Ep.34: MERENDIANDO with isi bhakomen
June 24, 2020
“Love is what raised me, and that’s what influences the things that I create.” – isi bhakomen
isi bhakomen is an Afro-Latinx poet, playwright, photographer, filmmaker based in Toronto. They are currently entering their final year studying acting at the National Theatre School of Canada, and have developed work with TIFF’s Next Wave Festival, Tarragon’s Young Playwright’s Unit and Soulpepper’s City Youth Academy.
In this episode we talked about isi’s journey in theatre and arts training, the importance of Afro-Latinx representation in art and media, the influence their family has on their work, and how Victoria Santa Cruz saved their life.
Show Notes
- The Insomniac Film Festival
- Paula Wing, theatre artist whom isi connected with at the Soulpepper’s City Youth Academy
- U For Change program in Regent Park
- Isi’s new poem Somewhere over the Rainbow will be part of Soulpepper’s Queer Youth Cabaret on Thursday June 25 (come watch!)
- Tarragon Playwrights Unit, where isi developed their play BOOM
- Jennifer Villaverde
- TIFF Next Wave Festival
- AGO Youth Council
- National Theatre School of Canada, or NTS
- isi’s letter on twitter, about an experience they had as a student at NTS
- Angélique by Lorena Gale, a play in which isi played the titular character in their first year at NTS
- ahdri zhina mandiela
- d’bi.young anitafrika
- Paprika Festival
- Miquelon Rodriguez
- Nina Lee Aquino
- Beatriz Pizano
- Victoria Santa Cruz, and her famous poem Me Gritaron Negra
- Chavela Vargas
- Augusto Bitter’s solo show Chicho
- Isi’s ongoing photo project X
- Lido Pimienta
- Princess Nokia
- Celia Green’s solo show Wah Wah Wah
- Donna Michelle St. Bernard
All Merendiando episodes are in Spanglish. New episodes of Radio Aluna Theatre are released every Wednesday. Follow and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
Radio Aluna Teatro is produced by Aluna Theatre with support from the Metcalf Foundation, The Laidlaw Foundation, The Canada Council for the Arts, and The Ontario Arts Council.
Aluna Theatre is Beatriz Pizano & Trevor Schwellnus, with Sue Balint & Gia Nahmens; Radio Aluna Theatre is produced by Camila Diaz-Varela and Monica Garrido.
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