Hannah Shury-Smith, Author at The British Blacklist

Did anyone else see that brief glimpse of Sun last weekend? Spring is coming, and with it comes a selection of fresh, innovative pieces of theatre! This month’s theatre ‘What to Watch’ includes two festivals at the Albany Theatre, a celebration of Notting Hill Carnival at the Bush Theatre and plenty of energising spoken word and dance performances to help you thaw the winter cold. 05Fest @ The Albany Theatre Award-winning playwright, poet, performer and Lewisham resident Inua Ellams brings his inaugural 05Fest to The Albany in March as part of We are Lewisham. Produced by Deborah Yewande Bankole, the festival includes a rehearsed reading of Ellams’ new play A Block of Flats, a Search Party in which Ellams reads poetry prompted by audience suggestions, a screening of Babylon followed by poetic responses, a Twitter Poetry Workshop, and culminates in a RAP Party. 05Fest will take place at The Albany Theatre from Thursday 10th-Saturday 19th March. Book tickets and find out more here. 05Fest @ The Albany Theatre She Grrrowls: The Festival @ The Albany Theatre For one day only, She Grrrowls will be taking over The Albany Theatre with a programme of performances, workshops and talks centred on the theme of ‘joy and healing’. In the morning, expect workshops on creative expression and dance workshops from Zoca Fitness and Twerk After Work. In the afternoon, enjoy Belen L. Yanezan’s workshop ‘Noras’, an exhibition of work from Lewisham primary-aged children about inspiring local women and a late-afternoon writing workshop. The day concludes with a reading of poetry and prose from working-class writers, a performance from Grounded Movement and Zimbabwean-born poet and sound artist Belinda Zhawi’s ‘Born: Free’. She Grrrowls takes place at The Albany Theatre on Saturday 5th March. Book tickets and find out more here. She Grrrowls: The Festival @ The Albany Theatre The Route @ Bush Theatre Step onto the route of Notting Hill Carnival past and present to celebrate Black Joy through live performance, music, dance, and big party vibes. Led by Piece of Cake Theatre Company (run by Shakira Newton and Ibraheem Toure) and in collaboration with carnival videographer Kam King Media, creatives with a connection to Notting Hill Carnival have come together in celebration, joy, and spirit to reflect upon its heritage and legacy. The night culminates in a post-show after-party, complete with DJ and the best vibes. The Route plays at the Bush Theatre from 18th-19th March. Book tickets and find out more here. The Route @ Bush Theatre Gulliver’s Travels @ Unicorn Theatre This perfect family Easter show is an adventure-filled modern adaptationof Jonathan Swift’s surreal masterpiece. Lemuel Gulliver sails away to a world of strange islands and even stranger creatures – from the tiny inhabitants of Lilliput to the giants of Brobdingnag, and the mysterious Houyhnhnms - and embarks upon an epic adventure of survival, unexpected friendship and self-discovery. Gulliver’s fantastical imaginings are vividly brought to life using video camera, intricate table-top sets and projection alongside live performance in this playful, funny and highly inventive show that uses Swift’s biting satire to explore reality and escapism, home and family, and the power of stories to transform our view of the world. Gulliver’s Travels play at the Unicorn Theatre from Sunday 6th March-Saturday 16th April. Book tickets and find out more here. Gulliver’s Travels @ Unicorn Theatre Mugabe, My Dad and Me @ Brixton House April 1980. The British colony of Rhodesia becomes the independent nation of Zimbabwe. A born free, Tonderai Munyevu is part of the hopeful next generation from a country with a new leader, Robert Mugabe. Mugabe, My Dad & Me charts the rise and fall of one of the most controversial politicians of the 20th century through the personal story of Tonderai’s family and his relationship with his father. Interspersing storytelling, live music from a Gwenyambira (a female mbira player) and some of Mugabe’s most unapologetic speeches, this high-voltage one-man show is a blistering exploration of familial love, identity and what it means to return ‘home’. Mugabe, My Dad and Me plays at Brixton House until Friday 1st April. Book tickets and find out more here. Mugabe, My Dad and Me @ Brixton House The Body Remembers @ Brixton House Heather Agyepong’s powerful new solo performance The Body Remembers explores how trauma lives in the body, particularly for Black British women across different generations. Through a unique and compelling relationship between the audience and artist, it creates a collective cathartic experience. Created & performed by multidisciplinary artist & actor Heather Agyepong, The Body Remembers features interviews of Black British women in trauma recovery. The performance is inspired by the therapeutic practice of Authentic Movement with Agyepong as The Mover and the audience as The Witness. Featuring dynamic projections and an immersive soundscape which help the audience to re-discover the power of self-reflection as the start of recovery and healing. The Body Remembers plays at Brixton House from Wednesday 16th-Saturday 26th March. Book tickets and find out more here. The Body Remembers @ Brixton House Jawdance @ Rich Mix London’s biggest spoken word night is BACK! After two years away Apples and Snakes are back with a programme of acclaimed featured acts and up-and-coming artists specially curated by regular host Yomi Ṣode, plus their renowned open mic. Wednesday 16th February features the legendary Jan Blake, Zena Edwards, Casey Bailey and a live band! Jawdance plays at Rich Mix on Wednesday 16th March and Wednesday 20th April. Book tickets and find out more here. Jawdance @ Rich Mix Human Nurture @ Soho Theatre A new play from the writer of Typical and For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavyfeaturing live music, moves and plenty of dynamite. Roger and Harry’s bond is so strong they could be brothers. They share the same food, music, laughs, even dreams – but not race. Roger is black and Harry is white…but what does that matter, right? When Roger is rehomed, Harry is left behind in the care system, and these brothers start to walk down different paths. When Roger returns to celebrate Harry’s birthday, his new name Runaku isn’t the only change, and this dream reunion becomes much more complicated. ‘Human Nurture’ plays at Soho Theatre from Tuesday 22nd-Saturday 26th March. Book tickets and find out more here. Human Nurture @ Soho Theatre He’s Dead @ Battersea Arts Centre A dark fantasy, conceptual choreography exploring the question: “Was Tupac depressed?” Using dance, text and striking visuals, marikiscrycrycry’s He Dead delves into the unspoken surrounding mental health in the Black community. Underscored by a brooding hip-hop soundscape, He’s Dead is a complex and powerful endeavour to “shed tears for the things that we cannot unearth” in an attempt to find clarity in what can never truly be answered. Made in three acts, this compelling work looks at the violence of dehumanisation – highlighting the injustice that if a figure is flawed in any way by their actions, their sadness cannot be heard or acknowledged; heightened endlessly if you are Black. He’s Dead is a struggle for, and expression of, what it means to be human – yet to be fighting for your humanity constantly He’s Dead plays at Battersea Arts Centre from Wednesday 16th March-Saturday 2nd April. Book tickets and find out more here. He’s Dead @ Battersea Arts Centre Moreno @ Theatre503 August 2016. The NFL is being shaken by Colin Kaepernick’s monumental decision. Whilst other players join him in taking the knee, star running back Luis Moreno is all about his game – and his paycheck. A record-breaking season is in sight – but America’s leadership is changing. When a destructive new reality hits close to home, Luis is forced to ask whether politics have a place on the field and if he is willing to risk his career to take a stand for his own community. But does, and should, this movement hold a place for them? Moreno plays at Theatre503 from Tuesday 1st-Saturday 26th March. Book tickets and find out more here. Moreno @ Theatre503

Hannah Shury-Smith

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