Lyrikal Fearta: The Letter & Broken Lineage
Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Jonzi D presents a triple bill, including his acclaimed solo work The Letter and the UK premiere of Broken Lineage, returning to Sadler’s Wells’ Lilian Baylis Studio from 16 – 19 October 2013 ahead of a UK tour.
The Letter explores the responses to Jonzi being offered an MBE, and uses choreopoetry to look at this sensitive subject matter through the eyes of an animated cast of characters. The evening also features a top guest hip hop artist presenting a new work, and the UK premiere of Broken Lineage, a newly commissioned collaboration with Ivan Blackstock of BirdGang Dance Company, about the relationship between the old skool and new skool hip hop generations. Bringing Jonzi’s unique perspective to evolving social issues, it promises to captivate audiences with Jonzi’s wit, humour and style.
Jonzi D is a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist who has been actively involved in British hip hop culture, rapping and b-boying since the early 1980’s. Since graduating from the London Contemporary Dance School, Jonzi has been committed to the development of hip hop dance theatre. He was an Associate Artist at The Place Theatre and has performed and created worldwide.
He devised and directed TAG… just writing in name in 2006, IVAN in 2006 and Markus the Sadist, a rap theatre piece in 2009. All pieces toured the UK to critical acclaim. Jonzi is also Artistic Director and host of the acclaimed international festival of hip hop dance theatre, Breakin’ Convention, which is now in its tenth year.
As an MC and poet, Jonzi has worked with The Roots, Steve Williamson, Mannafest, Lenny Henry and Gangstarr. He appeared in HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and Channel 4’s Faking It, and his pieces Silence da Bitchin’ and Aeroplane Man were screened on Channel 4. In 2007, Jonzi was listed as one of the top 10 positive black musical role models by MOBO.
Ivan Blackstock trained at The Urdang Academy, where he gained a DADA Award and won the in-house choreographic platform award, and then at London Contemporary Dance School. He performed as a backing dancer on a world tour with Pet Shop Boys, and worked with Arlene Phillips on the West End production of Flashdance the Musical. Ivan Blackstock and BirdGang Dance Company returned to Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells with for the third time in May 2013.
Lyrikal Fearta Autumn 2013 Tour Details
Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells, London
Wed 16 October – Sat 19 October www.sadlerswells.com Box office: 0844 412 4000
Wed 16 Oct – Panel Discussion: To MBE or not to MBE
A panel of renowned artists discuss their personal responses to being offered a Queen’s honour and the complex issues it throws up for them as black men. Chaired by Brenda Emmanus, the guest panel includes Benjamin Zephaniah, Lemn Sissay, Omar Lye-Fook and Jonzi D
Thu 17 Oct – with guest artist OneNess Sankara
Fri 18 Oct – with guest artist GREEdS
Sat 19 Oct – with guest artist Zena Edwards
To book, call 0844 412 4300 or online
Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury
Mon 21 October www.kent.ac.uk Box office: 01227 769075
Contact Theatre, Manchester
Wed 23 & Thur 24 October www.contactmcr.com Box office: 0161 274 0600
Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis
Sat 26 October www.marinetheatre.com Box office: 01297 442138
Warwick Arts Centre, Warwick
Tue 29 & Wed 30 October www.warwickartscentre.co.uk Box office: 024 7652 4524
Swindon Dance, Swindon
Fri 1 November
www.swindondance.org.uk 01793 601700
Courtyard Studio, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
Tue 12 & Wed 13 November
www.wyp.org.uk Box office: 0113 213 7700
Whitley Bay Playhouse, North Tyneside
Thur 14 November
www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk Box office: 0844 248 1588
Deda, Derby
Sat 16 November
www.deda.uk.com Box office: 01332 370 911
Cornexchange, Brighton
Mon 18 November
www.brightondome.org Box office: 01273 709 709
Eden Court, Inverness
Wed 20 November
www.eden-court.co.uk Box office: 01463 234 234
Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
Sat 23 November
www.breweryarts.co.uk Box office: 01539 725 133