A fundamental need we all share, is that needing to belong – family forming our initial foundations and place in the world. Family circumstances however something that we ourselves can’t determine, yet plays an integral part of our lives. Family, a structure that differs dependent on circumstance. An exploration of what ‘family’ looks like to three young people brought up within the care system, Tangled Feet and Rowan Tree‘s Belongings beautifully amplifies the voices of the often unheard – and contributes an honest look at the impact of these challenging circumstances.

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Seemingly a way of escaping the here and now, addiction has that silently sinister way of starting off in the periphery of one’s life before unknowingly rooting itself into every fibre of one’s being. A coping strategy for life’s harsh realities, battling an addiction is a tough prospect within itself. Delving into this facet of life in timely piece Follow the Lines, Olivia Pryle crafts a dynamic monologue carving out the ups and downs of someone trying their best to get by.

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Comprising a group of fourteen young men and women and two children, The African Choir during the years of 1881-1893 embarked on an international tour of Britain, Canada and the US via boat. Missionaries, their connection to faith, integral, their mission to unite incredibly apparent. Tying their story to present prevalent issues of migration and division, Gregory Maqoma and Thuthuka Sibisi present Broken Chord.

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Situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, the British Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha, a remote group of volcanic islands is home to roughly 264 residents and has over 200 years worth of history. The island’s first settlement in 1810 having rooted the nation’s foundations. Drawing on the island’s turbulent past, Zinnie Harris pens Further than the Furthest Thing.

Courtesy of Marc Brenner.

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The Bush continue to programme shows that inspire nostalgia from our childhood. Last time it was sibling dynamics and the reminiscent smell of incense with the House of Ife and before that it was the solidarity of estate communities and chicken shops with Red Pitch. Sleepova evokes the glorious intensity that comes with the intersection of female love, friendship, and teenage angst. Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini’s commentary of the importance of black female friendships is bursting with dark humour and relentless joy.

Courtesy of Helen Murray.

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How we deal with traumas are dependent on how we process them, how we work to move on after the traumatic experience and the comfort we seek from the communities and systems around and put in place. Discussing what has been experienced in itself a difficult process, one that can bring feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment but one also that can bring with it a powerful emotional and psychological release. An exploration of trauma and how this greatly impacts the dynamics of a family, Abby Vicky-Russell presents Gush.

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Figuring out who you are and being comfortable with this is a lengthy journey, an aspect of the human experience that feeds into the everyday. Being at peace with your sexuality something that weighs heavy for many. An exploration of queerness and the complexities within this, Bold Mellon present Belinda, a unique, quirky production that speaks to today.

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Approaching 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the significant event signalled the beginnings of an era post The Troubles, a decades long conflict instigated by conflicting ideologies in as to Northern Ireland’s path on a political, social and religious level. Set in the height of The Troubles, Tim Edge’s Under the Black Rock traces a family’s gradual pull into the complex conflict and the repercussions of doing so.

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Much loved around the world, popular cooking competition The Great British Bake Off has reinvigorated the nation’s love of baking, inspiring many to take up the hobby and crafts bakes thought unimaginable to make. Renowned for its impressive creations, the show has made stars out many amateur bakers, going on to show that you can achieve great things by pursuing your passions. Judged by national treasures Paul Hollywood and Pru Leith, and household names Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas, over a decade down, the reality show continues to inspire imaginations. Making its London premiere on the Noël Coward stage after a successful run at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, The Great British Bake Off Musical is a playful take on a fictional season of the show, bringing with it a whole new host of characters.

Courtesy of Manuel Harlan.

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The environments we grow up in play a significant role in our developmental journey. Childhood friendships and experiences things that never truly leave us. A retrospective of his locality of Peckham, writer and performer David Alade presents Sunny Side Up – a reconnection to his younger self and a heartfelt look of what now is.

Referring to himself as ‘Lil D’, Alade guides us through a 70 minute journey of his life thus far, from his humble upbringing to the current day. Tales of school – childhood crushes, parents’ evenings, grades showcasing a natural talent  for the arts, college, attending Angela Ruskin University, Cambridge – where a wake up call has him confronted with pursuing the right path compared to those he has grown up with all building the foundations for a better life.

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