Named after a derogatory term in the Ghanaian Tui dialect meaning “girly boy”, Obaaberima is, at its heart, an exploration of duality and of freedom. Set in the prison cell of a young African-Canadian man convicted of a violent crime, he shares with his cellmates, and the audience, his story on the eve of his release.
Loosely based on Ghanaian-Canadian writer and performer Tawiah M’Carthy’s own experiences, the story moves between sexuality, race, gender, and continents as effortlessly as it moves through spoken word, song, and dance.
A multi-disciplinarian, M’Carthy says the direction of the production was “heavily influenced by traditional Ghanian storytelling – a combination of many art forms. These elements become part of the story, bridging the gap between two cultures.”
Obaaberima’s journey began as a poem, when M’Carthy showcased the piece at the Young Creators Unit – a festival of works by new artists – at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, a queer-focused community theatre space in Toronto. Its image of a young boy standing in his mother’s mirror in a pair of her high-heeled shoes struck director Evalyn Parry instantly.
“I was instantly drawn to Tawiah’s lyrical instinct as a storyteller and his extraordinary stage presence.” Parry says. “It was an interesting point of departure, a story I hadn’t heard before considering the culture and the lack of a word for homosexuality.”
Workshopping the poem over three phases, the shape of the stage version began to take place with the combination and intersection of each identity the story explores.
“It’s essentially what makes the story what it is, and what makes it compelling,” Parry explains. “The analogy of this person as a prisoner confronts the ways in which we imprison ourselves and how we may transcend this, to achieve our whole selves.”
Both M’Carthy and Parry are quick to point out the collaborative nature of the piece, rounded out by the musical production of Kobena Aquaa Harrison.
“The music became a character in itself,” M’Carthy offers. “The audience also plays a key role in the show as a dialogue forms between them and the performers.”
An award-winning production that first premiered in Toronto in the fall of 2012, Obaaberima was an instant hit with local audiences. M’Carthy and Parry recently took the show to Ottawa and will visit Vancouver for a two week run at The Cultch beginning March 24.
Parry is excited for a return to the historic theatre,
“I find The Cultch has always welcomed productions from BIBT, and I personally find West Coast audiences so open and enthusiastic."
• Obaaberima runs March 24-April 4. Tickets from $19 at TheCultch.com
