Switching Queen(s) by Switch Collective

A multi-media experience that pays homage to the Toronto neighbourhood of Parkdale. 
Attended Summer 2022
Co-created by Switch Collective: Anna Malla, danjelani ellis, Naty Tremblay, Sedina Fiati 
Artist-Collaborators: Sxe-Yang Ade-Lam, Mars Alexander, Natasha 'Courage' Bacchus, Denica Badua, Afi Browne, Jody CHan, Yang Chen, Micha Edwards, Jaideep Goray, Ana Higeura, Ezra Li, Kara Manso, Faith-Ann Mendes, Brescia Nember-Reid, Dainty Smith, Melisse Watson
Vibes Team Lead: Angela Xu (coordinator), Morgan Davis, Brawl Hessel, Susie Mensah  
Production Manager/Stage Manager: Lexi Sproule 
Technical Direction: David Blackmore, Byron "Mojo" Noble, Ian Kelly (rehearsal technician)
ASL Interpretation: Marcia Adolphe, Nahed Dajjani, Aneesa Mustafa
Including contributions by: Drawing With Knives, Parkdale People's Economy, Parkdale Women's Leadership Group, Raging Asian Womxn Taiko Drummers (RAW)
Developed over multiple years with local residents, organizers, and activists, Switching Queen(s), is a roving multi-media queer political street performance experience in Parkdale, exploring histories of QTBIPOC and Mad/disabled resistance, and dreaming up radical liberatory futures through movement, song, shadow puppetry, poetry, live video projections, and storytelling. 
You will travel within the experience, tracing pathways & ecologies navigated by Queer, Trans, Poor, Mad, Racialized, Indigenous, (Im)migrant and displaced peoples in the area. We will invoke spirits & ghosts of people and places erased by time and urban development. We will pay homage to the bandit wildlife and activist elders. We will weave poetic stories of love, resilience, hard labour, seed sowing, madness & waters rising across time.
Presentations 
  • Summerworks Festival: 5-7 August 2022