New plays from Barbados, Brazil, Jamaica, Mexico and Philippines
Image credit: Royal Court Theatre
THE ROYAL COURT THEATRE’S ‘NEW PLAYS’ SERIES
The Royal Court presents six new plays by writers from five different countries: Barbados, Jamaica, Mexico, Brazil and The Philippines. They will be staged readings in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs on Wednesday 10 - Thursday 25 January 2024, with a different play running each Wednesday and Thursday evening across the three weeks.
Many of the writers began life on writers groups and projects run by the Royal Court in collaboration with partners from around the world.
The series will be accompanied by a series of talks and discussions that explore the political, social and cultural conversations surrounding the plays.
The plays are Scam-Uh-Life by Jherad Alleyne, Cabin Fever by Michaela Spencer, Field Studies (Estudios en Campo) by Sara Pinedo, A Migrant Ball of Thread (Ovillo) by Sonia Gregorio, Black Horses Are Massive (Cavalos Pretos São Imensos) by Bárbara Esmenia, and Borderlands: As Above, So Below by Rogelio Braga.
Mariana Gándara, executive coordinator of the Ingmar Bergman Chair on film and theatre at UNAM, said, “This exchange was a powerful reminder of the value of generosity, of how we can push the boundaries of each other's work while broadening the scope of our own, however different our contexts and practices, through a shared belief in the potential of theatre.
“For Mexican writers, creating new plays in the conditions we find ourselves in is a statement of principle, a stubborn way of loving life. Two examples of this are Sara Pinedo and Sonia Gregorio. Strong-willed and talented, they are a voice for the problems of our country. In Field Studies, Pinedo confronts the impotence and grief of the crisis of the disappeared in Guanajuato by creating an act of performative activism. In A Migrant Ball of Thread, through a nuanced use of language, rhythm and echoes, Gregorio tells a story of female desire, loneliness and solidarity in rural Oaxaca.
“These diverse works are a testament to the breadth of contemporary theatre in Mexico and the importance of the collaboration with the Royal Court Theatre. One that carefully and rigorously nurtures new and better opportunities.”
Phillippe Cato, senior literary associate at the Royal Court, said, “It was a joy and genuine life-changing experience working with the Caribbean writers and partners on the Writing for Performance project. The passion everyone had for storytelling, cultural exchange, and learning was super inspiring and unlike anything I’ve been a part of before.
“It’s not often an opportunity presents itself to be making work with creatives whose backgrounds and cultures align so closely to my own and this might be the most rewarding thing I take away from this project.
“The plays explore a wide array of subject matters, often very specific to the countries, or parishes, or towns, that the writers are from. However, there were interesting, shared themes including classism and wealth divides, ancestral and religious practices, the impact of colonisation, abuse of power and the ignored violence against women.
“Expect to go on a journey with each of these plays where you will belly laugh, gasp, feel moved, and ultimately be left thinking more deeply about the world we live in, having seen it through someone else’s eyes.”
The International Programme at the Royal Court builds and develops the theatre’s relationships with writers and artists from around the world. Forming long-term partnerships with theatre makers and organisations from different traditions and working in different languages and cultural contexts. The programme runs long-term writers’ groups, residencies, exchange projects and produces work by international artists as well as supporting the practice of theatre in translation, with projects and opportunities aimed at emerging translators. Other recent partnerships include writers groups run with arts partners in Chile, Iraq, Japan, Palestine and Peru.
Cabin Fever by Michaela Spencer Wednesday 10 January 7pm
At the secluded Jamaican resort they run together, Lisa and Damian’s dysfunctional relationship is holding her back from her dreams and financial aspirations. When an eccentric investor arrives in the middle of the night, it feels like salvation may be at hand.
Scam-Uh-Life by Jherad Alleyne Thursday 11 January 7pm
Kenroy has big dreams to break the cycle of barely getting by - if he can get to his last day of training. Scam-Uh-Life is a comedic tragedy about not being able to catch a break, an ode to the vibrant characters of Barbados.
