Toni Blackwell

Maker

Toni Blackwell (1993) fuses the personal and the socio-political. Her work balances hard-hitting topics with lightheartedness, presented through bold stylistic choices. She collaborates closely with performers, building characters and worlds together that are both provocative and educational.

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Biography

Toni makes performances, writes, directs, and teaches theater at several institutions. In 2023, she was assistant director on Romana Vrede's acclaimed The Story of Travis, won De Troffel (the annual incentive prize from Festival Cement) for her concept Voor Sletten die zijn verkracht, and reworked the piece for Frascati Producties' Under Construction program. Later that year, she presented a modern adaptation of the Medusa myth (Toni Blackwell’s Medusa)—a tale of injustice, innocence, and identity—as part of Beginnings, collaborating with actress Nora El Koussour.

Her work dares to address uncomfortable socio-political topics. Her artistic signature is raw and outspoken, fueled by a need for justice, sincerity, and equality. She invites audiences to reconsider the complexity of certain issues and reflect on potential blind spots in an attempt to counteract polarization. Her work champions those who are not always properly represented, making inclusive theater about people often excluded from both society and the stage.

Toni's first Frascati production, Voor junkies die de wereld gaan redden, premiered in November 2024: a raw, imaginative piece centered on a group of friends living from afterparty to afterparty, on the edge of civilization where idealism and escapism converge.. and sometimes implode. When announced, the show dates sold out so quickly that more dates were added. These also sold out immediately, testament to Toni's keen eye for relevant subjects and her knack for translating them into work that connects with audiences. Critics praised her convincing and immersive world-building.