Kaleidoscope: Grandmama Speak

Shayna Jones is an award-winning actor, a playwright, a folklorist, and a multi-disciplinary

spoken word artist specializing in performance poetry and traditional oral storytelling. As a

professionally trained actor, vocalist, and fine mover, Shayna has performed for theatres,

schools, and festivals across Canada and internationally including the Nelson Storytelling

Festival, TALES Alberta Storytelling Festival, Toronto Storytelling Festival, Montreal Intercultural

Storytelling Festival, St. John’s Newfoundland Storytelling Festival, as well as the Iranian and

Scottish International Storytelling Festivals. As a folklorist, Shayna combines her passion for

live, theatrical performance with the study of traditional African and Afro-diasporic folklore and

contemporary black experience. Presently, she is the founder and leader of a federally funded

project called Black and Rural, a multi-year artistic investigation into the hearts and minds of

black folks tucked away on the Canadian countryside. Partnering with both arts and heritage

organizations, her vision is to gather, honor, and showcase black and rural Canadian life through

a nationally touring performance. Shayna will be accompanied on stage by Jesse Lee,  an award-winning, multi-instrumentalist, performer, composer, and DJ.