Discussion: panel with Jherad and Michaela will follow the reading on 11 January.
Cabin Fever and Scam-Uh-Life were developed as part of a writers group project in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in partnership with the British Council, Edna Manley College, University of the West Indies Cave Hill and National Drama Association Trinidad and Tobago.
Borderlands: As Above, So Below by Rogelio Braga Wednesday 17 January 7pm
It brings together extracts from Rogelio Braga’s story of two powerful transpinay mambabarang (sorceresses) living in London with material charting the rise of fascism in The Philippines and the hostile environment in Britain. Deploying the Filipino concepts of paglublob at pakikisangkot (to plunge and to engage), the evening invites a discussion - between migrants, non-migrants, and activist and labour organisations - to create a counter-language to the hostile environment.
Black Horses Are Massive (Cavalos Pretos São Imensos) by Bárbara Esmenia Thursday 18 January 7pm
Trapped in a Brazilian prison, Nininha and her cellmates devise personal and collective strategies for surviving incarceration. Each can transform into a massive black horse whenever she pleases. But in reality there are no fantasies, no romanticism, just the brutality of the system itself.
Discussion: panel with Esmenia will follow the reading on 18 January.
Field Studies (Estudios en Campo) by Sara Pinedo Wednesday 24 January 7pm
Series of actions, performed by writer/maker Pinedo, sheds new light on the real-life cases of forced disappearances, searches, denunciations and resistance in Guanajuato, Mexico. This piece of educational archive theatre is both protest and testimony, a reminder that the search for the ‘disappeared’ must continue
A Migrant Ball of Thread (Ovillo) by Sonia Gregorio Thursday 25 January 70pm
The story of four women,. Every year, a man leaves and promises to return with the prospect of a better life. Every year, a woman is left waiting., a community in rural Oaxaca where prayers are stitched into handkerchiefs, where daughters know their fathers only through phone calls, where wives are married to ghosts.
Discussion: panel with Gregorio on 25 January.
Biographies:
Jherad Alleyne is a Barbadian artist with a robust background in dramatic arts, comedy, social media content creation, live event production, and music. His 15 years of training include a BA in acting from Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, England, and the Comedy Writing & Performance program at Humber College in Toronto, Canada. He co-hosts The Morning Bite radio show at Hitz 106.7 FM and is producing his second stage play.
Rogelio Braga is an exiled playwright, novelist, essayist, publisher, and human rights activist from The Philippines. They had published two novels, a collection of short stories, and a book of plays before leaving the archipelago in 2018. Braga was a fellow of the Asian Cultural Council in 2016 for research on political resistance in theatre and performance across Southeast Asia. Braga currently lives and writes in London as a refugee.
Bárbara Esmenia is a playwright and poet. She is a joker of Theater of the Oppressed since 2012, integrating the Magdalenas International Network, RELATO – Latin American Theater of the Oppressed Network and the Rede Sem Fronteiras de TO.
Sonia Gregorion is a playwright, theatre researcher, archivist, philosopher and performance artist. Her work combines biodrama, documentary theatre, activism, political philosophy and working directly with marginalised urban communities and vulnerable people. She is the founder of the Teatro en llamas (Theatre in Flames) theatre research laboratory. For seven years she was the coordinator of El Balcón (The Balcony), a community theatre project based in the Central de Abastos de Oaxaca (Oaxaca Market), one of the largest markets in the city, a place where she grew and learned about theatre.
Sara Pinedo trained in Theatre and Performing Arts at the National University of the Arts on Argentina. She is a communicologist, playwright, theatre-maker, manager, feminist, artivist and scavenger, who practices community, collectivism, drifting and critical art. She has worked as a playwright, director and researcher throughout Mexico and overseas, including Spain, UK, Colombia and Germany, .
Michaela Spencer is a Jamaican writer who explores various forms of creative writing, including screenplays and poetry. She was a member of the inaugural youth jury at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival. Her latest project is a full-length horror film. "Cabin Fever" is her inaugural venture into playwriting.
Prices: standard tickets £10 concessions £8