Philip Akin was a founding member of Obsidian Theatre, Canada’s leading black theatre company, and served as its Artistic Director from 2006 to 2020. He has been acting and directing for over 40 years. In his role at Obsidian, he has worked tirelessly to provide opportunities and guidance for emerging artists. In 2002, he was part of the team that launched the Obsidian Mentor/Apprentice Program. Since then he has created the Obsidian Playwrights Unit, Associates Program, Darktown: Black Ties and Director’s Initiative. In the wake of his retirement as Obsidian Theatre Company’s artistic director in 2020, a legacy fund was established. The Philip Akin – Black Shoulders Legacy Award is dedicated to the success of Black Canadian theatre artists.
He is currently the Vice-President of the Board for the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (2009 to present) and has served on juries for Theatre Ontario, Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Shaw Festival and the Koeffler Centre of the Arts.