Maanomaa, My Brother (My Bird, My Brother) starts February 3
“Bluntly, the piece is superb…” Intermission Magazine
Victoria, BC...From February 3 to March 1, 2026, the Belfry will present Maanomaa, My Brother (My Bird, My Brother), co-created by Tawiah M’Carthy and Brad Cook, with Anne-Marie Donovan. Directed by Philip Akin, Maanomaa, My Brother stars the co-creators, Tawiah M’Carthy (Kwame) and Brad Cook (Will).
Blending styles of West African and Canadian theatre, Maanomaa, My Brother mixes myth with reality, and the past with the present.
"...powerful and moving…" Toronto Star
Childhood friends Kwame and Will reunite in Ghana for the funeral of a loved one and discover how much has changed since they separated 25 years earlier. Telling their story in a beautiful combination of dialogue and movement, the play is both fiercely personal and curiously abstract. It’s a meditation on grief and diaspora.
“...a gift for all lovers of theatre.” Stage Door
Why I Chose This Play
I was won over not only by the play but also by the production. It has emotional depth, powerful performances, and uses movement to tell the story in a way that we have rarely seen at the Belfry. It’s a story, simply told, of an easy friendship that has somehow gone wrong, and explores the meaning of brotherhood, the power of time, and the weight of the past. Michael Shamata
This presentation of Maanomaa, My Brother, is supported in part by a generous gift from Cary & Rob Gillespie
Creative Team
Philip Akin - Director
Anne-Marie Donovan - Set Concept
Joanna Yu - Costume Designer
Chris Malkowski - Lighting Designer
Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison - Composer
Christopher-Elizabeth - Sound Designer
Jane Gooderham - Voice Coach
Akosua Amo-Adem - Dialect Coach
Caryn Fehr - Stage Manager
Live Events - during Maanomaa, My Brother
B4Play
Saturday, January 31 at 11 am
Our live talk show hosted by CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie and featuring artists from the upcoming show, along with experts from the community, has been designed to provide insight into each Mainstage production.
Talkback Thursday
February 19
Following the third Thursday performance of each show, actors return to the stage to answer your questions and provide insight into the play you have just experienced. These Q & A sessions last approximately 20 minutes.
VocalEye
Sunday, February 22 at 2 pm
For patrons with low or no vision, we offer one VocalEye performance during most Mainstage productions. Trained Audio Describers provide descriptions of the visual elements of the show, allowing people with low vision to enjoy the theatrical experience without missing any of the details. Touch tours are available following the performance. More information at the Box Office 250-385-6815.
Ticket Information
We are offering Pay-What-You-Want tickets for all performances this season. Tickets are available at 250-385-6815 or online at tix.belfry.bc.ca.
Show Sponsors
Maanomaa, My Brother is generously sponsored by Parc Retirement Living and Used.ca
Season Sponsors
The Belfry is generously supported by BMO (Access Partner), The Times Colonist, and Helijet.
Public Funders
The Belfry is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of BC, the BC Arts Council, CRD Arts Development, and the City of Victoria.
-30-
Mark Dusseault