Livia Kojo Alour a poet, musician and theatre maker who in a former life regularly graced international stages as sword swallower speaks out about the challenges and repercussions facing Black women who dare to ditch stereotypes in her frank and deeply personal debut solo show Black Sheep.
After moving from Germany to London over ten years ago to live and work in a more diverse community, Livia learned that life-long feelings of self-hatred and otherness are part internalised racism and part survival techniques. With a successful career under her former stage name MisSa but tiring of playing someone else full-time, Black Sheep has been long in the making, serving as a candid autobiographical work and a euphoric reclamation of Livia’s identity and ongoing fortitude.
Black Sheep is a story about a Black woman finding love and a testament of personal strength, developed through transcending the white gaze, overcoming institutional racism and leaning into radical vulnerability. Securing her place as a pivotal UK Queer Black voice while telling her story via a heady mix of physical theatre, spoken word, song. Black Sheep is timely, unsettling and deeply personal.
“Writing Black Sheep was a revelation to myself.” says Livia. “Now I hope to touch and inspire others with my story – maybe even open a few eyes?”
Livia’s tour will be accompanied by a poetry collection, the counterpart to the show called Rising Of The Black Sheep published by Polari Press. Pre-order is available here
Black Sheep Tour Dates:
- October Waterman Arts Centre London
4.November Old Electric Blackpool
9.November Colchester Arts Centre
15+16. November Jackson’s Lane Arts London
16.December Bridgeport Arts Centre
TBA December Cambridge Junction
