Voices Black Theatre Ensemble
About Us
Halifax based Voices Black Theatre Ensemble was founded in 1992 by multi-disciplinary artist/performer/writer David Woods with the goal of the creation and professional presentation of theatre and storytelling performance that explore African Nova Scotian and African Canadian experiences. Voices is currently the only theatre company producing African Nova Scotian drama and storytelling on a consistent basis in the province producing at least one new annually between 1990-2017.. Noted productions include Nova Scotia Black Reality Song (1990), Woman Songs (1995), Choices In The Skin (1997), The Meeting (2002), Black Journey (2010), Once: Africville Stories (2015-18), The Return (2017). The Ensemble has toured plays and other stage performances across Nova Scotia and Canada including performances at Harbourfront Centre Toronto, Parliament Hill, Ottawa; Museum of History, Gatineau; Chinese Cultural Ctr, Calgary; and Vancouver East Cultural Ctr, Vancouver. In addition to stage performances, Voices has also created drama for CBC Radio and participated in a number of video and documentary projects. Voices is a mainstay of the Halifax Fringe Festival where it has won several major awards at the annual festival. Voices was the launching pad for several noted African Nova Scotian performers including singer, actors Jeremiah Sparks and Jivaro Smith, actor Nathan Siimmons, actress, storyteller Celeste Bernard and the late Wanda Robson, Viola Desmond’s sister (storyteller). Founder and principal playwright David Woods has won several awards for his writings for Voices including The George Elliot Clarke Literary Award (1998,1999) and The Harry Jerome Award (2017).
Mission statement
- To create and maintain a professional theatre arts company dedicated to the presentation of drama and performance on African Nova Scotian (and African Canadian) culture, history and experience.
- To present original stage drama and performance exploring African Nova Scotian contemporary experience.
- To recruit, develop and expose local African Nova Scotian theatre performers
- To pursue performance opportunities that share the ensemble’s work with Canadian audiences.
- To promote professionalism and excellence in ensemble presentations and among ensemble members
- To provide an African Nova Scotian perspective on Canadian experiences through theatre.
2023-2025 Ensemble Members
CELESTE BERNARD
Ensemble Actor, Storyteller
KITCHENER ON
GORDON BLACKMORE
Ensemble Actor, Storyteller
HALIFAX
LOUISE DELISLE
Storyteller
SHELBURNE
MALACHI JEFFREY
Ensemble Actor
HALIFAX
TESIA ROLLE
Storyteller
DARTMOUTH
VETTY THOMAS
Ensemble Actor, Storyteller
EAST PRESTON
DAVID WOOODS
Artistic Director, Pricipal Director, Principal Playwright, Storyteller
DARTMOUTH
Voice Membership Application
Click the link below to apply to become a member of the Voices Black Theatre Ensemble.
Gallery
Past Ensemble Members
ASSANTE SPIVEY
DARTMOUTH
Actor, Dancer
2017
Roles in The Return
JACOB SAMPSON
HALIFAX
Ensemble actor
2014-15
Roles in Once: Africville Stories, Black Journey
JAYLA JAMES
DARTMOUTH
Contemporary Dancer
2015-2017
Roles in Once: Africville Stories, Black Journey
JEREMIAH SPARKS
CHERRYBROOK
Ensemble actor, Vocalist, Musical director
1990-2000
Roles in Black Journey, Nova Scotia Black Reality Song, Black History Month Show, Nova Scotia Suite
JIVARO SMITH
NORTH PRESTON
Ensemble actor, Vocalist, Voices Singers
1990-2000
Roles in Black History Month Show, Nova Scotia Black Reality Song, Nova Scotia Suite, The Detention, The Return, Voices Singers
KEN HUDSON
CHERRYBROOK
Ensemble actor
1990-2000
Roles in Black Journey, Nova Scotia Black Reality Song,
Black History Month Show, Great Speeches In Black History
MELANIE SIMMONS
NORTH PRESTON
Contemporary Dancer
1990-1996
Roles in Talk Black History Month Show, Nova Scotia Black Reality Song, Nova Scotia Suite, Coming Up For Air, The Return
NATALIE HODGSON
DARTMOUTH
Lead actress
1990-2000
Roles in The Detention, Black History Month Show
NATHAN COLLEY
EAST PRESTON
Ensemble actor
1994-2000
