Upper Cut, Southwark Playhouse
Southwark Playhouse stages Juliet Gilkes Romero's powerful political drama exposing the lack of representation for minorities.
Upper Cut, Southwark Playhouse
It’s an exciting time for theatre and politics alike— there are growing numbers of voices for women, young people, LGBT communities and ethnic minorities. But progress is always crushingly slow. And it’s this that is being explored in Juliet Gilkes Romero’s new play Upper Cut.
The Story
A rising force in politics, Karen looks to be a new hope for New Labour. But there is contention within the party itself over where to allow shortlists for black Parliamentary candidates. ‘Three rivals. One fight.’ Inspired the radio documentary A New Black Politics? which interviewed MPs on the evolution of black politics since the 80s, this is provocative and passionate writing.
The Creatives
The company behind Upper Cut (which has been three years in the making) consist of its writer Juliet Gilkes Romero, director Lotte Wakeham and actress Emma Dennis-Edwards. Romero began her career as a BBC journalist, reporting from around the world. Her play At the Gates of Gaza won a Best Play Award from the Writers’ Guild of Britain. The Stage called it “remarkable new play... some of the most compelling dialogue I have heard”
The idea was forged with other members of the Cut Collective company. Star Emma Dennis-Edwards is an extraordinary young actress who has already toured shows to New York, filmed Trap for Cinderella alongside Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke and performed in theatres across London since graduating. “I wanted to show another side of Black British History, I wanted to show Black Characters away from the estates, the gun crime and the “daddy” issues... I had a writer who could make this happen and I had a director who got my visionI feel so lucky to be working with such talented women.”
Director Lotte Wakeham has overseen the process from rehearsed reading to stage. Wakeham was associate director for the runaway success of the RSC’s Matilda, which went on to win 7 Olivier Awards, and her many other credits include directing Lizzie Siddal at the Arcola Theatre (“rich, funny, moving and most crucially, has a human heart”) and the first London revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Beautiful Game at the Union Theatre.
Don’t miss this incisive and intelligent new play, which gives a voice to the voiceless.
The Story
A rising force in politics, Karen looks to be a new hope for New Labour. But there is contention within the party itself over where to allow shortlists for black Parliamentary candidates. ‘Three rivals. One fight.’ Inspired the radio documentary A New Black Politics? which interviewed MPs on the evolution of black politics since the 80s, this is provocative and passionate writing.
The Creatives
The company behind Upper Cut (which has been three years in the making) consist of its writer Juliet Gilkes Romero, director Lotte Wakeham and actress Emma Dennis-Edwards. Romero began her career as a BBC journalist, reporting from around the world. Her play At the Gates of Gaza won a Best Play Award from the Writers’ Guild of Britain. The Stage called it “remarkable new play... some of the most compelling dialogue I have heard”
The idea was forged with other members of the Cut Collective company. Star Emma Dennis-Edwards is an extraordinary young actress who has already toured shows to New York, filmed Trap for Cinderella alongside Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke and performed in theatres across London since graduating. “I wanted to show another side of Black British History, I wanted to show Black Characters away from the estates, the gun crime and the “daddy” issues... I had a writer who could make this happen and I had a director who got my visionI feel so lucky to be working with such talented women.”
Director Lotte Wakeham has overseen the process from rehearsed reading to stage. Wakeham was associate director for the runaway success of the RSC’s Matilda, which went on to win 7 Olivier Awards, and her many other credits include directing Lizzie Siddal at the Arcola Theatre (“rich, funny, moving and most crucially, has a human heart”) and the first London revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Beautiful Game at the Union Theatre.
Don’t miss this incisive and intelligent new play, which gives a voice to the voiceless.
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| What | Upper Cut, Southwark Playhouse |
| Where | Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Elephant & Castle (underground) |
| When |
14 Jan 15 – 07 Feb 15, 8:00 PM |
| Price | £10-£18 |
| Website | Click here to book via Southwark Playhouse |