Brixton House’s new season opens in January 2023 with another multi-artform programme of work championing experiences and stories that are critical, celebratory, and intimately explore the world around us.
Launching with Chicken Burger N Chips, the second piece of work returning from the inaugural Housemates Festival which launched last year to showcase emerging creative talent. Brixton House will present the previously sold-out show by Corey Bovell for 2-weeks in the main theatre to a larger audience from 31 January. Set in South London, this raw and nostalgic UK garage music-infused story explores what it feels like growing up and navigating love and loyalty in a fast-paced world where gentrification and limited prospects are engulfing the world around you.
February celebrates love and friendship through the voices from the LGBTQ+ communities. Associate Artist Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu’s social event Black Queer Men’s Playground explores what it is to be Black, Queer and a Man in Britain today. Followed by Edinburgh Festival 2022’s hit show, Happy Meal by Tabby Lamb, a joyful queer rom-com where Millennial meets Gen Z and change is all around, playing for three weeks from 21 February.
From March onwards, a focus on the indelible influence of women takes centre stage with Family Tree, the powerful story of Henrietta Lacks is retold in a beautifully poetic drama. Directed by Matthew Xia, Family Tree is a drama about race, health and the environment, and the incredible legacy of a Black woman whose influence on modern-day medicine still reverberates today. Writer Mojisola Adebayo won the Alfred Fagon Award 2021 for this bold and fearless play that re-earths this powerful historical narrative. This is a brand-new co- production with Actors Touring Company and Belgrade Theatre Coventry, in association with Brixton House, and is playing at Brixton House as part of the nationwide tour. Family Tree heads to London, on 12 April until 23 April.
For younger audiences, Magician Trixy offers a handful of magic tricks that will amaze and excite, and Tangled Feet and Rowan Tree present their brand-new production Belongings for 6-11-year-olds. Belongings, which helps young people tackle ideas of belonging and imagining a new future, has been made in collaboration with children who have experienced the care system. Told with Tangled Feet’s unique blend of physicality, innovative design, and original music.
The season branches out into live music and film with presentations from TEAFilms and their renowned intergalactic music event, The Close Encounter Club, this time, live from the House. Audiences can enjoy two cinematic takeovers from We Are Parable, known for their legendary experiential cinema screenings, Experience Over Everything celebrates their tenth anniversary, and Bounce Cinema will showcase a unique curation of independent filmmakers and short films.
The Housemates Festival returns in July 2023 and submissions are now open. After a successful launch festival in 2022, which saw two Housemates (Sonny Nwachukwu and Shakira Newton) nominated for Black British Theatre Awards, and the return of two productions (Things I Can Laugh About Now and Chicken Burgers N Chips) for a second run to larger audiences, submissions open for new Housemates to take over the House.
The festival submission call-out seeks all storytellers to share their stories and work with the theatre to bring them to life in their creative spaces and stages. Open to all genres, forms of writing and storytelling for performance. Submissions close at 14:00 on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, full details can be found on our website, here:
The theatre’s Take Part programme continues with classes and workshops that include Gowka Dance and Afro-Brazilian Fusion Dance, courses in playwriting and acting for adults as well as the Brixton House Youth and the expanding community choir.
Full listings are attached and see the website: https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/whats-on/
“This next season of programming allows us to share and inspire our community with offers that encourage unique insights and new experiences. These artists and their voices come to us at an important time, and their critical journeys will help us define new creative opportunities.” – Artistic Director and joint CEO, Gbolahan Obisesan