About – Emily Radcliffe

It’s a pleasure to meet you here!

I am a first-generation Canadian of Barbadian, Guyanese, and Jamaican Heritage. I love to love humans, and making people smile is my specialty. I am a multidisciplinary artist who enjoys wearing many different ‘hats’. Though I most enjoy performance, writing, and directorial creative avenues, I have explored nearly every theatrical angle including, dramaturgy and research, theatre criticism, wardrobe (including hair and makeup), dresser, set/lighting/sound/props/costume design, stage management, videography, scenic painting, technical crew and lighting hangs.

Performing

Performing is my ultimate form of creative liberation and fulfillment. Onstage, everything else fades away, and I'm fully present, immersed in an intimate connection with my scene partner(s) and audience. Being a conduit for storytelling is exhilarating; it's where I feel most alive. Inspired by Patsy Rodenburg's Three Circles of Energy, I prioritize staying grounded in the moment, where the magic unfolds. Whether through song, text, movement, or a blend of all, nothing compares to the thrill of embodying a story live on stage.

Writing

I use songwriting, poetry, and storytelling as a way to delve into my deepest thoughts and emotions. Influenced by the gospel music of my childhood, the reflective Psalms, and a blend of Pop, Jazz, RnB, and Christian-Contemporary sounds, my style has evolved into a blend of neo-soul with contemporary lyricism and jazz elements. Just as seasons change, so does my creative focus. From my vast collection of songs, three are available to stream in my portfolio. I hope they resonate with you as they have with me.

Directing

As an emerging Director, I focus on immersive storytelling, inspired by Augusto Boal's 'Spect-actors' concept. I aim to engage the audience beyond passive observation, leaving them with lingering questions and conflicts to ponder. I explore how staging elements and audience placement influence autonomy and engagement. My aesthetic merges non-linear storytelling with afro-futurism, ensuring cohesion across all design elements. I prioritize actor empowerment, emphasizing embodiment of characters before blocking. Experience the electrifying result in my directorial debut scenes from "The Inevitable" in my Portfolio.

Featured

From theatre, to podcasts, and music to scholarship, my work and collaborations have been featured on physical and virtual stages including Green Light Arts, Black and Free Research-Creation Project, University of Waterloo, Intermission Magazine, CBC Arts, CBC Radio Ottawa, Toronto Star, YourTV Niagara, Welland Heritage Council, The Neighbourhood Organization, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Visit my Portfolio for a visual glimpse at what I do.