The Black Theatre School is a nine-month immersive professional theatre training residency, led by dr d'bi.young anitafrika, structured across three interconnected Movements and guided by the Anitafrika Method, a holistic pedagogy for decolonial theatre practice. Designed for multi-hyphenate theatre makers, the program supports practitioners who work across—and/or seek to develop across—writing, devising, dramaturgy, directing, design, producing, stage weaving, and performance. With biomyth monodrama and pantodub theatre as core creative focuses, the School cultivates holistic artists prepared to generate original work and take up multi-leadership roles within contemporary theatre ecosystems.
The Anitafrika Method & Biomyth Monodrama
Movement l
Movement I centres the Anitafrika Dub Praxis—Anitafrika Method training held through Critical Dub Pedagogy—as artists develop a first-draft biomyth monodrama grounded in Black performance aesthetics, decolonial somatics, and ensemble integrity. The movement is anchored by three culminating festivals that each convene a distinct focus within the Method’s cyclical process: Mikey Smith Raw Works Festival (Self-Transformation), Audre Lorde Works-in-Process Festival (Creative Expression), and Word! Sound! Powwah! Festival (Community Embodiment), in which artists share their biomyths through communal witnessing.
Pantodub Mainstage & Professional Practice
Movement ll
Movement II situates artists in a professional mainstage residency, where they deepen interdisciplinary collaboration and apply the Anitafrika Method in real-world production contexts for creating pantodub theatre. This movement focuses on professional performance practice, dramaturgy, directing, producing and design creation as practitioners advance the mainstage production through rehearsal, design, technical integration, and public presentation within an institutional theatre environment.
Dissertation, Publication & Culmination
Movement lll
Movement III centres critical reflection and theorisation as artists articulate the ideas, questions, and methodologies emerging from their creative practice. Through research, lineage mapping, and pedagogical inquiry, artists deepen their ability to communicate their work’s intellectual, cultural, and aesthetic foundations, culminating in a dissertation, publication, and a final public presentation produced by The Watah Theatre.
About Us
Our Circle
Welcome to The Black Theatre School
Practitioner Stories
Testimonials
Discover what our alumni have to say about their transformative experiences at the Black Theatre School. Their testimonials reflect the impact of our training and the supportive community that defines our residency.
Kabrena Robinson
“Black Theatre School gave me the fertile ground to grow as a multidisciplinary artist and reconnect with the roots of my voice. The artist-in-residence experience was deeply transformative, helping me embody a decolonial, Black feminist approach to creation. I now have a richer understanding of self, art, and community, and a renewed commitment to dream, unlearn, and reimagine.”
KayGeni
“At the Black Theatre School we cried together, we laughed together, we felt stressed together and there was alot of bonding that happened throughout this process. It felt like a coming home. And I am excited to go into my own stories right off the edge of this. ”
Josemar
“There are a few moments in life when you do things that truly make you feel alive. To sum up my Black Theatre experience, it was one of those moments. It grounded me in purpose and sharpened my focus on the goal at hand. The experience was deeply spiritual and truly life-transforming."
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