A Voice from the Congo will be presented by Toto Kisaku, a theater director, actor, set designer and producer from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who is currently residing in Connecticut. For +17 years, he has traveled the world sharing his experience through shows, workshops, and residencies. For this presentation, Kisaku will provide historical background regarding past and current rulers of the DRC and share the story of his life growing up in the DRC. His talk will also touch on his socially conscious theatre work, and his point of view on the cost of freedom.
Kisaku was selected in 2003 among the young artists of Kinshasa by Jacques Livchine and Philip Boulay to represent Congo in the 20th edition at the Limoges festival and to perform in two pieces by Bernard M. Koltes. Kisaku was also in the French version of “Topdog / Underdog” by Suzan L. Parks at the Forum de Blanc Mesnil, the Théâtre Louis Jouvet and the Théâtre de l’Athénée in Paris. He has produced plays such as “Basal’ya Bazoba, “Rencontres au pluriel,” “Surface 1 et 2,” “20 ans, et alors!” and “Mort d’Oluwemi d’Ajumako” among others. Kisaku has also participated in the Avignon, Limoges, Paris Quartier d’Eté, Taz à Oostende, ICAF, Pilotobes, A/D Werf, Right About Now, Toseka, Mantsina, and Connexion Kin festivals.
In 2003, he founded a theater group, K-Mu Théâtre, (Kinois en Mutation) based in Kinshasa with other young Arts and Drama graduates from the National Institute of Arts as a Centre for Research and Artistic Creation in Urban Areas. Toto Kisaku and K-Mu Théâtre were the 2010 recipients of the Freedom to Create Prize, an international award that supports and recognizes artists who strive for social change in places where there is no freedom to create. The prize was awarded for their production of Basal’ya Bazoba a play about the violent persecution of children accused of witchcraft.
Kisaku’s African Tale will be performing at the Tilt Kids Festival in March in collaboration with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy and he is currently working with local companies from the Institut Français de N’Djamena. His newest work is in full preparation and will be performed in July 2017.
Mr. Kisaku’s presentation will be primarily in French however, there will be visuals and/or translations for those who are less fluent in French. Light refreshments will be served after the presentation and time to discuss further questions with our speaker.
Please call 203-707-0710 to RSVP – STANDING ROOM ONLY. A suggested donation of $5 is kindly requested to help defray the costs of this event.
