The festival will run at the Bush Theatre from 3 to 4 September, and Sheffield Theatres from 9 to 10 September.
New Earth Theatre has announced details of its upcoming Twisted Roots Festival taking place at the two theatres this September.
This new festival will be dedicated to showcasing new work from its 30th Anniversary Seedfund Artists Incubator programme which celebrates British East and Southeast Asian (BESEA) heritage to offer a new perspective on promoting ESEA culture.
Ailin Conant, New Earth Theatre’s Artistic Director, said today, “Twisted Roots was created in direct response to feedback from our artists that they feel stuck between a rock and a hard place when bringing their diaspora cultures into their work. They are usually invited to “integrate” into existing British theatre which is stripped of BESEA cultural specificity on the one hand, or to present fetishised and archaic ideas of ESEA “authenticity” which deny their contemporary lived experience as Britons on the other. Through Twisted Roots, our incredible artists are bringing 10 exciting new projects grounded in experimentation, innovation, and celebration of our multifaceted cultures as BESEA heritage artists.”
The Seedfund Artists Incubator is a collaboration between New Earth Theatre and seven partner venues – Camden People’s Theatre, New Diorama Theatre, Pleasance Theatre, Mercury Theatre, Sheffield Theatres, Contact Manchester and Theatre in the Mill – which supports a cohort of BESEA artists with £2000 cash funding, in-kind rehearsal space, mentorship and industry support to help develop their creative practice.
Tickets for the shows for the festival are available for both theatres, with the line up including:
MAHSURI
by Alisha + Alysha
Supported by New Diorama Theatre
on 3 September 2025
Drifting 漂浮by Phoebe Chan Supported by Theatre In The Mill
on 3 September 2025
AHMA AND LOUISE
by Jasmine Teo
Supported by Mercury Theatre
on 3 September 2025
AKUTAGAWA
by Aya Nakamura
Supported by Camden People’s Theatre
on 4 September 2025
DRAGON BOIZ
Supported by Pleasance Theatre
on 4 September 2025
SHEFFIELD THEATRES:
PAMANA
by Grace Waga Glevey, Yanni Ng, and Haley Yiu
Supported by Sheffield Theatres
on 10 September 2025
NOT THAT ASIAN
by Lumen Hirata Smith, Isabella So and Georgia Murphy
Supported by Contact Manchester
on 10 September 2025
To find out more visit: https://www.newearththeatre.org.uk/news/associate-artist-callout-seed-commission-and-creative-incubator-b7dja-4tkdh