Theatre Peckham proudly announces the highly anticipated return of their Young, Gifted & Black season, running from 6th October to 2nd November. Now in its sixth year, this season celebrates Young Black British Brilliance on stage at Theatre Peckham.
In alignment with UK Black History Month 2024’s theme, “Reclaiming Narratives”, Theatre Peckham is dedicated to unveiling untold stories, honouring unsung heroes and highlighting the everyday individuals who have made an indelible impact on our communities.
This year’s season is enriched by the collaboration of co-producers Lara Grace Ilori and Joshua Aketse-Entsie. Lara is a South London actor and writer of Nigerian heritage, whose passion lies in powerful narratives that reflect African diaspora experiences. Joshua, with his Ghanaian roots, brings a fresh, dynamic energy, pushing theatrical boundaries and championing community engagement. Their partnership as young Black producers serves as an inspiring model for other artists. Together they are set to create a season that resonates deeply with Theatre Peckham’s community.
CEO/Artistic Director Suzann McLean MBE stated, “This season is a celebration of the creators and performers who are amplifying the stories of our community. Their voices are essential, and we are committed to providing a platform for their brilliance.”
Young, Gifted & Black opens on Sunday 6th October, with a vibrant celebration of Black culture, reflecting on ‘Hard to Let’, a legacy film produced by Theatre Peckham in the early ’90s. The season will continue to feature five powerful plays, a spoken word event, a scratch night showcasing new Black writers, and community conversations centred around the Young Black British experience.
Producer Lara comments “As people of African and Caribbean descent our experiences are far from monolithic. A season like this guides diasporic theatre makers to understand where their voices live inside the belly of creating art.” Joshua added, “Theatre Peckham creates a space for everyone to learn and grow, building a sustainable foundation where young voices can thrive and succeed in an industry that needs their perspectives”. As alumni of the Poetic Relief Cultural Leaders Project – a partnership between Poetic Unity, Black Cultural Archives, and Theatre Peckham – both Lara and Joshua are poised to lead this season with passion and purpose.
Up first for plays is South Londoner, Corey Bovell’s 32 Peak Street. This fast-paced, witty comedy follows a millennial couple as they navigate the chaos of becoming homeowners. Balancing a crumbling business, a cramped flat, and the impending responsibilities of parenthood, they face the challenge of letting go of the past to build a brighter future for their family.
The next play is The Immortal Henrietta Lacks commissioned by Gyenyame for Performing Arts. This powerful play is a tribute to the young African-American woman who was the person behind the famous HeLa cell line, which played a pivotal role in curing polio and advancing research for leukaemia, AIDS, and COVID-19. Director Larry Coke brings this story to life through the rich traditions of African storytelling, incorporating Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Gospel and Soul, inviting audiences to connect with the vibrant life of a woman whose unprecedented contribution to science came at the cost of her life.
Southwark’s Bridge the Gap Studios returns with None of The Clocks Work, a production that emphasises collective responsibility for healing. This educational play addresses the impact of societal systems on families and communities, urging the younger generation to engage with and reform the structures surrounding social care, criminal justice, and education.
Pushing the boundaries of form, Alison Ray’s Unknown Soldier is the fourth theatre piece and merges Dance, Music, Text, and Visuals to reveal the untold stories of the young Black women who contributed to the war efforts during World War I and II. This innovative piece captivates and engages audiences, encouraging them to reflect on these significant, yet overlooked, parts of history.
Cleopatra’s Antony is the breathtaking finale of the Young, Gifted & Black season. Director Mo Korede leads an alumni of young actors and creatives from Theatre Peckham’s Young Peckham training programmes. This dynamic retelling of Cleopatra’s story challenges traditional narratives, focusing on the decolonisation of her lover’s heart and mind through the lens of youthful ambition and empowerment.
Theatre Peckham’s Young, Gifted & Black season stands as a powerful testament to the voices of young Black creatives and their determination to make a lasting impact on London’s arts scene. It exemplifies how to effect meaningful change in the creative industries.
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this transformative experience.
FULL PROGRAMME LISTINGS
Roots & Riddim
6th October ⼁ 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Theatre Peckham’s Young Producers present a vibrant celebration of Black culture and community reflecting on the legacy of Theatre Peckham. Led by Adrian Gardner and Jordi M. Carter. Alongside a heritage exhibition by Tara Fateshi.
32 Peak Street
9th October – 11th October ⼁ 7:30pm
In the heart of Lewisham, Jesse and Crissy are determined to break free from their cramped living conditions and achieve their dream of homeownership.
