Meet Weyni Mengesha, Top 25 Women of Influence+ Award Recipient

Weyni Mengesha is a stage and screen director known for her groundbreaking work and commitment to community engagement. She currently serves as the Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre, where she has directed numerous critically acclaimed productions nationally and internationally, including ‘da kink in my hair, Kim’s Convenience, A Streetcar Named Desire, Queen Goneril, and Power of Sail.

Weyni has also directed productions internationally in London, New York, and Los Angeles, garnering two NAACP nominations and recognition from the Drama League (New York), and Drama Critics Circle (Los Angeles). In 2024, she received the Trailblazer Award at the Legacy Awards on CBC. 

She is also a committed educator, mentor, and producer of youth arts initiatives. Weyni served as the Artistic Director of the A.M.Y Project for seven years and co-founded a platform that supports young artists from Ethiopian and Eritrean communities. In addition to her leadership at Soulpepper, she has taught at the National Theatre School of Canada and the Canadian Film Centre.