About the Play:

Finalist for the 2020 Governor General's Literary Award for Drama (Canadian equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize)

Sound of the Beast is a full-length drama by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard. Part concert/part theatre, Sound of the Beast blends the personal and the political, with a bold and brutally honest take about policing in Black communities.

Sound of the Beast is a collection of poetry, raps and lectures about black bodies and figures of authority. Acclaimed wordsmith Donna-Michelle St. Bernard shares stories of coming up in Toronto's hip-hop scene, the intersections between conscious rap and political activism, and the sacrifices we make for the things we believe in. Her experience as a Canadian emcee is woven through with allusion to Weld-El 15, a Tunisian rapper who was sentenced to two years in prison for rhymes against a regime. Sound of the Beast is a one-woman show that creates a space to reflect on how we are connected to the systems that oppress us, and how we can empower each other to rise up.

Sound of the Beast premiered in 2017 at Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto. Since then it has toured across Canada.

Cast: 1 female

What people say:

"Unusual and disarming." — The Globe and Mail

"As poignant as it is playful. Utterly affecting." — Montreal Theatre Hub

"Effective, disturbing, and enlightening." — Toronto Star

About the Playwright:

Donna-Michelle St. Bernard is a Canadian playwright, theatre director, emcee, and arts administrator. Born in the Caribbean islands of the Grenadines and raised in Canada, she is a three-time nominee for the Governor General's Award for English-language drama (Canadian equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize). Her work has also been recognized with a Siminovitch Prize nomination, SAT Award nomination, the Herman Voaden Playwriting Award, the Alberta Theatre Projects' playRites Award, and a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play.