Six years on from NFL player Colin Kaepernick’s brave decision to take the knee in protest to police brutality and inequality, particularly post pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, movements revolving around civil rights continue to take shape, conversations on race pertinent as we rebuild moving forward. Announced winner of Theatre503’s International Playwriting Award during the height of the pandemic, graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama and activist Pravin Wilkins receives his much deserved debut of play Moreno, a commentary on theatre of sport and political protest.

Courtesy of Adiam Yemane.

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Nominations have been announced for the Olivier Awards 2022 with Mastercard, British theatre’s most prestigious honours, which take place on Sunday 10 April at the Royal Albert Hall.

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Having created a much needed space for the first hand experiences of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers within the UK to be heard, PSYCHEdelight have presented a series of crucial works placing these stories centre stage. Currently presenting Mohand and Peter, drawing on company member Mohand Hasb Alrosol Abdalrahem’s real life experience of leaving his native Sudan to seek asylum, the devised piece, created by fellow company member Peter Pearson and artistic director Sophie Bertrand Besse blends clowning and visual poetry to explore explore cultural identity and the traumatic effect of long-term exile as well as celebrating refugee home countries. Ahead of the production, showing at the Southwark Playhouse from the 9th March until 9th April, Mohand and Peter tell us more about exploring this pertinent story, what it means to have a platform such as PSYCHEdelight to tell these stories and how the team have approached creating the show.

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Lyndsey Turner’s revival of After the End couldn’t have been better timed, what with post-lockdown, outbreak of war, the scandals in the Met office and the rise of “incel” culture. Dennis Kelly’s play premiered in 2005 and that’s what the reviews said then. I guess this might make After the End timeless.

Courtesy of The Other Richard.

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A tale inspired by her very own grandmother’s story of being ostracised for her African spiritual retentions, award winning performer Julene Robinson presents The Night Woman, a culmination of folklore, poetry and songs drawing from her native Caribbean heritage. Initially due to play at this year’s VAULT Festival, which was sadly cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic, the production receives its much deserved debut at The Other Palace Theatre from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th 2022 as part of their VAULT Fest 2022 transfer season. Ahead of the production, Julene tells us more about the show’s two year development journey, exploring her grandmother’s legacy and what to expect!

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Tyrell Williams’s first full length play directed by visionary Daniel Bailey makes its stunning debut at the Bush Theatre to rapturous applause, laughter, and cheer. As I join the audience in their standing ovation, I struggle to find a single piece of constructive criticism. I whoop and whistle even though my throat is parched from laughing throughout. This play is perfectly written, perfectly produced, and perfectly performed by three incredibly talented young men who tell Williams’ story with comedic genius, high energy, and emotional mastery.

Courtesy of Craig Fuller.

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At a ceremony last night at the Prince of Wales Theatre hosted by Jodie Prenger and Tom Read Wilson, the winners of the 22^nd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards were announced – the only major theatre awards decided entirely by the theatregoers themselves.

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The Collaboration is a paint-by-numbers sort of a play. Simple yet satisfying. The show is set up as a boxing match between two of the greatest artists of the 20th Century, Andy Warhol (Paul Bettany) and Jean-Michel Basquiat (Jeremy Pope):

1. Warhol and Basquiat’s art-dealer, Bruno Bischofberger (Alec Newman), sees an opportunity to make a lot of money by getting them to work together.
2. Warhol, the cynic who is all about money, is reluctantly convinced to work with Basquiat.
3. Basquiat, the new kid on the block, unsure of what to do with all their money, is reluctantly convinced to work with Warhol.
4. Warhol is intimidated by Basquiat’s freedom.
5. Basquiat is frustrated by Warhol’s lack of soul.
6. Basquiat softens Warhol.
7. Warhol falls for Basquiat.
8. They end up making art together and living happily ever after.

Courtesy of Marc Brenner.

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Dean John-Wilson, Kelly Price and Ray Shell join Henshall for new Sondheim Production. Ruthie Henshall will lead a recently announced cast of West End regulars in a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion this May.

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Courtesy of Stuart McClymont.

Formed in 1985 by the Theatre Peckham Company, the theatre troupe would go on to found what we currently know as Theatre Peckham in 1991, it’s initial incarnation a single story building located next to the Peckham Town Hall. Fast Forward to 2014 whereby the company would relocate to the 2nd floor of Peckham Library before settling on Havil Street in 2016, its focus of reflecting the lives of its local community a through-line that to this day powers what they do. With a continued commitment to further its reach, both on a local and wider scale, Theatre Peckham have recently announced a new appointment to their board, Dr Anni Domingo bringing with her a wealth of experience in the fields of academia, law and the arts. Having recently had their first board meeting, Anni reflects on what needs to be done to achieve the venue’s aims of reaching wider audiences!

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