A woman is about to give birth but can’t hear the songs of her ancestors. Forced to confront her self doubt, she locks herself in the bathroom in a surreal attempt to reignite the sacred fire. She is pulled toward her great-great grandmother, and into the tangled, half-erased threads of her mixed-race lineage.  Inspired by the gap between what we see and what we know, Searching for Aimai is a poetic solo play that wrestles with the limits of belonging. Through physical theatre and visual storytelling, Coleen Shirin MacPherson’s deeply personal play investigates the complexities of identity and belonging - it is a call for us all to see each other anew.

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Playwright & Performer - Coleen MacPherson

Director & Co-Dramaturge - Raha Javanfar

Stage Manager - Alysse Szatkowski

Sound Designer & Composer - Janice Jo Lee

Set & Props Designer - Shannon Lea Doyle

Lighting Designer - Lilian Adom

Projection Designer - Laura Warren

Production Manager - Jadi Darawi

Co-Dramaturge - Tanisha Taitt

Producer - Samantha Vu

Social Media Manager & Associate Producer - Tessa Bourchier

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This work was developed with the support of Eva Barrie as Dramaturg and Director for the workshop in 2023.  The play was also developed at Woodland Farm Artist Residency on Salt Spring Island.  Thank you to the Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Council for the Arts for the support for Coleen's residencies with Cahoots Theatre.