Description
Jade Anouka’s debut play is a raw and honest exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery. The play tells the story of a woman grappling with the end of her marriage and the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
Told through poetry, HEART celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the beauty of human connection, this groundbreaking play is a must-see for all the misfits, all those who have ever felt “other”.
With live music and sound design by 4x UK Beatbox champion Grace Savage, expect performance poetry, gig theatre, spitting lyrics to beatboxing and heavy bass.
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“Jade Anouka is a force of nature.” All That Dazzles
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“Anouka is a charming and engaging storyteller who demonstrates a real command over the beats (musical and theatrical) of the play.” Broadway World UK
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“I couldn’t help feeling envious of her way with words – it has to be seen and heard to be believed.” LondonTheatre1
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“Lyrical, punchy and powerful storytelling masterpiece” Creative Reviews Uk
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“Falling in love is the oldest story in the book, although it feels new and alive when Anouka tells it.” The Reviews Hub
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“A fleet-footed and clear-sighted debut play…The storytelling blends shades of performance poetry and rap while Savage’s sound desk punctuates beastly rumbles and celestial waves with thumping breaths.” The Guardian
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“Beautiful storytelling. I loved the lyricism of the writing and the smoothness of the performance.” UKTW
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“Her narrative resonates like a modern fairy tale, told in tones reminiscent of Eminem and Taylor Swift, and we’re inevitably won over.” North West End
“Anouka details and describes all this through an undulating written style which folds in performative spoken word and rhyme along with quieter moments of direct address into its poetry.” There Ought To Be Clowns
NEW YORK:
“casually charismatic, effortlessly charming performer.” New York Times
“uniformly piercing spoken-word poetry, which sets HEART apart.” New York Theatre Guide
“the real joy of HEART is the words, and these — part iambic pentameter, part rap — have been masterfully crafted and presented by Anouka.” INTO More
Photography by Henri T
Events
Post-show Q&A with Rosie Townshend, the Head of Producing at National Youth Theatre
Wednesday 24 January
Post-show Q&A with Jade Anouka and Grace Savage hosted by Tanya-Loretta Dee
Wednesday 31 January
Actor, writer and poet Tanya-Loretta Dee will be discussing HEART alongside Jade Anouka and Grace Savage as well as the themes of queer love, joy, music and the journey of making the production. Jade and Grace will answer questions about the links between themselves and HEART and the challenges and benefits of creating your own work. There will be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions plus other surprises!
Beats & Lyrics Night
Thursday 1 February
Join us for an exciting Beats & Lyrics Night with performances by beatbox artists KIMMYBEATBOX, BeatFox and Grace Savage, hosted by MC Angel. There will also be the opportunity to perform your own work! The Beats & Lyrics Night is FREE for those attending the evening performance of HEART.
Queer Night & DJ in our Bar
Saturday 3 February
Get ready to celebrate the end of the amazing HEART show at Brixton house and kick off LGBTQ+ month with the fabulous Talia A. Darling from the Cocoa Butter Club spinning tunes for our after-show queer night party. Join us to celebrate our beautiful community and all the love and diversity that makes it so special. Don’t miss out on this epic night of theatre, music and solidarity.
Creative Team
Writer / Performer Jade Anouka
Jade Anouka is an Actor, Writer and Director. She is known for her work onstage, including The Donmar Warehouse’s All-Female Shakespeare Trilogy and her appearances in His Dark Materials and Cleaning Up.
Image by Henri T
Composer / Musician Grace Savage
Grace Savage is a Songwriter, Actor and 4 x UK Beatbox Champion with her blend of electronic pop heard on the likes of BBC Radio 1, 6Music and beyond.
Image by Henri T
Stage Manager Ruby Sevink-Johnston
Lighting Designer Richard Owen
HEART was first produced by Audible Theater in association with Kate Pakenham Productions at The Minetta Lane Theatre, NY in July 2022. It was developed with the support of the Kiln Theatre.