Emily Radcliffeisa third year Arts and Business student majoring in Theatre and Performance.She wasone of 21 Black students chosen frommore than 60 applicantsacross Canada who responded to Ի 's 21 Black Futures.21 Black Futuresshowcases 63 Black Canadian actors, directors, and playwrights, all answering the question “What is the future of Blackness?”
As part of the “Seeding the Future” program,Emily responded to the play . Hersong “The Boulder and I,” which she wrote, performed and recorded herself, mixesmultiple tracks of her own voice.ѲԱ¾ٳdzis an allegorical piece set 100 years in the future in which a warrior discovers a rock that is all that remains of the African continent.
With the abilities and talents that I’ve been given – and to the highest degree capable – I wanted to be a part of illuminating the complexities, unfiltered essence, and pure artistic representation of Black individuals and stories, through theatre and performative response.
“One of the most prominent reasons why I wanted to actively participate in the 21 Black Futures project is because I strongly believe in the creation and celebration of Black artistry in theatre,” says Radcliffe. “Through my work as an Undergraduate Research Assistant withDr.Naila Keleta-Mae on the BlackAndFree Research-Creation Project, I developed a new-found passion for exploring how the representation of Black stories can be most impactfully told through theatre.”
Radcliffe’s lyrics evoke the voice of the protagonist in “ѲԱ¾ٳdz”; the songopens withthe haunting line“In a world that’s forgotten my name / will you forget me the same?” Her layered harmonies echoa refrain of“what does it mean to forgive?”throughout the rest of the song.“With the abilities and talents that I’ve been given – and to the highest degree capable – I wanted to be a part of illuminating the complexities, unfiltered essence, and pure artistic representation of Black individuals and stories, through theatre and performative response,” Radcliffe explains.
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