We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Clovis Kabongo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Clovis below.
Clovis, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Every project that I’ve worked on has been meaningful and personal in some way. Very recently, however, my latest play In The Woods Somewhere has been close to heart and the source of my focus because of its content and how it highlights where many people — including myself — were and are when discussing race in America. So a bit on the backstory: During 2020 I, like many others, was deeply upset by the unjust killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and countless other black Americans, as well as the increasing racial tension and violent spiral this country goes through. It forced me to reevaluate my environment, the people around me, and even myself. I found myself harboring intense anger towards the egregious and continuous injustices that black people were facing — and still face — and I spent much of my Summer days taking said anger out on folks who were unwilling to unlearn their disturbing prejudices. Experiencing the tension at protests and the anger I witnessed from the officers who had hate in their eyes, prompted me even more to write this play.
In The Woods Somewhere takes place in the small fictional town of Knightsdale, Missouri in 1993, where three cops shoot a black teenager. Months after the controversial shooting that’s rocked the country, the three officers involved reunite in a remote cabin in the woods along with the newest addition: a black rookie named Ajamu. As tensions and unsettling secrets rise, the four quickly discover that their retreat has become a night of survival.
In The Woods Somewhere can be unsettling and raw as it heavily deals with race and police brutality in America. Despite this, I wanted to tell a story that didn’t vilify law enforcement, but analyzed their personal lives and perspectives in relation to race, and how they play a part in the larger systemic oppression of minorities. Moreover, I wanted to incorporate themes such as politics, choices and consequences, identity in America, morality, truth, and the extent one would go to for family, and protecting one’s family. “Should you always choose to save your own?” is the question this play asks, and a philosophical stake the characters must face. It is my hope that this play can open a discourse for the very real racial traumas many groups have faced, and continue to face, more than ever in this current climate.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Clovis Kabongo; founder, director, and playwright of Black Petal Theatre. Black Petal Theatre was established to cultivate change by empowering artists of color and disrupting unflattering narratives that place us in a box while opening the space for us to occupy stories that we are often denied. I’ve been a writer since I was a kid, really, but Black Petal Theatre started in 2016 and really propelled my career. I submitted a play to a festival and once it got accepted it was uphill from there. Through that first production and the ones that followed I learned a lot about theatre and directing and it’s put me on a journey that I’m beyond grateful for. Doing this and creating spaces for other artists of color is far from what the young, hopeful, writer from way back when thought he would be doing, but I’m so glad to be doing it. Even during the impossible days, I remind myself that storytelling was always my escape and how much of a wonder it is that I now get to escape whenever I want, and bring however many people I want to new and exciting destinations with each show.
Black Petal is extremely proud of the collective of artists we’ve brought together to captivate audiences whether it be through our theatrical productions or our variety show Bloom: where we get to showcase an even wider range of art forms. To know audience members are moved after each of our events is an affirming feeling — on top of being local artists of color who are able to curate such explosive experiences, while telling a vast subset of stories is what truly distinguishes us, I believe. We’re able to deliver powerful and honest stories without the often distracting spectacle and ensure events that people genuinely enjoy.
Our unyielding dedication and commitment to our art, and all of the things we’ve been able to create, makes me proud and I just want to encourage our local artists of color to continue creating even on days where you want to stop. Our drive and resilience is too much of a blessing to be wasted. Not everyone has that grit, so pay it forward and bring your dreams to fruition.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Support, support, support in any way you can. Show up to their events, donate what you can — if you can. No amount is ever too small. And honestly, word-of-mouth goes a long way. Spread the word, especially if you see work that you’ve enjoyed. Get them connected and help them build their following via social media, personal connections, etc. As artists, putting ourselves out there can be extremely difficult; we open ourselves up to much scrutiny. To see artists doing what they love and doing it extremely well, they deserve the affirmation, applause, and recognition. In order for artists to thrive we need people to believe in what we do, and that comes with support.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
There are many rewarding parts of being an artist. You have the community that’s created from both the collaborative process as well as the supporters. A key element of art is how it’s historically brought people from all over together, so being able to watch that play out firsthand has been phenomenal. I also love how limitless being an artist is. There are no restrictions to what you can do, how you can do it, and how many lives you can touch and inspire with your craft. But most importantly, art just brings a copious amount of joy and purpose to my life and that’s the most rewarding thing for me. 
Contact Info:
- Website: blackpetaltheatre.com
- Instagram: @blackpetaltheatre