Roles in The Detention, Choices In The Skin, Voices Dancers
NATHAN SIMMONS
EAST PRESTON
Ensemble actor
1994-2000
Roles in Black Journey, Once: Africville Stories
SHAWN GROSSE
HALIFAX
Stage manger, Tech, Driver
1990-2004
SUZY GANGOO
HALIFAX
Ensemble actor
1990-1995
Roles in Nova Scotia Black Reality Song, Black History Month Show, Nova Scotia Suite
TANDI NYAJEKA
HALIFAX
Ensemble actor
1990-2000
Roles in Black Journey, The Detention, Coming Up For Air, Talk That Talk
TANYA HUDSON
CHERRYBROOK
Ensemble actor, storyteller
1990-2000
Roles in Motion, Black Journey, Nova Scotia Black Reality Song, Black History Month Show, The Detention, Coming Up For Air, Ain’t I A Woman Too, The Return,
Once: Africville Stories, Gospel, Talk That Talk, Great Speeches In Black History
TONY BERNARD
CHERRYBROOK
Stage manger, Tech
1990-1996
VERONICA TYNES
DARTMOUTH
Singer
1990-1994
Roles in Black History Month Show, Talk That Talk, Aint I A Woman Too
WANDA ROBSON
(1927-2022, North Sydney)
Storyteller
2007-2022
Roles in Talk that Talk, Speaking In Tongues,
Past Voices Vocal Ensembles
Voices Gospel Choir 1995
Voices Gospel Choir 1995 Cons ducted by Brainer Taylor, Nathaniel Dett Chorale
Voices Singers 1990-1995
L-R: Jivaro Smith, Terrylyn Glasgow, Rochelle Smith, Flyod Simmonds, Pamela Johnson, Lenora Simmonds
Voices Singers 1995-1997
Front: Trynda Thomas
L-R: Jivaro Smith, Rosella Fraser, Shauntay Grant
Voices Singers 1997
L-R: Jeremiah Sparks (keyboards) Richard Sparks (lead guitar), Jamie Sparks (bass guitar), Rosella Fraser, Viola Fraser (vocals)
Past Voices Dance Ensembles
Voices Dancers 1993-95
L-R: Back Shamyra Provo (hidden) Kadisha Downey
Front: Verna Willis Marika Downey
Voices Dancers 1990-91
L-R: Darren Simmonds, Rico Willis
Performances
Past Performances
GOSPEL (1996)
Written and directed by David Woods A storyteller narrates the story of the creation and evolution of gospel music from its beginnings in the spirituals sung at ‘hush harbours’...
NOVA SCOTIA SUITE (1995)
Written and directed by David Woods An ‘amped up’ version of the play ‘Nova Scotian Reality Song’ with elaborate sets and a full gospel choir and fi ul band accompaniment. Guest...
WOMAN SONGS (1995)
Written and directed by David Woods Three stories of Black women ‘For Elsie Dorrington’- the story of a young woman who has fallen into the life of prostitution with tragic...
AUNT JEMIMA STORY (1994)
Written and directed by David Woods After working as a maid for the Goodman family in the small town of New Glasgow NS, Dot Paris is hired by the Quaker Oats Company as ‘Aunt...
GREAT SPEECHES FROM BLACK HISTORY (1993)
Written and directed by David Woods Selected great speeches from Black History performed by Voices actors with vocal accompaniment by the Voices Singers. Speeches include...
AINT I A WOMAN TOO (1993)
Written and directed by David Woods A dramatization of the lives and famous speeches of notable Black women in history including freedom fighter and Underground Railroad leader...
TALK THAT TALK (1994)
Written and directed by David Woods An ensemble performance consisting of skits, sermons, musical performance and dance that tell the story of the Black influence on English...
THE DETENTION (1993)
Written and directed by David Woods Four Black students are given a detention at Central High School, a fictional school in Halifax. Mrs. James, the supervising teacher assigns...
BLACK HISTORY MONTH SHOW (1990)
Written and directed by David Woods A musical and dramatic celebration of Black History Month. This ensemble performance is anchored by adapted versions of the choreo-drama...
BLACK JOURNEY (1990)
A dramatic portrait of the journey of Black Nova Scotians from Africa, through the period of slavery in America and finally with their settlement in Nova Scotia. The performance...
Productions in Development
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Contact Us
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 23106 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3A 4S9
Address
404 Bissett Rd., Cole Harbour NS
Email
voices@banns.ca
Phone
(902) 902 430-3560