This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby welcomes Nicole Obidiaka, a passionate playwright, arts advocate, and business professional based in St. John's, Newfoundland. Nicole shares her journey from Lagos, Nigeria, to Newfoundland, her work as a playwright amplifying Black voices, and her mission to make theatre more inclusive. She also discusses her play Blank Page, her upcoming work Beauty Behind the Norms, and her advocacy for mentorship and community building in the arts. This episode explores:

• Nicole’s journey from Lagos, Nigeria, to St. John’s, Newfoundland
• How Blank Page brought representation to the stage in St. John’s
• Her new play Beauty Behind the Norms and its exploration of polygamy and womanhood in Nigeria
• The importance of mentorship and amplifying Black voices in Newfoundland’s theatre community
• Her plans for a Black Theatre Festival to support emerging Black playwrights

Guest: 🎭 Nicole Obidiaka

Nicole Obiodiaka is a dynamic business professional, playwright, and arts advocate dedicated to amplifying Black voices. She works at Nasdaq Verafin and is the founder of Centra, a company committed to supporting black creatives & entrepreneurs.Her plays, including Beauty Behind the Norms, Amapiano meets Shakespeare and Blank Page – An African Love Story, have been showcased at festivals such as Women’s Work Festival and St. John’s Shorts.

Beyond the stage, Nicole has produced and written projects for CBC & PictureNL, highlighting Black experiences in Newfoundland and Labrador. She also leads the St. John’s chapter of Nasdaq’s Global Link of Black Employees and serves on the board of St. John’s Shorts and Shakespeare by the Sea Festival board.

Nicole’s work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies, BBA Award for excellence & leadership, Memorial University Centennial 100 & Afropolitan Canada Youth Leadership Award.

Whether in business or the arts, Nicole is committed to storytelling, leadership, and community impact.

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