Sweet Yam Kisses @ the Lyric

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This is the battle of the sexes told through the eyes of three generations of lovers in Black Britain. A sexy, funny and romantic show, Sweet Yam Kisses follows three couples as their relationships evolve from getting together to staying together.

With bling bling culture dominating the media, and the collapse of long-lasting and loving relationships across society, is modern love in a state of emotional emergency? Kushite explores this question, and asks: What is love and how can we make it last?

Sweet Yam Kisses director Karena Johnson has invited writers Pat Cumper and Courttia Newland to collaborate to create a portrayal of black love and relationships for the stage. Karena wanted to explore a more positive aspect of Black British life than is usually focused on in the media. The scriptwriting process has been unique, involving the cast, documentary video and the team of Pat, Courttia and Karena - and woven into the script are video interviews of real people talking about their experiences of love.

Courttia Newland's writing credits include a contemporary version of The Women of Troy and the play Tell Tales, but he is better known as a novelist. His debut novel The Scholar was set in Hammersmith, where he grew up. This and subsequent novels, plays and short stories prompted the Evening Standard to call him 'Britain's brightest black writer'.

Pat Cumper has written for theatre, radio and television for over fifteen years. Her most recent writing includes Elysian Fields for the Royal Court and Doctors for BBC1.

As well as being Acting Artistic Director of Contact Theatre, Manchester, Karena has worked at Oval House Theatre as Head of Programming and directed many plays for the Young Vic, Tricycle Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Sweet Yam Kisses is part of theMIX at Lyric Hammersmith. Eclectic and challenging; 2006 sees the second season of theMIX - a groundbreaking programme of new work in the Lyric Studio by some of the sharpest artists and companies making theatre today.

 

Sweet Yam Kisses

22 February - 11 March
Tickets:
Adults £12
Concessions and under 16s £7 (senior citizens, unwaged, registered disabled)
16-25s and Students £6* (up to two tickets per booking, does not apply to school/college groups)

Kushite Theatre Company
By Pat Cumper and Courttia Newland, concept by Karena Johnson
Suitable for ages 12+
Direction: Karena Johnson
Design: Susannah Henry
Lighting Design: Tina MacHugh
Video: Saria Ofogba

Cast: Amie Buhari Marc Matthews, Carol Moses, Femi Oguns, Michael Rochester and Blanche Williams

Performance schedule:
Wed 22 February 8pm
Thu 23 February 8pm
Fri 24 February 8pm
Sat 25 February 8pm
Mon 27 February 8pm
Tue 28 February 8pm
Wed 1 March 3pm
Thu 2 March 8pm
Fri 3 March 8pm
Sat 4 March 8pm
Mon 6 March 8pm
Tue 7 March 8pm
Wed 8 March 8pm (post-show artist talk)
Thu 9 March 8pm
Fri 10 March 8pm
Sat 11 March 8pm

January 29, 2006