This Toronto spoken word poet is highlighting the importance of conversations around Black mental health in a new stage production.
Created by award-winning producer, playwright, poet and educator Luke Rees, because i have to live it is a sweet and hilarious show that touches on the poet’s personal experiences growing up with a mentally ill father in a blended family. His goal is to advocate for conversations and eliminate stigma around mental health within the Black community.
In an interview with Now Toronto, Rees talked about how he became interested in spoken word poetry while trying to promote a play while attending the Hamilton Fringe Festival.
“I think it was the Hamilton Fringe in 2013, and I went to the poetry slam to promote the show. And I thought, oh, poetry slams are great. That’s the big deal. I didn’t know,” he said.
The poet, who is also the associate artistic director of Soulpepper Theatre, said he had loved writing poetry since he was young, but felt constrained by the traditional structures and forms taught to him in school. He felt that there was a disconnect between seeing his words on his page and simply reading them.
“When I discovered spoken word through the competitive format of slams, I thought, this is it. This is my form. Then I started participating in poetry slams in Hamilton and eventually went to Toronto. … It really helped me open up and find my voice more,” Reese said.
He appreciates audiences who truly listen and understand his wordplay and message, especially since common themes in his work are real-world issues such as racism, socio-cultural, and environmental issues. He added that there is.
Reese emphasizes that it is important that the topic is important to him. Because it helps clarify and connect with the work. When he chooses which topics to explore, he says the ideas come from his own emotions.
“Sometimes it comes from a moment I’ve had and I’m just trying to build from there. Usually it’s literally just being super frustrated about something and using it as a metaphor for that thing. “And my metaphors are everywhere, from cereal to paper to childhood nostalgia,” he explained.
His work on serials in particular was a defining moment in his career, he says, because it proved he could successfully combine clever humor and personal experience in poetry.
“I got a piece called ‘Special K’…I talked about feeling like I wasn’t being treated special by my partner at the time, and I used a lot of serial analogies and metaphors and wordplay. On the surface it’s very It’s funny, but it’s really about not being satisfied with being treated a certain way and being able to articulate how you want to feel in a relationship,” Reese said. .
“I think that piece was a key point for me because a lot of people who know me and my early spoken word slam days know that piece. “Because it’s the work I’ve done as much as any other work I’ve done before,” he continued.
The inspiration behind “AS I Must LIVE IT”
In his latest project, Because I have to live it He said the themes participants can expect are family, mental illness, childhood, and perspectivism, where different stories within a family must be told. At the same time, he tries to tell this very personal story with humor.
“When I write from trauma, a lot of it is self-care. Just knowing what it means to you. I think we all need different things in our daily lives. And for me it was about knowing what I needed to do for myself to access this part of my life and get to a place where I could share it on stage.” he said.
The poet revealed that this project has been in the works for a long time, about 10 years in fact.
“I’ve always wanted to put together some work from my perspective as a child about my relationship with my father and his struggle with mental illness. I’ve been writing spoken word for over 10 years, so I’ve written a few pieces here and there. “There are so many little pieces, and I’ve always wanted to put them together,” he said.
The artist went on to explain that the inspiration behind the show comes from a variety of places, but this moment in particular gave him the boost he needed.
Reese traveled to Paris, France for the World Cup of Poetry Slam and performed one of her pieces titled “Creases”. The poem focuses on how his father’s struggles with mental health affected the entire family.
“When I performed this piece, a young black man who was living in Paris and was trying to come out came up to me and he saw the poem and was touched and thanked me for sharing this piece. and asked for a hug,” he said.
“I knew how important it was for strangers on the other side of the world to hear that story. I saw this work impact people in real time. “So I thought maybe I should make a more conscious effort to get some of this work out, and that’s important. I mean, that was the final moment of inspiration,” he continued. Ta.
Poet invites everyone to come support the show, especially in conjunction with Black History Month.
“I hope they see this work, hear my words, and realize that what they thought was impossible is now possible. Whether it’s going back and forth having the conversation you wanted to have with someone, whether it means you’ve found a way to share your story, whether it means you’ve decided to get therapy. Or whatever it was, what was a challenge seems like a possibility. That’s my goal,” Reese said.
performance of because i have to live it is performed at Théâtre Passe Murail from Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 4:30pm. The production period is until March 2nd.
Tickets can be purchased online at passemuroille.ca on a pay-as-you-go basis at three prices: $12, $35 and $65.
