Word up! An Oral Cabaret
Hosted by Rhoma Spencer
Friday, October 5, 2018
Ada Slaight Hall
90 minutes
An incredible evening of female performers is coming to the RUTAS cabaret on Friday Oct 5. Hosted by Rhoma Spencer, Word Up! An Oral Cabaret features spoken word and comedy. Join Rhoma, Rania El Mugammar, Faduma Mohamed and Keesha Brownie for an unforgettable night. FREE and open to all.
The RUTAS Cabaret is presented at Ada Slaight Hall, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St. East.
October 5, 2018 at 9:30 PM
About the artist
Rhoma Spencer is an award -winning actor and director, playwright and cultural critic who moonlights as a comedian and sometimes a chef. Yes! She is that diverse- cultural and culinary. Her works have been critically acclaimed in the Globe and Mail, Now Magazine and the Toronto Star.
As a comedian, Rhoma has been part of the Caribbean comedy circuit, touring the US and the Caribbean for the past fourteen years, while in Canada she has been part of the Jamaica vs Trinidad comedy clash cast on three occasions. Additionally, her own Frankly Speaking performances of comedy and ole talk with popular Jamaican comedian, Blakka Ellis throughout Toronto had been a cult classic. Recently, Rhoma was last seen in Brampton and Pickering leaving audiences in stitches with her brand of social comedy.
The most delicious name in the game, a Jill of all trades, and a household name in the complex diversity of Toronto’s entertainment industry lane! — (who wrote that?)
Keesha Brownie is one of North America’s candid comedians to watch. This Montreal born Canadian with Jamaican Roots has graced the stages of Comedy clubs across the country, showcasing a unique blend from her diverting lifestyle and West Indian Heritage to create her piercingly comical style. Got brownie? Pshhh well why not?
Theatre would become Keesha’s stomping grounds but Comedy is the cream of her crop. The 2012 City of Brampton winner of the Arts Acclaimed award, this ever the working women also produced her own comedy series entitled Jokers Corner created in 2010 in Brampton Ontario. Other credits include: 2015 Canadian Comedy Award Nominee for Best Female Comedian, Just For Laughs Montreal comedy festival 2017: Kevin Harts LOL NETWORK, NXNE Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Festival, (Scotland) SheDevil Comedy festival (New York), 905 Comedy Festival (Ontario), WindsorBorder City Comedy Festival (Windsor), Host of 5th and final SheDot Festival. Keesha has also headlined one of the most popular month comedy shows in Toronto, originally known as The Nubian Disciples of Pryor All Black Comedy Show, now known as “The Nubian All Black Comedy Revue” hosted by the well respected legendary Kenny Robinson. Keesha has also appeared on MTV CBC, GLOBAL NEWS and worked with the likes of, Michael Blackson, Majah Hype, Gina Yashere and more….keeping busy you can catch this Brownie at college, corporate or a comedy club near you!
Rania El Mugammar is a Sudanese Artist, Liberation Educator, Anti-oppression. Consultant , multidisciplinary performer, speaker and published writer. As a writer, her work explores themes of identity, womanhood, Blackness, flight, exile, migration, belonging, gender, sexuality and beyond. Rania’s primary mediums are poetry, spoken word and oral storytelling. She is a published poet, storyteller and playwright. Rania is deeply interested in poetic form and the auditory texture of words as well as the visual/aesthetic impact of language and form.
Faduma Mohamed is a storyteller who started writing at the age of eight and performing at the age of thirteen. In 2016, she graduated from a two year residency at Watah Theatre where she produced her one-woman-play “OUGHTISM” and currently studies English and Women and Gender Studies at the University of Toronto. From 2015 – 2016, she carried a box every single day to challenge the stigma around autism. Through the #OughtTheBox campaign, she has raised almost $7000 for families of autism. She was awarded the Yinnergy Good Samaritan Award 2015/2016 for her work around autism awareness and autism fundraising. Above all, she believes in the power of dreams.
