Despite an outstanding musical performance, Carmen lacks a decisive believability that would have brought this intriguing concept to life, the orchestra however excels.

Courtesy of Richard Hubert Smith.

Being bicultural, you often find that you’re constantly observing the world through two lenses; quietly balancing two cultures side by side whilst trying to figure out your very own identity. Drawing on her very own experiences of being both Nigerian and British heritage, writer Esohe Uwadiae presents She Is A Place Called Home, an exploration of having dual nationalities and sisterhood. Ahead of the show’s performances, Esohe speaks to us about taking part in this year’s Vault Festival, having the show developed as part of VAULT Festival’s New Writers Programme and offers advice to aspiring playwrights!

Escapism in some form or other balances out our predictable routines – whether that be via art, spirituality, vice, technology, a getaway – the need for a break from the everyday crucial for us all to function. Cue Electrick Village‘s brief VR installation piece RawTransport™, a quietly ambitious exploration of escapism and how this in itself further deepens our own sense of self. Made possible by the accessibility of a headset and headphones, how we potentially holiday or ‘escape’ in the future could shift dramatically and not involve the chaos of packing and check ins.

Courtesy of Hannah Pye

There is a delicate intimacy which explores time, storytelling and what makes something feel like home to Autoreverse. All the while Florencia Cordeu makes us feel at home in her curation of memory and how we relate to past versions of ourselves.

Courtesy of Helen Murray

Temi Wilkey’s debut play is a tour de force, and cements itself in history as a keystone piece in the Black queer canon. It is truly sensational, and the entire evening’s performance is a treat from start to finish. Get yourself down to Bush Theatre to see this impressive work.

Courtesy of Helen Murray.

Every culture has their staple when it comes to cuisine, the West African staple being Jollof rice. Described as a ‘reddish one-pot dish’, at first glance it may appear to be a simple dish to cook, however its foundations tell a different story, as a beautiful amalgamation of tomatoes, peppers, stock and various spices work together to make the dish a well deserved staple!

Sexuality is a component of ourselves that makes us who we are, it’s a personal preference that only we should have the right to own. However when there are laws and societal expectations placed stopping you from living your truth, this can often leave many feeling isolated with nowhere to turn to. Addressing this topic further in her debut play The High Table, Temi Wilkey talks to us ahead of the show about the importance of exploring LGBTQ+ issues and culture, how both the Bush Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre helped realise her story and her journey  towards co-founding ‘Pecs, The Drag King Collective’.

Courtesy of JMA Photography.

Belief systems whether explicit or implicit are a part of our daily lives, religion and spirituality for many sources of security. We all connect with readings, quotes, scriptures, imagery, artefacts and ritual differently – it is inevitably up to us to determine how best to navigate our own lives. The crux of his work Idol, writer and performer Jamal Gerald asks a very important question – as a ‘Black, queer and Catholic in a Caribbean household, which higher order do you bow down to: Queen Bey or white Jesus?’ The answer? The former! Described as the ‘patron saint of empowerment’, Jamal has more of a connection with the superstar. Ahead of the show, Jamal talks to us about debuting the show last year at Transform Festival ’19, what audiences can expect from the show and offers advice to aspiring writers and performers!

In light of our current political climate, we’re left questioning what the future holds – a nation built on the efforts of many cultures, revealing deep rooted tensions heightened by our current political head of state. Migration is the root of all of our stories, whether directly or indirectly; the universality of migration a complex facet of our lives. Exploring this further in her current show NOTCH, writer and performer Danaja Wass draws from her own personal story of leaving Croatia to start a new life in Ireland for a better future. Ahead of the run, Danaja talks to us about exploring the show’s themes, how she approached creating the show and what audiences can expect.

First staged in 2017, this Rupert Goold directed production of Mike Bartlett’s Albion returns to the Almeida two-and-a-half years after its first outing, retaining most of its original cast, and a heightened significance in light of recent national developments.