CULTURE GECKO
The Newcomer is a Magnetic, Heartfelt, Thought Provoking Play that couldn’t be more Timely and Relevant for Live Theatre!
By Ezekiel McAdams
June 16 2025
Live Five’s final production of its twenty first season is The Newcomer from Ay Caramba! Theatre. The production runs from June 12th-22nd at La Trope Du Jour’s Studio 914
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The Newcomer is written by Ay Caramba! founder and artistic director, Yulissa Campos
It is directed by Peace Akintade-Oluwagbeye in her directorial debut who also collaborated on the script. This iteration of The Newcomer stars Vuyo Ginindza as Juba.
The production is a one man show about a refugee, Juba, whom is coming to Canada from Sudan. The play follows Juba as different ages. This is a dramedy that deals with themes of immigration, cultural identity, being a refugee while using humor to enlighten and educate.
The play is a remount of the original production that debuted at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival in 2021. The original featured Makhosini Ndlovu and was directed by K.P Dennis.
This revival of The Newcomer perfectly encapsulates why stories and theatre created by immigrants and persons of color are needed in the live theatre space.
Not only is this a grand sendoff to Live Five’s season but a play that feels fully realized with a masterful script and directing that was magnetic and laser focused precision further anchored by Ginindza’s mesmerizing performance.
Akintade-Oluwagbeye leaves an impression with her strong debut as director of this iteration of The Newcomer.
She is mostly known in Saskatoon, as a poet, actor and her role as Intimacy coordinator in multiple productions with various Saskatoon theatre companies.
Akintade-Oluwagbeye's direction created a canvas and ascetic that allows this production to be immersive, engaging and thought provoking.
Particularly her utilization of the sound and lighting choices, where the background and ambient noises created by Sound Designer, Liam Scramstad, transports the audience alongside Juba, throughout his various life stages.
Or the very simple choice of having Ginindza in character as Juba engage and interact with the audience as they come into the space before the play begins.
Akintade-Oluwagbeye also provided Ian Klimpton a platform with his lighting design to showcase Juba coming to terms with some of the trauma his character faced throughout his life. This particular scene evoked visceral emotions in Ginindza’s performance that it felt like a mashup that only be described as hypnotic panic attack.
The production felt so well crafted baked in with nuance, consideration and intent that one could easily forgot that this is Akintade’s directorial debut.
Campos’ script with Akintade-Oluwagbeye's collobration is sharp, clever with witty dialogue sprinkled throughout and strong characterization for the character Juba that feels familiar yet also relatable.
Campos script not only feels multi-layered peppered with nuance but feels original, never once feeling copied or borrowed but someone’s experience brought to life on the stage with a powerful lived experience.
Ginindza’s performance of Juba could be considered as award worthy as he effortlessly balances humor, dancing with a cadence and inflection that is slightly tweaked as Juba shares his story of coming to Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada from Sudan. The performance is heartfelt, magnetic and something truly special.
Conor Farrell wears many hats, managing set design, props and costume design. Farrell creates a simple set that immediately strikes a tone and creates an atmosphere that allows Ginindza’s character Juba to move effortlessly with the set, never feeling distracting or a hindrance.
The props are perfectly selected and really help ground the realism allowing the experience to be more magical.
Finally, Farrell’s costume designs were simple yet elegant and really helped construct the world that was created.
Klimpton’s work as lighting designer really helped evoke such a powerful and transformative experience that allowed to audience to go on the ride with Juba that was masterfully effective.
Scrimstad’s sound design created such a lived in reality with simple choices such as airport noises, background announcements and some of the music choices brought this production o life in an unexpected yet delightful way.
Simply put, this is must see theatre that Live Five should be praised and acknowledged for facilitating that allowed Campos, Akintade-Oluwagbe, Ginindza and the cast and crew to create something really special that hopefully will be remembered for decades to come.
The Newcomer from Live Five and Ay Caramba! Theatre is running from June 12th-22nd 2025 at La Troupe Du Jour’s Studio 914. Tickets are available online here, the box office or at the venue itself.