A new female-written and -led play commissioned and developed by Persephone Theatre and exploring complex family dynamics is set to make its world premiere.
Wake, a new family drama written by Rachel Mutombo, follows an estranged Congolese family that is forced to confront old tensions in the face of new grief following the death of its patriarch.
“What makes for family drama in a strictly Canadian family might not be the same for a Congolese family – but it might be,” said Warona Setshwaelo, who plays Mama Jackie Kabongo in the show. “Wake is a family in a really hard time… with the added layer of the parents being immigrant parents and the daughters being raised in Canada.”
Wake was commissioned by Persephone Theatre in 2021 as the first of its IBPOC New Play Development Program. The program was created with the intent to support and centre the stories of artists who identify as Indigenous, Black, or a person of colour. The paid commission comes with a commitment to produce the newly-developed show in an upcoming Persephone Theatre main stage season.
Mutombo said in a Persephone Theatre press release that it was very meaningful to get the opportunity to bring her show to the main stage.
“Black women are not programmed nearly as much in this country as our white and male counterparts,” Mutombo said in the release. “This commitment wasn’t just an investment in my idea, but a commitment to producing the play that set things apart. It means a guarantee that my story, and its unique representation, will be included in programming. When so many theatres are reluctant to program shows by Canadian playwrights, or with large casts or predominantly Black casts, this is more important than ever – because Wake has all three.”
Setshwaelo, is making her Persephone Theatre debut with this show. She appreciated the thought put into each character, and is excited to bring an authentic world view to was excited to bring an “authentic” worldview to the show.
Setshwaelo said her own character, Mama Jackie, was detailed and evolving in parallel with her younger counterparts in a way you don’t often see on the stage.
“There’s something special about playing a woman, specifically a woman who made choices at the beginning of her life and is now at the middle of her life, who is coming up against herself,” she said. “If you’re in your 50s, you could live for another 50 years. People tend to glamorize the coming-of-age story … when you see characters in their 50s or 60s and their life is changing, I think it’s a beautiful thing to highlight.”
Setshwaelo lauded Mutombo’s writing, as well as director and dramaturg Tawiah M’Carthy’s care and thoughtfulness, particularly toward the cultural details in the play,
She noted the crew had also done a phenomenal job on what she hopes will be a great new experience for Saskatoon audiences.
“Family is universal, and family issues are universal. There’s elements of cultural things and traditional things, but in general I’m hoping there is that human bridge we can cross together,” she said.
Wake runs at Persephone Theatre until Oct. 4. Tickets can be purchased online at persephonetheatre.org.
