the Toronto Fringe Teen Jury Award; her book American Refugees: Turning to Canada for Freedom was published; she plays two mean old ladies in feature films; and is a member of Lakehead University’s Truth and Reconciliation Council and Act 3, a collective of senior women actors.

    Photo credit: ACTRA, 2018 Woman of the Year


  • Dayjan Lesmond is a director, lyricist, musician, performer, playwright, and producer.


  • Velvet Wells (they/them) is an award-winning producer-creator living in Ottawa, the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg. In the last few years, they've produced-performed "All Request Radio", "(Re)Tired Magical Black Man", "Djinn Joint", and "Personal Demon Hunter". They are currently writing "Anansi Discovers His Reflection" They are the 2023 IBPOC Emerging Artist laureate (Ottawa Arts Council), winning awards for their creativity and accessibility advocacy. In addition to facilitating workshops worldwide, they’ve mentored producer-creators through the Youth Infringement Festival and Toronto Fringe Festival. Most recently lauded as the Emerging IBPOC Artist by the Ottawa Arts Council for their accessibility advocacy, Velvet is a proud Black Pledge Collective and International Theatresports Institute member and a returning mentor for Ottawa's Youth Infringement Festival.

    Photo credit: Curtis Perry