Uju Umenyi
“The Story of Samuel Stout”
Staged reading and premiere of the final completed play in partnership with Theatre on the Ridge
Saturday September 24th, 2022
Port Perry Anglican Church of the Ascension
266 North St. Port Perry, L9L 1B7
2:00pm -3:30pm followed by artist talk
PARTNERS
The quaint town of Port Perry, Ontario, holds hidden histories. Theatre on the Ridge commissioned actor and writer Uju Umenyi to create a play inspired by the life of Professor Samuel Stout, the first Black resident of Port Perry, Ontario. The play will explore hidden stories, unpacking the ways history is written and erased, and seeks to share Samuel Stout’s experience of racism in a small town in Ontario. For her Ontario Culture Days residency, Umenyi will develop and lead a series of interactive audience and community engagement workshops with a focus on both the theatre creation process and exploring local Black history. The residency will culminate in the first reading of the script during the 2022 Ontario Culture Days Festival.
Artist’s bio:
Uju Umenyi is an emerging writer and performer located in the GTA. Along with being an active member of the theatre community, Uju has also won a performance award for her role in Doubt: A Parable and is currently an artist in residence at Theatre on the Ridge in Port Perry. Music will also play a big role in the eventual production of this project.
Partner bio:
Theatre on the Ridge is a not for profit collaborative theatre company, founded in 2013 and operating in Scugog Township in the Region of Durham. We are inspired to explore and share human experiences, great and small, through high calibre productions, the creation of new plays and the development of new artists. By being adaptive and attentive to the impact of both heritage and change, we bring captivating theatre to our audiences through a variety of live and digital formats.
We produce theatre and storytelling events, including a full summer repertory season at Scugog Shores Museum, engaging artists, audiences and the broader community to tell their individual and collective stories. Through our educational programming and community events, we aim to increase access to theatre programming in the Region of Durham.
Articles
Toronto is a ‘Dead Ringer’ in American cinema
After a sold-out premiere, Dave Dyment's latest film returns for free encore screenings at Toronto City Hall.
Uncovering Hidden Histories: Creative in Residence, Uju Umenyi
Alongside Theatre on the Ridge, Uju Umenyi is creating a play about Samuel Stout, Port Perry’s first Black resident. A staged reading will be presented during the 2022 Ontario Culture Days Festival.
From Casa Loma to Port Perry: untangling local history
Every place — no matter how big or small — has a story. It’s through culture that we uncover, amplify and celebrate the stories defining who we are, where we are and how we got here.
Artistic programs are made possible thanks to support from Canadian Heritage, the Province of Ontario, the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Toronto Arts Council.
