The world premiere of Syncopated will open at Liverpool Playhouse Studio from Tuesday 23rd September to Saturday 4th October 2025, before transferring to Talawa Theatre Company’s studio at Fairfield Halls in Croydon.
Part of Talawa’s Black Joy season, Syncopated is a powerful two-hander that blends live music, memory, and historical resonance. Written by award-winning writer Varaidzo, the play explores the weight of history, the pursuit of dreams, and the redemptive power of performance.
Set on the docks of Liverpool, Syncopated follows a chance encounter between a young musician (Him) and an inquisitive Scouser (Her). As their night unfolds, they channel the story of The Southern Syncopated Orchestra—a real-life African American jazz band that brought New Orleans rhythms to post-WWI Britain.
The play-within-a-play format resurrects two imagined members of the historic ensemble, whose romance blossoms amid the racial tensions and political unrest of 1919. Through dialogue, letters, and music, Syncopated becomes a metaphorical and emotional journey of rediscovery and creative reclamation.
Directed by Tian Glasgow, known for Tomorrow is Not Promised and Threshold, the production weaves together past and present, love and legacy, to honour a forgotten history and celebrate a living culture.
Michael Buffong, Artistic Director of Talawa, said:
“Talawa’s Black Joy season has been one of the most ambitious and successful endeavours in our nearly 40-year history. Bringing the season to a close with the highly anticipated studio show Syncopated is a full circle moment, nurturing new work rooted in Liverpool’s musical culture and history. It is an honour to have the opportunity to collaborate with Varaidzo and the team at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse to do what we do best: shine a light on the prodigious talents of Black and global majority creatives.”
This world premiere offers music and storytelling as redemptive, healing, and a connecting bridge across generations.
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