mixed(er)

an Unwrap Theatre production

WORLD PREMIERE – mixed(er) is a comedic coming-of-adulthood story about Sam, a biracial woman who returns to her parents’ home in Kitchener-Waterloo after completing her undergrad. What she thought was going to be a low-key homecoming quickly spirals into chaos when she learns they are throwing her a surprise birthday party, including her White friends and only Black friend. Family wounds surface, cultural tensions flare, and a jerk chicken casserole is the final straw of her fractured identity’s back.

Between bedroom fights, hair tangles, a secret unconscious boyfriend, and a Mennonite bakery heist, Sam confronts what it means to belong — to her Black Caribbean heritage, her White mother, her friends, her city, and herself.

Playwright – Sam Mercury & Alten Wilmot
Director – Vanessa Spence
Stage Manager – Charlotte Peters
Production Manager – Noah Snow
Set Designer – Waleed Ansari
Lighting Designer – Chin Palipane
Sound Designer – Merly Ochoa
Props & Costume Designer – Sid Malcom 

Cast:
Sam Mercury
Joseph Njoku
Nathan Rossi
Kayleigh Murphy
Nathan Rossi
Chantaine Green-Leach
Natalie Sebastian 

About the Artists

Sam Mercury is an emerging actor and writer based in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Alten Wilmot is an emerging actor and playwright based in both Toronto and K-W.

The two met after being paired up during the inaugural Arts Exchange by MT Space in 2020. After bonding over their mutual experiences of growing up biracial in Waterloo Region, they began to devise mixed(er) in the hopes of starting a conversation around the biracial identity.

About Unwrap Theatre

Unwrap Theatre is a Waterloo Region based multidisciplinary arts company dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices through theatre, music, film, and dance. Guided by the mandate “Untold Stories by Unheard Voices for Underserved Communities,” Unwrap creates innovative, accessible, community-centred arts experiences that foster connection, belonging, and inspiration. 

Since 2019, Unwrap has produced more than 45 projects in the region with additional presentations across Canada and internationally, collaborated with over 200 artists, and partnered with more than 25 community organizations to engage more than 6,000 community members across Waterloo Region. Programming includes the Neighbourhood Series – which brings professional performances onsite to communities lacking access to professional arts; original productions across stage and screen; and professional development opportunities that support artists from underrepresented communities. 

Unwrap Theatre is committed to breaking down barriers to the arts, championing new voices, and creating high-quality arts experiences where everyone feels welcomed, inspired, and connected. 

Learn more at www.unwraptheatre.ca. 

CENTRE IN THE SQUARE – STUDIO THEATRE
101 Queen St N, Kitchener, ON

WORLD PREMIERE | SEASON OPENER
Thu, October 1 – 7:30 PM

MORE SHOWTIMES:
Fri, October 2 – 7:30 PM
Sat, October 3 – 2:00 PM
Sat, October 3 – 7:30 PM

Click here to buy tickets

No Fee for Indigenous Patrons

mixed(er) was developed with the support of MT Space, Unwrap Theatre, and Inter Arts Matrix, with special thanks to Marcel Stewart, Sid Malcolm, Charlotte Peters, Jay Njoku, Chantaine Green-Leach, Kaleigh Murphy, Nathan Rossi, Ren Nash, Jenn Adesso, and Cameron Slipp.