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SAMSKARA: 100 Black Men

15 Jul - 22 Jul 2022

All tickets for this event are reserved for Black men.

“Powerful” ★★★★★ The Reviews Hub
“Ingenious” ★★★★ The Guardian
“A triumph” ★★★★ The Stage
“Deliciously joyful” Exeunt
“You’d be mad to miss this.” British Vogue
“Empowering” Off/Stage
One of the top dance shows of 2021 by The Guardian
A Lyn Gardner pick of the week

100 Black Men is a night where all tickets are reserved for only Black men. It’s a celebration of Black male identity, brotherhood and joy. A chance for Black men to sit and breathe together while enjoying a night of theatre made for them.

15 July, 7.30pm
22 July, 7.30pm [CAPTIONED]

Here’s what audiences had to say about the previous 100 Black Men night:

“All black men in the audience… unreal scenes.”

“The vibes were unmatched.”

“An audience in a theatre space with only black men, of different ages, witnessing a theatre piece that they can identify with and found a release. A momentous moment”.

To head back to the main SAMKSARA page, click here. 

Post-show Conversation

After each SAMSKARA: 100 Black Men show, there will be a post-show conversation led by a line-up of brilliant speakers from organisations led by the Black community and Black men. 

This space was created so Black men can celebrate each other, breathe together as one, and talk about whatever they would like to. 

Check out the line-up of speakers below. 

15 July 

Michael Buffong is the artistic director of Talawa Theatre Company. Most recently for Talawa he has directed Running With Lions and the Olivier nominated A Place For We. He has previously directed A Kind of People for the Royal Court, Moon On a Rainbow Shawl for the National Theatre, Educating Rita for the Chichester Festival. Private Lives, All the Ordinary Angels, Six Degrees of Separation, On My Birthday and the multi-award winning A Raisin in the Sun for the Royal Exchange Theatre.

Philip J Morris is a London-born director raised in borough of Croydon. He has directed plays in different cities across the UK and internationally for both adults and young people.

Philip started his theatre journey as an intern at the Birmingham REP in 2015 following his graduation from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.  He was then promoted Senior Youth Theatre director. During his time at The REP, Philip was the instrumental lead in a pilot project named Up My Street which was created to work specifically with vulnerable young black men across the city.

Philip’s vision is to amplify and magnify less represented stories within mainstream theatre. Philip has a deep passion for new writing. He relishes in working closely with dramaturgs and takes pride in the positive and dynamic relationships he has with writers he’s previously worked with. Some to name a few have been Joe White, Ifeyinwa Frederick, Ruby Thomas and Yasmin Joseph.

 

In 2018 Philip spent 2 years working as a Project Associate with the National Theatre at NT Public Acts. After receiving training at Introduction To Directing course (RTYDS) Philip directed two showcases with Neighbourhood Theatre at the Young Vic in 2020 and 2021. In Autumn 2021 he directed Session’s produced by Paines Plough and Soho Theatre. Philip made his international directing debut at Residenz Theatre in Munich premiering Bitches by Bola Agbaje this spring 2022.

 

He is currently working as an Associate Artist at Company Three and has started his most recent productions, Of The Cut with the Young Vic theatre and his first audio project with Lamda and Audible. Philip is the Artistic Director of Trybe House Theatre. A company which works closely with young black men aged 16-25 creating a space where theatre is used as a supportive outlet.

Lenny works for Hackney Quest running community workshops for Hackney Quest to help support families and parents in difficult circumstances. 

He was also School Governor for six years at Orchard Primary School.

22 JULY

The performance on this night will be captioned.

David Gilbert looks after the development of Talawa’s New Work, this includes responsibility for finding and nurturing new and emerging artists and writers, providing dramaturgy support, and enabling theatre-makers to develop new work.

Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE, Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Boy Blue, Associate Artist at the Barbican London, is undoubtedly one of the most renowned choreographers and performers in the UK commercial and theatrical scenes.

Sandy’s credits are extensive having worked in TV, film and theatre, at home and abroad, alongside Boy Blue’s 2001 inception. As a choreographer he’s responsible for REDD (2019), Outliers (2018), the Olivier nominated Blak Whyte Gray (2017), The Five & the Prophecy of Prana (2013), A Night With Boy Blue (2018, 2016, 2015, 2013) and Olivier award winning Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution (2007). He also co-directed and choreographed Unleashed for the Barbican (2012).

Off the main stage, Sandy collaborated with director Danny Boyle for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, winning the Evening Standard’s Beyond Theatre award. Sandy also worked on the Closing Winter Paralympic 2014 Ceremony and the 2007 Tour De France opening in Trafalgar Square, London.

Deji comes into this space having spent over 16 years leading and developing youth programmes in Hackney and Brent. He successfully supported Brent in obtaining funding from MOPAC for My Ends programme One Flow One Brent as Strategic Director. As a consultant he leads a number of initiatives ensuring that young people voices are heard and their needs met. He is an active member and facilitator for Father 2 Father. Deji comes into this space having previously spent 8 years in Hackney developing their youth leadership model and developing what we know today as Hackney Account. Deji is working to improve outcomes for young black men and ensuring that they are offered opportunities that normally they don’t think they can access.

FOLLOWING A SELL-OUT WORLD PREMIERE IN 2021, ★★★★ SAMSKARA RETURNS.

WHEN I LOOK AT YOU, WHEN OUR EYES CONNECT?
I HAVE TO PROTECT, TO HOLD ON TO SOMETHING, 
’CAUSE THERE’S TOO MUCH TO FEEL. 

Four generations of Black men are trying to understand themselves in a world that tells them that they have to be strong. They tell their stories, their bodies intertwine, they move for themselves and for one another.

Inspired by real-life testimonies, SAMSKARA is an explosive fusion of movement, hip-hop dance and text; an exploration of Black masculinity, vulnerability, and the cycles of fatherhood.

Moving through joy and suffering, laughter and longing, this soul-baring odyssey by award-winning artist Lanre Malaolu is an ode to what it means to be a Black man in Britain today.

Commissioned by The Yard Theatre. 

CAST

Paaliba Abugre | Silent Man
Will Atiomo | Father
Cal-I Jonel | Wisdom
Ntonga Mwanza | Young Buck
Razak Osman | Older
Demba Sow | Drummer

CREATIVE + PRODUCTION TEAM

Lanre Malaolu | Writer, Director, Choreographer
Shereen Hamilton | Creative Producer
Ali Hunter | Lighting Designer
Jan Baranowski | Composer + Sound Designer
Demba Sow | Drummer + Additional Music/Composition
Anthony Simpson-Pike | Dramaturg 
Natalie Pryce | Associate Designer
Rochea Dyer | Assistant Choreographer
Kirk-Ann Roberts | Assistant Director 
Meg Hodgson | Production Manager and Lighting Associate
Angela Poulima | Stage Manager on the Book
Male Arcucci | Costume Associate
Wabriya King | Production Dramatherapist

Artwork photography by Camilla Greenwell

String players featured in composition: Rebekah Reid (Violin), Jayro Viapree (Viola), Desmond Nevsmith (Cello)

CONTENT ADVISORIES

Age Guidance: 12+

This show contains themes some people may find distressing.

This includes strong language, depictions of death and dying, references to and depictions of violence, racism, childhood trauma and mental health. This show also contains haze and loud music, specifically drumming and foot stamping.