You are here: Black History Month / Events / Theatre &Comedy

Theatre & Comedy

Lemn Sissay (Poetry)

Date: Thursday 11 October 2007, 8pm
Venue: Norwich Arts Centre
Price: £8 / £6 Concessions
Programme: Writer, actor, playwright, poet and presenter, the immensely talented Lemn Sissay inspires and entertains with a selection of readings. Lemn is the writer in residence at the Royal Festival Hall, has worked with jazz fusion groups and performed on Leftism by Leftfield. He is the author of four poetry collections, five plays (including Something Dark - a journey through Lemn's incredible life - fostered by a white conservative Baptist family - and the search for his family), as well as radio and TV appearances, including Grumpy Old Men.
Telephone: 01603 660352
Email: boxoffice@norwichartscentre.co.uk
Web: www.lemnsissay.com

Date: Friday 12 October 2007, 7:30pm
Venue: The Assembly Rooms, Great Yarmouth Town Hall
Price: £3.50
Programme: Engage Theatre Company, who are based in East Anglia, and Kenya Performing Arts Group (KPAG), from Nairobi in Kenya, will be performing a double-bill of theatre and dance exploring issues of Kenya Performing Arts Group Identity to coincide with Black History Month. Using dance, drama, story-telling and physical theatre, KPAG and Engage are this summer devising pieces of theatre in their respective countries. This exciting partnership between the two companies explores the shared experiences and links between our local and global communities.
These two energetic pieces will examine a theme very relevant to our times; who are we and where do we belong? Using the magic of theatre the two companies create worlds, ideas and emotions from empty space. Engage Theatre's piece has been created partly through workshops with community groups, including young people from Lowestoft. The play will explore our links to our community and how this connection can help our understanding of our own identity. For up to date info on venues / times visit www.seachangearts.org.uk
Telephone: SeaChange Arts: 01493 846550
Email: corrina@seachange-trust.org.uk
Web: www.seachangearts.org.uk
www.brain-fusion.info/kpag

Date: Saturday 13 October 2007, 3pm
Venue: The Assembly Rooms, Great Yarmouth Town Hall
Price: £3.50
Programme: Engage Theatre Company, who are based in East Anglia, and Kenya Performing Arts Group (KPAG), from Nairobi in Kenya, will be performing a double-bill of theatre and dance exploring issues of Kenya Performing Arts Group Identity to coincide with Black History Month. Using dance, drama, story-telling and physical theatre, KPAG and Engage are this summer devising pieces of theatre in their respective countries. This exciting partnership between the two companies explores the shared experiences and links between our local and global communities.
These two energetic pieces will examine a theme very relevant to our times; who are we and where do we belong? Using the magic of theatre the two companies create worlds, ideas and emotions from empty space. Engage Theatre's piece has been created partly through workshops with community groups, including young people from Lowestoft. The play will explore our links to our community and how this connection can help our understanding of our own identity. For up to date info on venues / times visit www.seachangearts.org.uk
Telephone: SeaChange Arts: 01493 846550
Email: corrina@seachange-trust.org.uk
Web: www.seachangearts.org.uk
www.brain-fusion.info/kpag

Date: Monday 15 October 2007
Venue: Norwich Arts Centre
Price: £12 / £10 Concessions
Programme: Fresh from sell out success and critical acclaim at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Stephen is on his first ever UK notional tour with his unique blend of confessional, heart warming comedy.
"Stephen K Amos is the embodiment of charisma. Amos's show is packed with well-observed material, performed hilariously. his affection for the audience is the killer blow, culminating in an all-singing, all-dancing party to which everyone is invited. no-one could possibly have left this feel-good show without a beaming smile on their face. A real stormer". (Sunday Times)
Telephone: 01603 660352
Email: boxoffice@norwichartscentre.co.uk
Web: www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

Date: Tuesday 23 October 2007, 7:30pm
Venue: Norwich Playhouse
Price: £10 / £8 Concessions (£6 student groups)
Programme: A new 21 song musical encircled by sounds ranging from Joplin to gospel at the dawn of the jazz age, Lifting the Mask delves deep into Paul Laurence Dunbar's mind as he tackles love, identity and loneliness in England's promised 'new world' of 1897, where slavery has been legally abolished. "Why should the world be over-wise in counting all our tears and sighs? nay, let them only see us while we wear the mask".
Historically hailed as the poet laureate of the Negro race and a son of two slaves, Dunbar finds that true slavery - like freedom itself - is, ultimately, a timeless mindset.
"Works at the highest level... what is most impressive is the commitment of the entire company and its rare passion for language." (Michael Billington, Guardian)
Running time: 1hr 15mins. Suggested for 13+
Telephone: 01603 598598
Email: info@norwichplayhouse.co.uk
Web: www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk

Date: Wednesday 24 October 2007, 7:30pm
Venue: Norwich Playhouse
Price: £4-£6
Programme: In this explosive, musical and moving drama performed by a cast of young Norfolk talent, a young Norfolk boy is handed a diary which was handed down to his grandfather before him. The diary takes him on a journey from West Africa to the Caribbean and from there back to 18th century Norfolk and into one of our great family homes. We are given a chance to examine the perceived realities of the Atlantic slave trade through the eyes of a host of different characters including Lord & Lady Aylsham and also the diary's author, who becomes one of the legendary "Sons of Africa" who campaigned perhaps more than anyone for the abolition of the slave trade. The play uses a log of genuine local historical information, facts and documents discovered as part of the NNREC's "Hidden Heritage" project sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Telephone: 0131 414 709
Email: registrar@norwich.ac
Web: www.black-stone.net/bhm

Date: Wednesday 24 October 2007, 5-8pm
Venue: Sainsbury Centre, UEA, Norwich
Price: Free
Programme: Explore art after hours and enjoy an evening of live performances from local artists. Enjoy an open mic session in the Gallery Cafe along with performances and itneractive art throughout the building.
Submissions needed. If you are a performer, artist, musician, dancer or poet
Telephone: 01603 593199
Email: scva@uea.ac.uk
Web: www.scva.ac.uk