Arts·Updated

Seeding the Future: Students share original art and performances inspired by 21 Black Futures

The next generation of Black Canadian talent responds to the theatre anthology series with an eclectic mix of art and performance.

The next generation of Black Canadian talent responds to the theatre anthology series

Rhiannon Hoover performs a piece in response to Omega Child, one of the monodramas featured in 21 Black Futures. (@rhiannonxhoover/Instagram)

21 Black Futures, the new anthology series from Obsidian Theatre and CBC Arts, lays out a vision for the world to come. But here's the thing about the future: it's never-ending. So there's something kind of appropriate about what's going on with the program: it's already launched its own spin-off series. 

Introducing Seeding the Future, an eclectic mix of art and performance inspired by the stories found in 21 Black Futures. To create this digital project, Obsidian Theatre and CBC Arts partnered with folks from two notable theatre programs (York University and Brock University), and a call was put out to Black Canadian students. Who would be up to the challenge of creating an original work inspired by the show?

Emerging talent from around the country answered the call, and between now and March 8, they'll be revealing their original submissions on social media. Seven new works will debut every Monday until then, and to enjoy them all in one place, we'll collect them here on the site. 

Watch Seeding the Future and discover the next generation of Black Canadian talent. 

Season 1

isi bhakhomen (@isi_bhakhomen) on The Death News


Teri Blades (@alexeri_97) on The Sender


Cassandra Henry (@breathe.andbe.here) on Beyere


Larissah Lashley (@larissahlashley) on Witness Shift


Caitlyn MacInnis (@caitlynmacinnis) on Sensitivity


Paris (Unlimited) Molokwu (@parisunltd) on Jah in the Ever-Expanding Song


Emily Radcliffe (@21blkfutures_emily) on Madness with Rocks


Season 2

Nia (Nini) Osei (@nini__o) on Georgeena


Dante Jemmott (@dantejemmott) on Rebirth of the Afronauts: A Black Space Odyssey


Doriane Irakoze (@dorianeira) on Umoja Corp.


Audny-Cashae Stewart (@audnycashae) on Emmett


Sid Malcolm (@sidmalcom_) on Notice


Kaelan Bain (@kaelanbain) on Blackberries


Hannah Yvonne Williams-Griffiths (@jene.cestquoi) on Special


Season 3

Soji Cole (@soji.cole) on Yen Ara Asaase Ni/This Is Our Own Native Land


Quinlan Green (@quinlan.green_) on The Prescription


Rhiannon Hoover (@rhiannonxhoover) on Omega Child


Megan Legesse (@megsventures) on Cavities


Marie-Jude Salomon (@sheismariejude) on Builders of Nations


Paul Smith (@freshprinceofstittsville) on 40 Parsecs and Some Fuel


Clara Val-Fils (@Cassinissimo) on Chronologie


21 Black Futures is on CBC Gem. Watch now!

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you.

Sign up now

now