NAC Hip Hop Theatre Festival
Anchored by rhyme, word play, and storytelling, spoken word is a powerful medium that blends poetry and performance. These artists have plenty in common with rappers—with some poets counting themselves as both—finding their creative homes in complex cadences and improvisation, with or without a beat.
Co-curated and hosted by poets Rose-Ingrid Benjamin and Joshua “Scribe” Watkis, they and artists Ikenna “Open Secret” Onyegbula, Brandon Wint, Jadyn Hardie-Bardy, and Ottawa’s Poet Laureate MayaSpoken will bring their words to life with a series of creative live readings.
Black Out Night
For the 9:30 p.m. performance of The Old Black Maple, we will welcome the second Black Out night at the NAC this season. Given the overwhelming success of previous Black Out Nights, tickets for this event are expected to sell out quickly.
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Azrieli Studio Lobby: Pop Up Market featuring Heavyzeb Lifestyle, Boutadream, RINUDE, Tri-J Sape Fashion with music from JU!CE and DJ RHOZE
9:30 p.m., Azrieli Studio: The Old Black Maple performance
11:00 p.m., Peter A. Herrndorf Place: Post-show mixer featuring DJ GODsta. Light refreshments and cash bar.
Black Out Nights at the NAC offer Black audiences and their guests an opportunity to enjoy performances within their community, showcasing the vibrant spectrum of the Black experience. As always, everyone is welcome to join the Black Out Night during The Old Black Maple performance, fostering a spirit of inclusivity and celebration.