MEDIA RELEASE // FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2023
A BLACK WOMAN, A PRAIRIE SKY AND
THE PONOKA COUNTY FAIR
World Premiere of MAKAMBE SPEAKS Produced by Ghost River Theatre
in association with Handsome Alice Theatre
Calgary, AB - Ghost River Theatre and Handsome Alice Theatre are coming together for the World Premiere of Makambe Speaks, co-created and performed by Makambe K. Simamba, multiple-award winning playwright and actor. Fragments of stand-up comedy, musical theatre and a few other surprises combine in this fantasia of rage, cultural commentary and
star-crossed love. Makambe Speaks runs from April 25 to May 6, 2023 at West Village Theatre.
“I have lived in several places in Canada, and to my surprise, Alberta continues to be the place that feels the most like home. It is a true homecoming to return to Ghost River Theatre and dive into a show that explores both the frustrations and freedoms that create my Albertan identity,” said Makambe K. Simamba.
“This show is a half celebration, half interrogation that examines those fragments in a casual setting by drawing on elements of stand up comedy and musical theatre. Multidisciplinary solo shows are my thing, so I’m really excited to use my favourite form to shake things up a little, and ask questions about community versus individual identity and how those things come together.”
Simamba’s intention is to be of service to her community through her ability to tell stories, and in this unscripted and innovative one-woman show, she deconstructs the age-old question “Where are you from? through diverting, bold and experimental storytelling.
Cast and Creative Team
Makambe K. Simamba: Co-Creator and Performer
Eric Rose: Director and Co-Creator
Meg Farnhall: Dramaturg
Steve Isom: Lighting Designer
Kristin Eveleigh: Sound Designer
Naomi Esau: Stage Manager
Tauran Wood: Technical Director
Misha Maseka: Vocal Coach
Aldona Barutowicz (Aldona B Creative): Publicist
Hayley Dechaine (Aldona B Creative): PR Coordinator
Production Photos by Jaime Vedres
“Makambe Speaks is a roller coaster of laughter and music that invites audiences to consider what it means to be home. Handsome Alice is thrilled to be teamed up with Makambe and Ghost River in developing this heartfelt and provocative piece” added Meg Farhall, Artistic Producer of Handsome Alice Theatre, who is also the Dramaturg on this production.
World Premiere of MAKAMBE SPEAKS
Produced by Ghost River Theatre
in association with Handsome Alice Theatre
April 25 - May 6, 2023 ~ West Village Theatre
For TICKETS and more information, please visit
https://www.ghostrivertheatre.com/makambe-speaks
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For Further Information, please contact:
Aldona Barutowicz, Publicist
Telephone: (403) 471-5308
Email: aldonabpr@gmail.com
ABOUT MAKAMBE K. SIMAMBA
Makambe K Simamba is a Dora Award winning playwright and actor for her most recent solo work, Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers (b current performing arts). She recently co-directed inVISIBLE (Too) at the University of Lethbridge.Makambe is a national award-winning playwright whose work includes Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers, A Chitenge Story, MUD and The Drum Major Instinct. She was the Urjo Kareda Artist in Residence at the Tarragon Theatre for the 2020/21 season. Makambe is a proud Zambian whose intention is to be of service through her ability to tell stories.
ABOUT GHOST RIVER THEATRE
Ghost River Theatre is an award-winning, devised theatre company expanding the boundaries and identity of dramaturgy, art and live performance. Based at the West Village Theatre in Calgary (Mohkinstsis), Ghost River Theatre prioritizes its collaborators and art above all else though ‘humans-first’ policies, with an emphasis on culture, creation, and community. Every individual involved has an equal voice on how productions are facilitated with Ghost River Theatre, where passion and process are what ignites the hearts of the theatre.
It’s not about selling seats, it’s about the craft and inspiring others. Ghost River Theatre creates a unique experience for its patrons; from the first sentence of a script to the final curtain - expect the unexpected. Guided by Artistic Director Eric Rose, this philosophy has been implemented in over 42 original Ghost River Theatre productions since it’s inception in 1992, garnering over 85 Betty Mitchell awards and nominations from performances across the country and internationally.
ABOUT HANDSOME ALICE
Handsome Alice is a theatre company, supporting women, non-binary and trans perspectives through creative narratives that fuse art with life. We amplify voices through projects that empower both artists and the community, creating and presenting performances with unique perspectives. We develop, create, and produce theatre works that are inclusive, curious, and rebellious.