It’s never too early to look into the early autumn arts scene and it seems as if there are some exciting times ahead for some regional theatres. From Manchester to Bristol, from Derby to Coventry the ideas are buzzing as they are making new connections and developing unique and diverse projects.
Tiata Fahodzi, is thought to be the UK’s leading British African heritage contemporary theatre company and they are planning a joint production with the Bristol Old Vic and Belgrade Theatre, which they will tour in the autumn.
The tour will be the premiere of Cheeky Little Brown, by British Nigerian playwright, Nkenna Akunna.
Tiajna Amayo will play Lady and will tell her story of a failed night out with surprising revelations, twists, and turns, I am sure. The one-woman performance sounds as if it’s bursting with originality creativity – part drama, part musical with a playlist of original and familiar songs; we are told that Cheeky Little Brown is ‘a deep and sometimes surreal exploration of friendship and self-acceptance.’ It seems as if this all will build on the previous success of Akunna, a Papatango Prize-winning playwright of Some of Us Exist in the Future.
Nkenna Akunna brings story and song together around Lady’s life, and how she will survive confronting love and life at a birthday party. It is also a play about celebration.
Akunna says: “Cheeky Little Brown is an ode to your early twenties, a second coming of age, an aesthetically pleasing panic attack. It’s a story about a young woman’s resistance to change and ultimately her journey toward a new beginning.”
The director Chinonyerem Odimba has a long creative history with Bristol Old Vic both as a writer and producer and she feels this project is a perfect fit for all concerned.
The play is the first co-production in Bristol Old Vic’s Weston Studio as part of Artistic Director Nancy Medina’s inaugural season and forms part of her commitment to longer runs of new writing in the Studio to help develop their audiences. She has said: “I fell in love with Nkenna’s lead character the first moment I read about her messy, human life with all its beautiful failings, humour and honesty. To platform a Black, Queer female voice at this moment is so exciting. I feel our Weston Studi.o theatre is a space for supporting and showcasing new writing and new talent from a multitude of voices – a space to tell stories that will connect with you”
The Belgrade’s CEO Laura Elliot and Creative Director, Corey Campbell says:
“We’re thrilled to be co-producing Cheeky Little Brown with Tiata Fahodzi and Bristol Old Vic. It’s a brilliant new script, with a heartfelt story by Nkenna Akunna, and we are delighted to work with Chinonyerem Odimba again, following our co-production Black Love.”
It’s all new ground and it is exciting to see theatre companies promoting new and diverse work. Clearly taking it out of the studio and embarking on a tour is totally commendable, given the difficult climate for the arts at the moment, – we wish the project well. Check out the dates and go along to see and hear something a little bit different.
CAST
Tiajna Amayo plays Lady
CREATIVE TEAM:
Playwright: Nkenna Akunna
Director: Chinonyerem Odimba
Set and Costume Designer: Aldo Vazquez
Lighting Designer: Jodie Underwood
Sound Designer: Esther Kehinde Ajayi
Producer: Shaelee Rooke
TOUR DATES – Venues and Dates
Sept 21 – 14 Oct Bristol Old Vic – National Press Night, 26 Sep, 7pm
Oct 20- 21 The Lowry
Oct 24 – 28 Belgrade Theatre – Local Press Night, 25 Oct, 7.45pm
Oct 31 – 1 Nov Derby Theatre
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