International Women's Day 2025: Unearthing Our Joy.
Unearthing Our Joy: A Powerful Celebration of Women’s Stories
On March 8 2025, the Utopia Creative Hub Community Ensemble took centre stage with their electrifying performance of Unearthing Our Joy, a powerful stage play celebrating International Women’s Day. Presented as part of Sheffield City Council’s Cultural Activation Event series, this production captivated audiences with its raw emotion, compelling storytelling and vibrant movement, honouring the resilience, strength, and voices of women.
Unearthing Our Joy was a deeply evocative theatrical experience, exploring themes of womanhood, identity, empowerment, and collective healing. Through a fusion of drama, dance, and poetic narration, the production shed light on the struggles, triumphs, and unbreakable spirit of women throughout history and in contemporary society. The stage became a space for storytelling and connection, where personal and shared histories unfolded with grace and power.
The production was brought to life by a talented cast, featuring Charity Adu-Amankwah, Darlene Galabe, Shelby Foster, Tema Nwulu, and Jana Ndubuka. Their dynamic performances breathed authenticity and passion into the stories, captivating the audience with every movement and spoken word.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated creative team ensured the success of this remarkable performance. Led by Artistic Director Mojisola Kareem, the production was managed and produced by Omobolanle Akanbi, who also served as Stage Manager. The movement and choreography, which played a vital role in enhancing the storytelling, was crafted by Tanya Brown and Emmanuel Adetoye. The visual artistry throughout the performance was provided by Julius Obende, and Ellie Tallant created the graphic design for the project. Technical excellence in lighting, photography and sound was delivered by Precious Igbebor and Oluwayinka Akintunde, respectively.
Omobolanle Akanbi, the lead of the Community Ensemble, shared at the event how supporting the Ensemble when they meet every Friday between 6pm-8pm has been an incredibly rewarding experience. He described the surreal feeling of seeing them perform and expressed how amazing it has been to both produce and stage manage the event. He also extended his appreciation to Sheffield City Council for their partnership in making this production possible.
Frazar, a staff member of Sheffield City Council, was present at the event and shared his thoughts on the organization and quality of the performance. He commended the seamless execution of the production and the dedication of everyone involved. He also highlighted the significant impact of performances like Unearthing Our Joy on the local community, emphasizing how such artistic expressions create space for dialogue, healing, and empowerment.
The audience responded with enthusiasm and heartfelt feedback:
“Absolutely breathtaking! The storytelling, movement, and energy on stage were phenomenal. This was more than a performance – it was a deeply moving experience.”
“An incredibly powerful and emotional production. It was inspiring to see such raw and honest portrayals of women’s stories. A standing ovation well deserved!”
“This is exactly the kind of theatre our community needs. It was thought-provoking, beautifully executed, and left a lasting impact.”
The event was not just a performance but a communal experience – an invitation for audiences to reflect, celebrate, and engage with the narratives of women from diverse backgrounds. Unearthing Our Joy stood as a testament to the importance of amplifying voices that have historically been silenced or overlooked.
Utopia Theatre is immensely proud of the Creative Hub Community Ensemble and their commitment to using theatre as a tool for storytelling, empowerment, and social change. This production reaffirms our dedication to creating thought-provoking and inclusive work that resonates with audiences and sparks meaningful conversations.
As we look back on this momentous performance, we celebrate not only the talented artists who brought Unearthing Our Joy to life but also the countless women whose stories continue to inspire change. Here’s to more voices being heard, more stories being told, and more joy being unearthed!
Stay connected with Utopia Theatre for future performances and opportunities to be part of our creative community!
