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A Caribbean Christmas Part II

Press Release

Immediate

Ming Media Productions and The Drum presents:

‘A Caribbean Christmas Part II’

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Tue 18 – Sun 23 Dec

Ming Media Productions brings the highly anticipated ‘A Caribbean Christmas Part II’ to The Drum on Tue 18 – Sun 23 Dec, 7.30pm. Written, produced and directed by Ava Ming; this year’s cast has been hand picked and features local comedienne Annette Fagon, professional actors Debra Stewart and Ryan Winston and New Style Radio presenter King Tubbys who stars as Lippy.

It’s Christmas 2007 and Lippy and Merley McKenzie are adjusting to life in a run down Jamaican shack, a far cry from their sea-view mansion in the up-market tourist resort of Ocho Rios. Desperate to get back to their old way of life, but with no money, no friends and no status the future looks bleak. That is until the neighbours plan a Caribbean Style dance to raise money for the year ahead. This annual money-spinner could be just what Lippy needs to get him and Merley home. But, when he’s ready to cut and run, his bags and pockets laden with other people’s money, the Dutty Whine Gyals, (Jamaican dance artists extraordinaire) appear, ready to teach Lippy and Merley a thing or two about the Christmas Spirit of caring, sharing and not stealing!

“It’s great to be working with the Drum again. With their commitment and dedication towards new writing and with such a fantastic and talented cast I’m very much looking forward to this year’s panto.” Ava Ming

A Caribbean Christmas Part II, is a vibrant, fun–filled music and comedy drama which the whole family will enjoy. Book your tickets early – £6 (£4), last year’s play was a sell out! Family ticket available – up to 4 tickets, must include at least one child under 12 and one adult.

Ends

MEDIA CONTACT: Sati Parmar on 0121 333 2404 or e-mail: s.parmar@the-drum.org.uk. Box Office: 0121 333 2444. www.the-drum.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

Ava Ming is a writer and broadcaster with a background in music, social work and drama. Her first novel Once Upon a Lie was published by X Press books in March 2005.

Ava’s first short story The Hijab was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and published in the award winning anthology, Whispers in the Walls, the first publication to feature new Black and Asian writers from Birmingham, and voted one of the country’s top ten books for World Book Day. Her second short story, Lena was published in the anthology; Birmingham Nouveau – a showcase of stories exploring the changing face of the City. She was a commissioned writer for Stories on Stage at the Midlands Arts Centre, and has contributed numerous articles to the Weekly Gleaner newspaper and had short stories anthologized in various magazines.

Ava compiled and read news bulletins and produced and presented a programme on Black Current Affairs for several years at BBC Radio WM. Now at New Style Radio 98.7FM, Ava trains new presenters and broadcasts a Sunday evening programme showcasing the best in Black Literature.

Ava has worked as a vocal tutor for Birmingham Music Services and undertaken many freelance projects based on singing and drama. Ava regularly conducts workshops on a variety of topics around writing, including; writing radio drama, how to be published, short story writing.

Ava was Writer in Residence at BBC Radio drama. She writes regularly for the BBC radio soap

Silver Street

, broadcast on BBC Asian Network and has written plays for BBC Radio 4 and BBC 7.

Ava’s stage play A Caribbean Christmas funded by Arts Council England was written and produced by Ava and played to three sell out audiences at The Drum in December 2006.

Ava also wrote and Produced Kitchen Sink to Black Ink; a profile of four of Birmingham’s black women writers that took place at The Drum in April 2007.