The Theatre Centre and Project: Humanity will present the world premiere of Small Axe, a piece of documentary theatre led by playwright/performer Andrew Kushnir and director Alan Dilworth. In development since 2011 as part of The Theatre Centre's Residency Program, Small Axe looks at the experiences of lesbian and gay people of colour from Jamaica and the Jamaican-Canadian diaspora, while investigating the intersection of homophobia and racism and what it means to put oneself at the centre of this dynamic. Featuring Sarah Afful, Michael Blake, Lisa Codrington, Chy Ryan Spain, Marcel Stewart and Kushnir, Small Axe will be on stage Jan. 17 to Feb. 1 at The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen St. W.).
With the recent release of international non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch's (HRW) report, Not Safe at Home: Violence and Discrimination against LGBT People in Jamaica, Small Axe comes at a pivotal time in the ongoing discussion about the state of Jamaica's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The HRW report found that LGBT Jamaicans face an intolerable level of violence, due to actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity, and that investigations into such violence are often inadequate due to homophobia within the police. Reports like the HRW's further underline that the situation for some LGBT people in the world is still dire. Small Axe aims to contribute to and feed this conversation by asking questions and exploring possible answers.
In the play, a queer white documentary theatre-maker thinks he's investigating homophobia in Jamaica. But what starts as a quest to expose an injustice, turns into a burning call for his personal transformation. Through Project: Humanity's signature documentary theatre style, Small Axe invites audiences to listen to the stories of queer people of colour in what may be, for some, a new way.
"Small Axe was inspired by a conversation I had with a gay Jamaican friend about the homophobia he experienced in his community. As a fellow gay man, I felt this reflexive outrage at the plight of LGBT people in Jamaica and I failed to listen to the complexity and specificity of what my friend was sharing", said Kushnir. "So, in addition to showcasing the voices of queer people of colour, the play shares my journey as a white artist bent on understanding their sense of outrage, solidarity, ignorance, complacency, privilege, and a desire for change. Small Axe has become less and less about a specific geographical place or community, but a very personal relationship to injustice and the stories of others."
Project: Humanity and The Theatre Centre are partnering with the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) to bring a wider community into the discussion around Small Axe, as part of their commitment to involve a variety of voices in the conversations started. Programming alongside the production will include audience discussions, a visual art exhibit, student performances and workshops, and a fundraising partnership with Dwayne's House, a Jamaican LGBT organization looking to provide a permanent shelter for homeless gay, lesbian, and transgender youth in Kingston, Jamaica. Project: Humanity has launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to subsidize this community/youth outreach component. To find the link and watch their campaign video please visit
www.projecthumanity.ca.
