Brixton House looks ahead towards the next six months of theatre and events delving into belonging and identity from ancestral talks, tackling challenging subjects of mental health and our lived experiences within our local communities, the amplification of Black and Brown voices in the climate conversation to celebrating community spirit through music, social gatherings and film events, plus a new World Premiere. Wrapping up 2023 with their signature locally-inspired alternative family show for Christmas.
Summer at Brixton House opens with a mixed programme of events, launching by paying homage to the founding elders of Brixton’s Caribbean community in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Windrush. The House invites the local community to gather for an afternoon of dominoes, music and intergenerational conversations in June. This marks the first event in a year-long Windrush 75 celebration marking the legacy of what we know today as Black Britain. The Windrush 75 celebration will launch a drive to collect stories and give voice to narratives that define the experiences and identities of the children of Windrush and future generations.
Continuing the theme of international connection and cultural diaspora, Brixton x Harlem Festival in partnership with Brixton Bid, will celebrate its twinned neighbourhood in a cultural exchange of music and celebration in August. This year’s theme celebrates 50 years of hip-hop honouring Harlem as its birthplace. Brixton House will host a night dedicated to the late J-Dilla with a film screening of Shernay LaTouche’s documentary The View from the Other Side: J-Dilla. Followed by Q&A and after-party with a set by MOBO-award-nominated DJ and MTV, BBC Radio broadcaster Sarah Love.
The House continues their latest strand of literary and film events with Yomi Sode hosting On Poetry: An evening with Roger Robinson x Brixton House presented by Yomi Sode in July. Award-winning poets Roger Robison (TS Elliot Poet Prize Winner 2019) will join Yomi (MTV’s Brand-new artist long-list) to discuss his new e-works, On Poetry followed by a Q+A and signing.
Two film screenings evoke critical conversations on the impact of climate change on the lived experience of those in urban environments and the global struggle for social justice in the urgent environmental crisis. Brixton House will present the return of Julianknxx’s previously sold-out Black Corporeal (Breathing By Numbers) which poetically draws attention to the ongoing impact of air pollution in our inner cities, alongside Complicité film production of Fehinti Balogun’s Can I Live? that shares the journey of how a young Black British man found his place in the climate crisis movement. The double screening will be followed by an in-conversation.
The Autumn season sees a return to theatre productions with the World Premiere of The Legends of Them in association with Hackney Showroom, by the award-winning lovers rock and reggae artist Lorna Gee, co-created by Nina Lyndon and Jo McInnes with Associate Direction from Martina Laird. Lorna Gee takes us on an epic ancestral journey charting back to Nanny of the Maroons. With high octane musical numbers and a virtuoso solo performance, The Legends of Them is a unique theatrical experience. To accompany the production there will be a series of additional wrap around events including a post-show talk and live gig hosted by Lorna Gee.
As part of its wider tour and a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Rinkoo Barpaga’s solo piece Made in India Britain narrates a deaf Punjabi boy’s raw confrontation of his own belonging, identity, and experiences of racism told with humour and stark honesty. Followed by Without Planning Permission a play exploring accountability, mental-health and what it means to be a Black man in the community, devised by The Black Men’s Consortium, a community arts project centered on Black men’s experiences, led by local Brixton practitioner Tony Cealy.
CASA Festival returns throughout October continuing the legacy from Ovalhouse to Brixton House, as the venue celebrates a takeover of international Latinx collaboration. Frantic Assembly return to deliver their flagship IGNITION progamme for 16-24 years olds to seek out underrepresented talent. And Brixton House Assoicate Artist Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu is welcomed back with his Black Queer Men’s Playground workshop, this time exploring themes of strength, resilience and self-defence.
Ending 2023 with the hugely anticipated family Christmas show Cinderella from 22 November until 31 December. A Brixton House production with script and lyrics by Danusia Samal, music by Duramaney Kamara and directed by Ola Ince, this alternative festive show spins the classic tale of Cinderella into a tale inspired by Brixton. Set in the fictional Brixton Lane, rooted in the heart of its local community, Brixton House’s musical Cinderella follows Sindi-Ella as she journeys through the streets of modern-day Brixton and reminds us of the beauty of community spirit in a sometimes overwhelming online world. Following the five-star award-winning 2022 Christmas production Alice in Wonderland, which received seven nominations and won Best Newcomer at the Offies 2022, this year Brixton House continues their brand of locally inspired alternative Christmas productions, reworking the classic rags-to-riches tale to reflect the community that Brixton House firmly sits within.
Ruth Hawkins, Head of Programming and Producing, Brixton House says, Ruth Hawkins, Head of Programming and Producing, Brixton House says, “Brixton is one of the most vibrant places in London all year around, especially in the Summer! As music fills Coldharbour Lane we want to offer something from inside the House that supports the vibrancy of the local community, with Brixon House celebrating that in its wholly intergenerational upcoming Summer/ Autumn programme of music, dance, dominoes, and community activism.
Welcoming a World Premiere in association with Hackney Showroom to celebrate a local legend Lorna Gee with her new one-woman show full of music will immerse us in a journey through her history. Continuing our work to welcome and host the Latinx community with the return of CASA and presenting urgent conversations with a double film night of our JulianKnxx commission Black Corporeal (Breathing by Numbers) and Fehinti Balogun’s Can I Live? a Complicite production, is all driving Brixton House’s mission to offer spaces to urgent and underserved conversations that ripple through the world we live in.
Our commitment to putting local stories and perspectives on stage will continue with a new show from local artist Tony Cealy’s Black Men’s Consortium and a continued commitment to support safe spaces for the Queer community with Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu’s Black Queer Men’s Playground. Closing the year with our exciting new epic family Christmas show Cinderella, an all singing musical version rooted in South London you won’t have seen before!”
Additions to the season will also include continued partnerships with spoken word and literary production company Fane Productions and gig nights with The Close Encounter Club showcasing intergalactic music. Details on the artist’s line up will be announced later in the season. Tickets go on sale to keyholder members on Thursday 8 June, 3:00pm and on general public sale on Monday 12 June at 10:00am.
Full listings can be found on the venue website: https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/whats-on/
