God’s Property – Play relives austerity and unrest of Thatcher’s Britain

Talawa Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Michael Buffong will direct the world premiere of God’s Property by award winning playwright and former Eastenders’ actor Arinze Kene, in a co-production with Soho Theatre and Deptford’s the Albany.

God’s Property explores the relationship between two estranged mixed race brothers living in Deptford in 1982, against a backdrop of economic downturn, rising youth unemployment and a riot charged atmosphere. The production will preview in Deptford at the Albany from 20 February before its premiere at Soho Theatre from 26 February and then tours to MAC in Birmingham from 26 March.

It’s 1982. London is restless, gripped by spiraling unemployment and inner city riots, Ska beats dominate the airwaves and in a flat in Deptford, South London, two estranged mixed race brothers are re-united unexpectedly. But notions of family and belonging are put to the test when a pack of hostile neighbours gathers outside to deliver some rough justice.

In 2011, Arinze Kene was one of the inaugural Soho Six; a selected group of six writers who are commissioned and are in residency for a six month period to work on a new play for Soho Theatre. During his residency, Arinze wrote God’s Property. He was named most promising playwright by Off West End.com (Offies) for his debut play Estate Walls (Oval House Theatre, 2010). Little Baby Jesus (English Touring Theatre) was shortlisted for the Alfred Fagon award in 2009. Arinze was a member of the Royal Court’s Young Writer’s Progamme and this year’s Supergroup. His play Hackney Baths was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 during the Olympics and he was this year’s Pearson Writer in Residence at Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.  Arinze is part of the writing team on E20 for Eastenders/BBC. He has just completed writing a film for Film London entitled Seekers. As an actor, Arinze is best known for his portrayal of 'Connor Stanley' in EastEnders, and has also starred in The Lion King.

Michael Buffong became Artistic Director of Talawa Theatre Company in March 2012.  He is currently directing The Serpent’s Tooth (Talawa Theatre Company and Almeida Theatre) by David Watson. Previous productions include Moon on a Rainbow Shawl (National Theatre), the multi-award winning A Raisin in the Sun (Manchester Royal Exchange), Crawling in the Dark (Almeida Theatre), and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Leicester Curve).

Talawa Theatre Company is a UK black-led theatre company which aims to create work informed by the wealth and diversity of the Black British experience, with the mission to invest in talent, build audiences and inspire dialogue with and within communities across Britain.  

LISTINGS

Wednesday 20 – Saturday 23 February 2013

The Albany, Deptford

Time: 7.30pm

Tickets: £8 - £14

To Book: 020 8692 4446

Website: www.thealbany.org.uk  

Tuesday 23 February – Saturday 23 March 2013

Soho Theatre

Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm, 3pm on Saturdays

Tickets: £10 (Week 1), £15 (Weeks 2 and 3), £20  (Week 3)

To Book: 020 7478 0100

Website: www.sohotheatre.com  

Tuesday 26 – Saturday 23 March 2013

mac, Birmingham

Time: 8pm

Tickets: £12 (£10)

To Book: 0121 446 3232

Website: www.macarts.co.uk