Shortlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award, seeds embarks on a UK tour in 2020. Sensitively written by Mel Pennant, it tells the story of two mothers united in sorrow, unable to escape the tragedy and violence of knife crime. 

 

tiata fahodzi and Wrested Veil in association with Leeds Playhouse, Soho Theatre and Tara Finney Productions

 

seeds embarks on UK Tour

 

Friday 21st February – Saturday 11th April 2020

London press night, Soho Theatre: Thursday 26th March 2020

 

On Michael Thomas’ birthday, his cake sits in his mother’s living room, its candles burning undisturbed. Jackie wants to clear her conscience, while Evelyn’s got a big speech to deliver on the 15th anniversary of Michael’s fatal stabbing. Are some things better left unsaid?

 

In our divided Britain, crimes fuelled by racism still happen; according to figures released in October 2019, knife crime offences in England and Wales have reached a record high. Hate crimes have more than doubled over a seven-year period with a spike following the EU referendum; racial hate crimes make up more than three-quarters of offences.

 

Directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour (Typical, Soho Theatre), seeds looks to tell the, often unexplored, stories of those who fight to keep their children safe from the world in which they grow up. This compelling piece is about motherhood, loss, the lengths that a parent may go to protect their child and what is left after tragedy hits. It brings insidious issues of race and gang mentality to the fore provoking dialogue in the hope they aren’t allowed to fester and infect a new generation.

 

Osei-Kuffour comments, Finding, developing and directing ground-breaking new plays is my passion. I’m interested in how new writing can respond to current events and resonate with audiences, the way they explore the human story behind injustices in the hope of bringing about change, or at least [2] starting a dialogue to kickstart action. I want to bring the people the world doesn’t see or care about to the centre of a story where they can be engaged with. I feel that seeds by Mel Pennant is a play very much in line with the work I want to create.

 

seeds is generously supported by Arts Council England, The Foyle Foundation and The Carne Trust.

 

For more information, please click here.

 

Notes to Editors

 

Title seeds

Running time 1 hour 30 minutes TBC

Box Office Tickets are available from individual theatre box offices.

Twitter @tiatafahodzi, @WrestedVeil, @tara_finney, #seedstf

Age Guidance 14+, contains adult themes and strong language

 

Writer Mel Pennant

Director Anastasia Osei-Kuffour

Lighting Designer Simisola Majekodunmi

Sound Designer Xana

 

Performance Dates

 

21st – 29th February

Leeds Playhouse

Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UP

https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/

@LeedsPlayhouse

 

3rd – 4th March

Live Theatre

Broad Chare, Quayside, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 3DG

https://www.live.org.uk/

@LiveTheatre

 

6th – 7th March

Derby Theatre

15 Theatre Walk, St Peter's Quarter, Derby, DE1 2NF

https://www.derbytheatre.co.uk/

@DerbyTheatre

 

9th - 10th March

Warwick Arts Centre

University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL

https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/

@WarwickArts

 

17th – 18th March

Stephen Joseph Theatre

Westborough, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1JW

https://www.sjt.uk.com/

@theSJT

 

20th – 21st March

Traverse Theatre

10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED

https://www.traverse.co.uk/

@TraverseTheatre

 

24th March – 11th April

Soho Theatre

21 Dean Street, Soho, W1D 3NE

https://sohotheatre.com/

@SohoTheatre

 

All enquiries, high res images and further information:

Chloë Abley, Chloé Nelkin Consulting

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M: 07563 905531

W: www.chloenelkinconsulting.com