A new musical exploring friendship, resilience and life in the UK care system will receive a concert showcase at Hoxton Hall on 2 December 2026.
RAW GODS, created by writer and lyricist Hartley Lloyd Pack, combines rap, hip hop, drill, grime and gospel to tell the story of two teenagers navigating the challenges of growing up in care.
Developed in collaboration with Hackney care leavers and young people currently navigating the care system, the production has been shaped through lived experience and community consultation.
The concert features Dia Peters as Sammy, JayaHadADream as Jay and Nkechi Simms as Chantelle, accompanied by live musicians and a six-strong care leavers choir.
Lloyd Pack, son of the late actor Roger Lloyd Pack, drew on more than a decade of experience working within Hackney Children and Young People’s Services while creating the piece.
The score has been produced in collaboration with Richard Day, Jamie Rodigan and Adiktive, with creative consultation from Olivier Award-winning director Matthew Xia and dramaturgy by Chris Sonnex.
The showcase will be directed by Basheba ‘Bashiie’ Baptiste, founder of Care to Culture and a care leaver herself.
Hartley Lloyd Pack said: “Through my work with young people in Hackney, I’ve seen how much humour, creativity and determination can exist alongside incredibly difficult circumstances. I wanted to write something that makes room for all of that. Sammy and Jay have dreams, they make mistakes, and they have a friendship that means everything to them. Music is where they can say what they really feel and imagine a different future. Developing RAW GODS with care leavers and young people in care has been essential to finding that voice.”
Originally developed as a short musical film supported by the late Benjamin Zephaniah, RAW GODS now takes its next step towards a full production with this public concert presentation.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
