Black History Month is not only a chance to celebrate Black artists but also an opportunity to better understand the community. As I Must Live It explores a deeply personal, yet widely relatable and often uncomfortable topic: mental health in Black communities. Long considered taboo, it remains difficult for many to talk about.
The one-actor show is written and performed by poet Luke Reece and developed in collaboration with director Daniele Bartolini. Blending poetry, storytelling, and immersive theatrical elements by Limbic Cinema, the piece draws from Reece’s childhood, centring on his father’s experience with mental illness.
Secrets That We Keep
“His pupils look Black;
Cyclical and silenced my stigma.
And I wonder if mine look the same.”
The show grew out of Creases, a poem Reece performed at an international competition in Paris. The poem was later translated into several languages, prompting people to share how meaningful it was to hear a story that made them feel less alone.
“Mental illness isn’t something that’s talked about a lot within families of colour,” said Reece. “I think it’s about opening up the dialogue. Somebody has to be the first person to take the step.”
Despite the unsettling subject matter, the show never feels heavy-handed. Reece weaves humour throughout the performance. “I love to laugh, and I don’t do anything unless I’m having fun,” he said. The humour allows the audience to open up and follow the story as it unfolds. “I’m not doing the show to make people cry; I’m telling a story so people can reflect on themselves.”
Become Part of the Story
To shape the piece for the stage, Reece collaborated with internationally recognized director Daniele Bartolini, whom he met by chance when he first began developing the work. “Daniele was exactly the right director to bring in,” Reece said. “He was integral to the dramaturgy of the piece, shaping the text and helping me highlight certain moments.”
Together, they built the show’s skeleton, working with stories that stretch back to Reece’s high school years. “It’s about putting the words into space and finding a dimension for both him and the audience,” Bartolini explained.
The experience begins before the audience even enters the theatre. The show opens in the lobby, where the prologue unfolds over the first 15 minutes. Reece interacts directly with audience members, talking to them and handing out objects. “You become part of the story.”
This approach is reinforced through immersive design and accessibility features, including captions. At times, the captions don’t fully align, or translations feel imperfect — a “broken telephone” effect that occurs when stories are passed down and retold. Even interruptions or glitches become part of the performance. “We’re breaking the fourth wall in so many ways,” said Reece, “trying to bring as much embodiment of the storytelling into the space with myself and the audience.”
Winning over an audience can be challenging, but when the connection lands, it often leads to unexpected moments. “That’s ultimately why I chose theatre,” Reece said. “To connect with other human beings through words and performance.”
Eternal Questions
As I Must Live It premiered in Toronto in 2024 and will now be presented at the YMCA in Calgary. While the core of the show remains intact, it subtly changes with each performance. Openings are rewritten to reflect Reece’s relationship with the city he’s performing in.
Coincidentally, the Toronto premiere also took place in February during Black History Month, though Reece said the timing wasn’t intentional. “I would have done this show any month of the year, because our stories shouldn’t be limited to just one month.”
Both Reece and Bartolini hope to take the production across the country. “This is a very important voice in new Canadian theatre,” said Bartolini. “It’s almost like listening to a confession.”
The show indeed touches on sensitive terrain: childhood, mental health, relationship with a father — questions we inevitably return to, again and again, as we must live with it.
As I Must Live It will be presented across two different weekends:
February 6 and 7, Evan Hazell Theatre at Brookfield Residential YMCA, Seton
February 13 and 14, BMO Theatre at Shane Homes YMCA, Rocky Ridge
For more info, visit ymcacalgary.org.
