Brilliant new play about slavery in 1800s Barbados staged at Theatre503 before touring UK cities with links to the transatlantic slave trade.
Muscovado is BurntOut Theatre’s new play about slavery in Nineteenth Century Barbados, written by emerging playwright Royal Court alumnus Matilda Ibini. A heady mix of sexual intrigue, piercing choral music and extreme racial tension, Muscovado provides an unflinching portrayal of life on a sugar plantation in 1808, accompanied by original music and atmospheric soundscape performed live by the cast.
Muscovado will complete a 3 week run in South London at Theatre503, Battersea from 24th February to 8th March 2015 and Bread and Roses Theatre, Clapham from 10th to 14th March 2015, before touring to 15 cities around the UK with links to the transatlantic slave trade, including Bristol, Plymouth, Southampton and Hull; theatres and site-specific venues to include Liverpool International Slavery Museum, Kings Head Islington, Brighton Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Set between the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act and the Abolition of slavery, Muscovado tells the interconnected stories of a planter family and their slaves, shedding light on the British involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Muscovado was commissioned by BurntOut Theatre following the discovery of archives relating to Artistic Director Clemmie Reynolds’ family, who lived in Barbados in 1800s. Emerging Nigerian playwright Matilda Ibini recently became the youngest winner of the BBC Writersroom10 Award, is supported by a Prince William scholarship including mentoring by BAFTA, and is Soho Theatre’s Writer-in-Residence.
Muscovado was first staged in 2014 at the Victoria & Albert Museum, and as part of Black History Month in the Clapham church where William Wilberforce campaigned for the abolition of the slave trade, gaining 4-star reviews and sell-out performances. The play was developed with historical support from slave trade expert Steve Martin, script development with Young Vic Theatre, and financial support from Arts Council England.
BurntOut Theatre presents ‘Muscovado’, a new play by Matilda Ibini
London Performance dates and venues:
Press night: Wednesday 25th February at Theatre503, Battersea, 7.45pm
24 Feb-8 March at Theatre503, Battersea, 7.45pm
https://theatre503.com/
10 March- 15 March at Bread and Roses Theatre, Clapham Common
http://www.breadandrosestheatre.co.uk/
14, 21, 28 June and 5 July at Kings Head Theatre, Islington. 3pm and 6pm
Tickets: £5-£19
http://www.kingsheadtheatre.com
BurntOut Theatre comprises siblings Director Clemmie Reynolds and Composer James Reynolds. Clemmie trained at RADA and set up BurntOut Theatre in 2011. James composes for theatre and TV including ITV’s Poirot and Lewis, and Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage. BurntOut Theatre have toured extensively in the South of England, bringing vibrant site-specific productions with original live music to unique and historic venues.