Sharing their space with Jesse’s grieving father, Karl, who drowns his sorrow in alcohol, the couple have their sights on 32 Peak Street – a new beginning for a young couple with plans to start a family. But Jesse’s business is struggling to survive against the tide of gentrification, and the community he once knew is disappearing before his eyes. As Crissy’s anxiety about raising a child in the current environment grows, Jesse turns to his best friend, Kieran, for support. With financial pressure mounting and Karl’s destructive behaviour escalating, Jesse is faced with an impossible choice: how does he hold on to his and Crissy’s dream?
Directed by Gbolahan Obisesan
The Immortal Henrietta Lacks
15th October – 18th October ⼁ 7:30pm
19th October ⼁ 3pm & 7:30pm
Gyenyame for Performing Arts presents The Immortal Henrietta Lacks, a musical reimagining that explores the life of Henrietta Lacks in the days leading up to her terminal diagnosis.
Directed by Larry Coke and commissioned by Gyenyame, this production humanizes the woman behind the revolutionary HeLa cells, which have been instrumental in advancing medical research for diseases like polio, leukemia, AIDS, and COVID-19.
Blending traditional Black storytelling forms-including Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Gospel, and Soul-the play celebrates Henrietta’s profound yet often untold contribution to science and continues Gyenyame’s commitment to highlighting significant narratives from Black history.
Larry Coke, Artistic Director
Gyenyame for Performing Arts – www.gyenyame.org.uk
Scratch Night
18th October ⼁ 8pm
An evening of brand-new work by some of the most exciting up-and-coming Black artists around. Innovation, experimentation and playfulness will be at the forefront of this fun-filled evening. Our scratch night will be made up of short pieces at the very start of their development, giving audiences the chance to be a part of the future shaping of each piece.
None of The Clocks Work
22nd October & 24th October ⼁ 7:30pm
“What are you saying – that this is our fault? You’re saying we’re bad parents?”
Following one family through three generations (70’s, 90’s and present day), a traumatic event has rippled across time – forcing Mothers, Fathers and Sons either to make decisions that will either bring them peace or destroy them forever. A heartfelt and poignant story of loss, healing and what happens when unchecked generational patterns spill into the streets.
This powerful drama is created by the youth collective at Bridge the Gap Studios, and is directed by Judah Meade.
Poetry Foyer: Black Panthers
24th October ⼁ 7pm
Spoken Word, Poetry Foyer, Black Panthers Edition.
Spoken word night, Poetry Foyer, Black Panthers Edition, celebrates the legacy of the Black Panther Party. Expect powerful performances from talented poets who will share their work reflecting on the Black Panther Party and its impact on social justice and community empowerment. The evening will feature an exciting competition where the best poet will earn a paid slot at our next Poetry Foyer event. This is an opportunity to engage with history, be part of a meaningful dialogue through the art of poetry, and amplify voices dedicated to change.
Unknown Soldier
26th October ⼁ 3pm & 7:30pm
Unknown Soldier, created by Alison Ray MA, Artistic Director of Alison Ray Dance Company, was performed earlier this year at Tacchi Morris Arts and the Bernie Grant Centre. The piece captivated audiences with powerful stories of servicemen and women from the UK, Caribbean, and Africa.
Unknown Soldier is a powerful tribute to Black British war veterans, telling the untold stories of men and women of Black British heritage who served in WWI and WWII. This interdisciplinary performance weaves together dance, text, live music, and visuals to honour their contributions, often overlooked in the British war effort. The choreography blends African, Caribbean, contemporary dance, and the Lindy Hop to bring these narratives to life, while the live music creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and the unknown as these soldiers embark on their journey.
Cleopatra’s Antony
31st October & 2nd November ⼁ 7:30pm
1st November ⼁ 2:30pm & 7:30pm
“I am conqueror of myself. Thou art sworn, I will catch up with you, Egypt.”
Cleopatra’s lover Antony has been in Egypt for years now. He’s forgotten the life he once had in Rome and swapped war and politics for love and whine.
He is in love with Cleopatra. In love with Egypt; her warmth, her sweet smell and her joy! She is Egypt and Egypt is her. In this retelling, we focus on the many faces of Egypt/Cleopatra and her decolonizing of her lover’s heart and mind as he is split between duty, war and where his loyalties lie.
Directed by Mo Korede
xxx
Young, Gifted & Black season runs from 6 October to 2 November
Venue: Theatre Peckham, 221 Havil Street, London, SE5 7SB.
Box Office: Tel: 020 7708 5401