Sankofa: The Soldier’s Tale Retold reimagines Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat in a new libretto by poet Titilope Sonuga. Through the journey of a fictional soldier attempting to enlist in WWI, this Soldier’s Tale is set against the historical context of the No. 2 Construction Battalion — the only Canadian battalion composed of Black soldiers to serve in the First World War. In a psychological battle with the devil on the road to enlisting, the soldier embodies the battalion’s resilience and enduring struggle against racism, discrimination and historical erasure. Like the symbol of the Sankofa bird from which this story draws its name (a word in the Twi language of Ghana which means to go back and retrieve what was forgotten), this work blends past and future as the rhythm of Sonuga’s poetry weaves through Stravinsky’s original music. Sankofa is an invitation to honour a difficult history while moving toward a more promising future.
Cast:
Diego Matamoros, Devil
Wade Bogert-O’Brien, Devil understudy
Olaoluwa Fayokun, Soldier
Ordena Stephens-Thompson, Narrator
Musicians:
Graham Lumsden, Trumpet
Ken Kagawa, Trombone
Anne Murdoca, Clarinet
Wolfgang Scheitinger, Bassoon
Julia Mirzoev, Violin
Cameron Breiter, Double Bass
Andrew Busch, Percussion
Creative Team:
Andrew Burashko, Musical Director
Kevin Lamotte, Lighting Designer
Des’ree Gray, Costume Designer
John Gzowski, Sound Designer
Run Time: Approximately one hour, no intermission
Content Notice: Mature subject matter. Gun sound effects.
Age Recommendation: 13+
Art of Time Ensemble, The Royal Conservatory
Harbourfront Centre Theatre
231 Queens Quay W, Toronto
