The season will run at the theatre from 6th October until the 2nd November.
The Theatre Peckham has announced the line up for its Young Gifted & Black, which returns for the sixth year this October.
The season, which celebrates young black brilliance on stage, will feature five plays alongside an array of yet-to-be-announced events that will champion young Black producers, spoken word artists, new writing, and community conversations centred around the Young Black experience.
Corey Bovell’s 32 Peak Street will be the first play to be staged as part of the programme. It is a comedy which 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.
It will then be followed by The Immortal Henrietta Lacks commissioned by Gyenyame for Performing Arts. Directed by Larry Coke, this play s 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.
Meanwhile, Southwark’s Bridge the Gap Studios returns with None of the Clocks Work, a community-led production that emphasises collective responsibility for healing. It is a play that explores the the impact of societal systems on families and communities.
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.
Cleopatra’s Antony is the play that will complete the season. Director Mo Korede leads an alumni of young actors and creatives from Theatre Peckham’s Young Peckham training programmes to retell Cleopatra’s story.
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.”
To find out more visit: https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/