ABOUT WEYNI

Weyni Mengesha is a stage and screen director who has helped redefine the landscape of contemporary Canadian theatre. As Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre from 2018 to 2025, she championed groundbreaking artistic work, expanded pathways for emerging artists, and elevated some of the country’s most compelling theatrical voices.

An internationally celebrated director, Weyni has helmed acclaimed productions across Canada – and in London, New York, and Los Angeles – including ’da Kink in my Hair, Kim’s Convenience, Treemonisha, Queen Goneril, and Power of Sail. Her work is recognized for its cultural impact, and visceral and fearless approach to storytelling, earning her numerous Dora Mavor Moore Awards, two NAACP nominations, and recognition from both the Drama League in New York and the Drama Critics’ Circle in Los Angeles. Many of Weyni's shows have gone on to receive critical acclaim – touring nationally and internationally while breaking box office records. She is building a dynamic career in film and television, with numerous short film and episodic TV shows under her belt and a feature film currently in development.

In 2024 she was recognized as a Trailblazer at the CBC Legacy Awards for her groundbreaking work in the cultural sector, followed in 2025 by the prestigious Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize and Top 25 Women of Influence+ National Award. To mark her departure from Soulpepper Theatre Company, and commemorate her monumental impact during her tenure as artistic director, Soulpepper’s Tank House Theatre was renamed The Weyni Mengesha Theatre. Weyni has also been named as one of the 50 most influential Torontonians by Toronto Life magazine and was identified as a Noteworthy Figure for Black History Month by the Canadian Heritage. 

Beyond the stage, Weyni is a transformative mentor, educator, and community builder deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of artists. She served for seven years as Artistic Director of the A.M.Y. (Artists Mentoring Youth) Project and co-founded Sound the Horn in 2004, a platform dedicated to uplifting young Ethiopian and Eritrean artists. Through her work with the National Theatre School of Canada, the Canadian Film Centre, and Soulpepper Academy, she continues to shape the future of Canadian arts and culture through leadership grounded in excellence, access, and artistic possibility.