Young Vic Taking Part today releases production images for I Wonder If…, the fourth YV Unpacked production which sees Taking Part tour professional work to local community venues across Lambeth and Southwark before a run at the Young Vic.
Directed by Daniel Bailey (Red Pitch) and devised by the company, YV Unpacked: I Wonder If… is a new play fusing dance, music and dialogue to explore the complex beauty of human relationships.
Established in 2018 by Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah, YV Unpacked was developed to reach audiences who may find it difficult to access theatre by taking professional work directly to them. Following the success of three YV Unpacked tours, I Wonder If… will work with 10 organisations to tour to eight locations in Lambeth and Southwark until 20 October including community centres, specialist schools, a mother’s group and women’s centre before performances at the Young Vic’s Maria Theatre from 24-29 October. The production will also have a livestreamed and BSL performance on 28 October.
She’s moving to Birmingham and he’s from London. They end up at the same party. We think we know how this story ends. But what happens next in this story will be shaped by the choices they make in each moment. As their growing friendship is steered by the changing beat of the drum, they’ll wrestle with which version of themselves they choose to be and the possible futures they could share.
The company includes Danielle Kassaraté, John Rwothomack and Shakira Stellar.
Venues and organisations hosting YV Unpacked: I Wonder If… are Phoenix Place, St Johns Waterloo, The Woodlawns Centre, Blackfriars Settlement, South London Women’s Hub/Beth Centre and Draper Together at Draper Hall, Southwark Inclusive Learning Service, Espacio Mamá, and IRMO and High Trees (a part of Building Young Brixton) at Tulse Hill Adventure Playground.
The creative team is complete with co-production by Shereen Jasmin Phillips and Alisha Artry, movement direction by Ricardo Da Silva, design consultation by QianEr Jin, musical direction and composition by Shakira Stellar and dramaturgy by Shereen Jasmin Phillips. The production manager is James Dawson company stage manager is Sylvia Darkwa-Ohemeng, the deputy stage manager is Emily Behague, the sound operator is Lateef Salvador Oshinowo, trainee assistant director is Sahana Rackal, and BSL Interpreter is Sumayya Si-Tayeb.
More than 300 tickets on the run in the Maria Theatre will be given to Taking Part’s community of schools, neighbours and early-career theatre makers.
More information can be found here