Welcome to the first Thought Residency of 2022: Stories, Stories, Stories: Representation is Harm Reduction with thoughts from Rachel Mutombo, Makambe K. Simambe, Yolanda Bonnell and facilitated by Alex Cameron.
Rachel Mutombo is an award-winning actor and writer. She is an acting graduate of John Abbott College’s Professional Theatre program as well as the National Theatre School of Canada. As a freelance writer, Rachel has had essays and articles published by CBC, Intermission Magazine and ByBlacks. Her first stage play, Vierge, was awarded the first place prize in Infinitheatre’s annual playwriting competition. Vierge is set to have its world premiere at Factory Theatre in Toronto in April 2023.
Makambe K. Simamba is a Zambian, a multidisciplinary theatre creator, and a truth enthusiast. She is a published national award winning playwright who continues to tour her solo show “Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers” across Canada. Makambe’s intention as an artist to be of service to her community through her ability to connect and tell stories.
Yolanda Bonnell (She/They) is a Bi/Queer 2 Spirit Anishinaabe-Ojibwe, South Asian mixed storyteller from Fort William First Nation. Her play bug was nominated for four Dora awards, while the published version was shortlisted for a Governor General Literary Award. Yolanda won the PGC Tom Hendry Drama Award for her play, My Sister’s Rage proudly bases her practice in land-based creation, drawing on energy and inspiration from the earth and her ancestors.
