Over the last year dozens of stories about food have been gathered from across the West Midlands for a new play, Eat!
Inspired by stories of war and poverty, feasts and famines Eat! will be an intimate, unique and tasty theatre experience taking place in the unusual setting of four caravans situated in the courtyard of the Roundhouse, Birmingham from 18 to 27 October as part of Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s offsite season.
Eat! delves into stories and memories about food – it weaves together theatre, live music, installation, beatbox and spoken word in a production that will take its audience on a unique journey inspired by the many stories that have been collected. The stories span the globe and tell of how people have discovered new worlds through food.
“This is an exciting new production,” says Director, Frances Land “The stories may have come from across the Midlands but in fact they could have originated anywhere in the world. We’ve talked and listened to people from a huge variety of backgrounds hearing about war, poverty, family celebrations and some quite unusual meals that would repulse even the hardest foodie. We’ve given a voice to some of these memories bringing to life some moving, charming and honest stories.”
The creative team behind Eat! includes Birmingham writer Rochi Rampal, directors Steve Johnstone, Frances Land and Associate Director at The REP, Tessa Walker with design by Purvin and music by Sheema Mukherjee.
Steve Johnstone is the Co-Artistic Director of Black Country Touring and a freelance theatre director with over 25 years’ experience in directing professional productions.His experience of directing large and small-scale site-specific work includes productions for Pentabus, Shared Experience, Welsh National Opera, mac, Cultura Mobila as well as Apna Ghar (Our Home) and The Corner Shop for Black Country Touring.
Frances Land, also Co-Artistic Director of Black Country Touring, has toured Europe and the UK extensively with various companies including Eastern Angles, Friends Roadshow, Pentabus, and New Perspectives. Work with Foursight Theatre includes performing in Six Dead Queens, Medea, The Snow Queen, Thatcher The Musical, Can Any Mother Help Me? and co-directing Apna Ghar (2006) and The Corner Shop.
The cast includes Beatbox and spoken word artist, Sharanjit Bansil and actors, Nia Davies, Graeme Rose, Vimal Korpal and Katrina Demetraki.
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Eat!
Feasting, Fasting, Famine and Food for Thought
The REP @ The Roundhouse, St Vincent Street, Birmingham B16 8EB (behind the Fiddle & Bone)
Thursday 18 to Saturday 27 October
Performance Times: 8pm Mon to Sat with matinees at 5.30pm on Sat 20, Thu 25 and Sat 27 October
Please note due to the nature and setting of the production capacity is limited on all performances
Tickets: £12 with concessions available
Box Office: 0121 236 4455 Book Online: birmingham-rep.co.uk
