YOUNG, GIFTED & BLACK: 2021
Theatre Peckham presents its third season celebrating the voices and work of young Black artists in London 30 Sept – 6 November
Theatre Peckham, South London’s flagship cultural venue and pioneering learning theatre, celebrates its third annual multi-artform programme of events, spread across 5 weeks from September to November.
The line-up champions a mix of experimental live theatre, focusing on new writing, film, poetry and discussion. Curated by Associate Director malakaï sargeant alongside Artistic Director Suzann McLean, this year’s programme of events, interrogates the themes of migration and belonging and brings together work from the brightest talent from London’s Black community.
Theatre highlights include new writing in the form of OJÀ (The Market) by John Akinde which launches the season. This story which uncovers the impact of the black market on communities and survival by any means necessary is powerful and peppered with Afrobeat Rhythms. Voices of Black Folk: In Unexpected Places by playwright and historian Khareem Jamal is an insightful and energetic retake of history, amplifying voices that many have tried to erase. Queer Nigerians Regi and Babs put their friendship to the test by planning to marry to fool the authorities in Royal Court Writer’s Room alumna Annette Brook’s insightful queer drama how we love.
Poetry takes front and centre stage with international poet, acclaimed Barber Shop Chronicles playwright and author Inua Ellams bringing, for one night only, his Search Party to Peckham. Pen-Ting:South, an open mic night promises Hip Hop, politics, poetry and speaking truth to power. Poetic Unity presents The Poetry Foyer, the first of their new monthly spoken word events, with some of the UK’s best young Black poets gracing the stage.
Response to …cake. babirye bukilwa’s debut play, a raw and honest portrayal of family, roots and belonging, received critical acclaim during its recent run as a fully staged production at Theatre Peckham. This is a timely, thought-provoking, and sensitive response piece by Theatre Peckham’s Repertory Company, a must see for anyone who saw the hit show two months ago.
Obsidian Film Night. Stage and screen actor Simon Manyonda and artist Monaè Robinson presents a film night like no other. Two screenings plus live response pieces from artists working with literature and performance. Prepare for a sharp analysis and critical debate in a safe space around how the Hollywood era has shaped the roles Black people play in entertainment and its wide-reaching impact on society.
Theatre Peckham’s Associate Director and YG&B curator malakaï sargeant comments: “The third year of our Young, Gifted & Black season spotlights moments of movement. Platforming artists from all walks of life who are sharing distinct, nuanced stories reflecting on where we’ve come from, how we’ve migrated, what this means for us now and how this informs our Black future.”
Artistic Director Suzann McLean adds: “When I first launched the Young, Gifted and Black season at Theatre Peckham back in 2019 my hope was that it would grow as a festival which celebrates and honours the Black experience in the UK and all of the intersectionalities within. I am so proud that 3 years in, Theatre Peckham continues to embody a culture of possibilities, a space where voices are heard.”
Theatre Peckham is an award-winning cultural venue for artistic excellence and social change founded in 1986. Through the power of theatre, they illuminate young voices, provide skills and opportunities, and platform excellent creatives by producing new writing and performance focusing on young, culturally diverse talent.
Programme Highlights:
OJÀ (The Market)
BY JOHN AKINDE
DIRECTED BY MONAÉ ROBINSON
PRESENTED BY POETIC IMPACT
30 SEPT – 2 OCT, 7.30PM, £15, £12 & £10 concessions
They heard. They came. Now they see London’s not what it’s claimed to be.
Peppered with Afrobeat Rhythms, John Akinde’s debut play journeys through the lives of a migrant couple as they struggle to find their feet in their new found land. Directed by Monaé Robinson and produced by Poetic Impact, OJÁ explores unemployment, illegal immigration, and deprivation. As the play seeks to uncover the real impact of the black market on communities, audiences are given an insight into an underground world where everyday people fight to survive by any means necessary.
VOICES OF BLACK FOLK: IN UNEXPECTED PLACES
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY KHAREEM JAMAL
AFRICOLOGY PRODUCTIONS
8 – 9 OCT, 7.30PM, £15, £12 & £10 CONCESSIONS
The Voices of Black Folk: In Unexpected Places is the latest installment in Africology Productions Voices of Black Folk series dedicated to shining a light on the forgotten rich history of Black voices across the UK and Europe. This timely portrait of the contributions of Black people across the world, is an ensemble piece which reimagines iconic Black heroes throughout history meeting here and now.
Written and directed by Khareem Jamal, (playwright of Black Heroes, In the Hall Of Fame and The Abolitionist), Voices of Black Folk: In Unexpected Places shares with us the fascinating lives of Septimus Severus, Queen Philippa of Hainault, Ottobah Coguano and General Joseph Bologne, all who pop up in history in places we wouldn’t expect such as the Roman Empire, the British Royal Family and the French Revolution.
