The Black Drum

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

SOUND OFF, in partnership with the Canadian Cultural Society for the Deaf, is proud to present the digital edition of the groundbreaking signed musical, The Black Drum.

Originally presented in partnership with Soulpepper Theatre in 2019, this is a recording of the original production on stage.

In The Black Drum, by Deaf Canadian playwright Adam Pottle, Deaf actors tell their story through physical theatre, signed music, projection, and dance while motion capture enhances their graceful rhythms.

Audiences are invited to experience this pioneering new work unlike any other.

A young woman’s life is turned upside down when her tattoos come alive and propel her on a fantastical journey in search of her own inner voice. Faces, hands, and movements are our poetry.

Two events will be available, on-demand streaming between March 7th and 8th and a LIVE digital viewing on March 8th at 11 AM at the Backstage Theatre. Thanks to generous support by the CCCS, both events will be FREE.

Check out The Black Drum viewing guide: The Black Drum Viewing Guide

View the behind the scenes activity guide: Behind the Scenes Activity Guide

CAST:

  • Bob Hiltermann - Minister

  • Dawn Jani Birley - Joan

  • Yan Liu - Bree, Butterfly

  • Daniel Durant - Oscar, Bulldog

  • Natasha C. Bacchus - Squib

  • Corinna Den Dekker - Ava

  • Agata Wisny - Karen

Ballet dancers:

  • Jaelyn Skye Russell-Lillie

  • Abbey Jackson-Bell

  • Sita Weeraratne

CREDITS:

  • Playwright — Adam Pottle

  • Director — Mira Zuckermann

  • Producer / Executive Director, Deaf Culture Centre — Joanne Cripps

  • Director, Cross Cultural Development / Research — Anita Small

  • Assistant Director — Jack Volpe

  • Production Manager — Sally Roberts

  • Stage Manager — Sandi Becker

  • Assistant Stage Manager — Seren Brooke Lannon

  • Set & Props Designer — Ken MacKenzie

  • Lighting Designer — Chris Malkowski

  • Costume Designer — Ruth Albertyn

  • Makeup & Assistant Costume Designer — Maryam Hafizirad

  • Sound Designer — Adam Harendorf

  • Drummer — Dimitri Kanaris

  • Sound Assistant — Jason Cripps

  • Motion Capture Designer — Chris Joslin

  • Video & Projection Designer — Laura Warren

  • Signed Music Specialist — Pamela Witcher

  • Choreographer & Movement Director — Patricia Allison

  • Technical Director — JT Pickering

  • Student Ballet Instructors — Jeffrey Baker, Katie Harkins

  • Fight Director — Geoff Scovell

  • Student Ballet Facilitator — Gwen Fischer

  • Head of Wardrobe — Negar Nemati

  • Head Costume Builder — Melanie McNeill

  • Wardrobe Assistant — Harpreet Kaur

  • Makeup Artist / Mentor — Angela McQueen

  • Head of Props — Emily Butters

  • ASL Masters — Ron Hall, Helen Pizzacalla

  • Communications / Audience Engagement Manager — Catherine Joell MacKinnon

  • Media Team Lead — Ely Lyonblum

  • Communications / Audience Engagement — Katie O'Connor

  • Research — Jody Cripps

  • ASL Interpreters — Peggy Zehr, Rosalie Vissers, Sharon Pardy, Sheila Johnston, Tegan McFarlane, April Holtom, Victoria Dwight

  • ASL/English Interpreter — Tine Thomasson

  • Resident Dramaturge — Sølvi R. Zuckermann

  • Assistant Dramaturge — Siri Gjellan

  • NSL/English Interpreter — Anne Strodal

  • Voice Actor — Raquel Duffy

  • Voice Actor — Diego Matamoros

  • Voice Direction — Nathalie Toriel

  • Recording Engineer — Rachel Johnstone

  • Producer Consultants — Chris Scholey, Tania Senewiratne

  • Technical Director (Soulpepper Production) — Andrew Leeke

  • House Technician — Caryn Beamer

  • Program Book Design & Layout — Jacob Whibley

  • Program Book Design / Layout Assistant — Rylyn Delaney

THE BLACK DRUM VIRTUAL TOUR - DIGITAL PRODUCTION

Recorded at: Soulpepper Theatre Company 

Video Co-Producers

Joanne Cripps - Project Manager

Anita Small - Content Manager/Editor

Ely Lyonblum – Director/Editor

Jody Cripps - Interviewer

Inclusive Media & Design Inc - Captions

Monique LeDrew - Voice Over/Interpretation 

Catherine MacKinnon – Communications/Audience Engagement

Matthew Delaney - Livestream Technician

Rylyn Delaney - Program Book Design / Layout

Supported by Canada Council for the Arts 

 *The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT). Recorded in VooDoo Records Studio.

ASL with some English captions
Company: Canadian Cultural Society for the Deaf
Rating: All Ages
Cost: FREE
Runtime: 90 minutes
DIGITAL PERFORMANCE

Get Tickets

SCHEDULE

This performance is available on-demand. Your single ticket purchase allows you to view the show at any time between March 7 and 8, 2026.

There will also be a LIVE viewing taking place at the Backstage Theatre on Sunday, March 8th at 11 AM, also free of charge.