MUMBI TINDYEBWA OTU | DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
City: Kenya; Victoria, BC; Toronto, ON
LinkedIn: Mumbi Tindyebwa
Previous work: Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre), Here are the Fragments (The Theatre Centre/The ECT Collective), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper) and Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape (Obsidian/Soulpepper)
Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu joined the Obsidian Theatre as Artistic Director in July 2020. Raised in Kenya and Victoria, BC and now based in Toronto, Mumbi is an award-winning director, recently winning a Dora Award for her Outstanding Direction of The Brothers Size, which also won for Outstanding Production. Her long list of accolades also includes Toronto Theatre Critics Award, an Artistic Director’s Award (Soulpepper), a Pauline McGibbon Award, a Mallory Gilbert Protege Award, and a Harold Award. She has also been twice nominated for the John Hirsch Directing Award.
Her work as a director includes the critically acclaimed plays Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre), Here are the Fragments (The Theatre Centre/The ECT Collective), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper) and Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape (Obsidian/Soulpepper).
Prior to this Soulpepper Academy, York University, University of Toronto, Obsidian Theatre’s Mentor/Apprenticeship Program graduate flexed at bit of her entrepreneurial muscle as the Founder/Artistic Director of the experimental theatre company IFT (It’s A Freedom Thing Theatre) Theatre.
More about Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
How were you first introduced to your creative discipline?
“Through making up skits and plays with my friends and siblings growing up in Kenya.”
How has your city, region or places you were raised impacted you artistically/creatively?
“I am constantly inspired by the artistic leaders and artists in my city. In an unprecedented moment in our city, most of the venued theatres are being run by women of colour and Black folk. It’s inspiring to see. Representation on and off stage is more than I have ever witnessed before in this city, and it just inspires me to continue to seek and celebrate authenticity in everything that I do.”
What’s something people should know about you?
“I am also the proud mother of two adorable seven year old twins.”