An insightful and exciting portrayal of the impact Black folks have had in the UK and beyond, this show amplifies voices that many have tried to erase.
OBSIDIAN FILM NIGHT
CURATED BY SIMON MANYONDA AND MONAÈ ROBINSON
PRESENTED BY THE BLACK CRITQUE IN LIFE & ART
16 OCT, 6PM – 10PM, £10, £8 CONCESSIONS & £5 PECKHAM LOCAL
Actor Simon Manyonda & artist Monaé Robinson come together to bring a theatrical film experience like no other. The night will include discussions calling out the hypocrisies of the film industry and allow a safe space for honest dialogue. Featuring the films by Black artists Blacula (1972) and Coffy (1973) with live response pieces from artists working with literature and performance. This is more than just a screening, but an analysis of how the Hollywood era of entertainment has shaped the roles Black people play in entertainment and how this transmits into our social sphere.
SEARCH PARTY WITH INUA ELLAMS
26 OCT, 7.30PM, £5
For one night only, pull up to Inua’s chaotic audience-led poetry show as it comes to Theatre Peckham for the first time. Pick a word, any word. Prompted by audience suggestions and internationally acclaimed poet, playwright behind hit show Barber Shop Chronicles staged at The National Theatre and performer Inua Ellams will search through his extensive archive of work and perform a reactive and spontaneous selection. Each show is unique and special.
Born in Nigeria in 1984, Inua’s published books of poetry include Candy Coated Unicorns and Converse All Stars, Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales, The Wire-Headed Heathen, #Afterhours and
The Half-God of Rainfall – an epic story in verse. His first play The 14th Tale was awarded a Fringe First at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival and his fourth Barber Shop Chronicles sold out runs at the National Theatre.
PEN-TING: SOUTH
PRESENTED BY PEN-TING POETRY
27 OCT, 7.30PM, £10, £8 CONCESSION, £5 PECKHAM LOCAL
The freshest open mic night in London comes to Theatre Peckham, following their successful events with our friends at the Bush Theatre. We’re gassed to be able to platform these incredible poets and musicians for the first South London edition of Pen-Ting’s poetry night, live from our Theatre. Join them as they bring you the waviest of poetry waves and vibes higher than London rent, with a night that is committed to changing the narrative and platforming inclusive and challenging voices. It’s Hip Hop, politics, poetry and speaking truth to power. Good vibes included. Audiences have an opportunity to jump on the mic on the night too.
how we love
WRITTEN BY ANNETTE BROOK
DIRECTED BY ROBBIE TAYLOR HUNT
28 – 30 OCT, 7PM THURS, 7.30PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY, £15, £12 CONCESSIONS, £10 PECKHAM LOCAL
“We are too loud me and you. We are too bold, too stubborn. My god Regi I don’t want to die.”
Gay investigative journalist Babatunde ‘Babs’ Okonkwo visits his lesbian best friend Regina ‘Regi’ Abengowe in Lewisham. With mounting pressures back in Nigeria, where homosexuality is illegal and escalating dangers for their partners, Babs and Regi hatch a plan to get married with the help of Regi’s 89-year-old German Jewish neighbour and the ‘Mr & Mrs’ Board Game. They hope this ‘cover’ will stop the threatening rumours and allow Babs to safely expose the inhumane treatment of LGBTQIA+ people in Nigeria, especially in the north where being gay is punishable by death. how we love is a play about different types of love written by Royal Court Writer’s Room alumna Annette Brook.
RESPONSE TO …cake
THEATRE PECKHAM REP COMPANY
DIRECTED BY TOBY CLARKE
2 -3 NOV, 7.30PM, £10, £8 CONCESSIONS, £5 PECKHAM LOCAL
Staged in July 2021 to critical acclaim, babirye bukilwa’s OFFIE-award nominated play …cake, is a raw and honest portrayal of family, roots and belonging. Following on from its hit run, Theatre Peckham’s REP Company has come together to dissect its themes to devise a tender response piece to the show. Make sure you don’t miss this gripping piece of ensemble theatre.
Theatre Peckham’s REP Company is designed to nurture and develop the current generation of acting talent. Led by our Resident Director Toby Clarke, throughout 2021 the cohort has been taking part in the highest quality acting training for stage and screen, showcasing their work for agents and peers.
Young, Gifted & Black season runs from 30 September to 6 November
Venue: Theatre Peckham, 221 Havil Street, London, SE5 7SB. Box Office: Tel: 020 7708 5401
For details of the full programme, please visit: www.theatrepeckham.co.uk