Pre Season Highlights
Press Release
Immediate release
Pre-Season highlights 2007 . . . . _____________________________________________________
The Drum continues to build on its reputation for being the leaders in Black Arts and entertainment as demonstarted with the finalé of the spring season. The Billie Holiday Story broke box-office records and helped to achieve a 30% rise in audience figures, on the same period last year; testament to the quality and range of shows The Drum consistently programmes. The Drum is now putting the final touches to it’s autumn season which starts in September.
This autumn The Drum presents an exciting season of events to explore the struggle for social justice and equality as it relates to African, Asian and Caribbean communities. The theme for this strand of events is ‘Routes To Freedom’ which marks the Bicentenary of the Slave Trade Act and the 60th Anniversary of the Partition of the Indian Subcontinent and includes exhibitions, theatre and spoken word events. The official Routes To Freedom Launch will take place on Sat 29 Sep in partnership with the Black History Foundation. A series of cultural activities will be showcased at The Drum to mark these two landmark events:
The opening exhibition on Mon 3 Sep – Fri 28 Sep; India & Independence by Sunil Janah marks the 60th anniverasry of Indian Independence. This distinguished photographer produced the exhibition from his own historic photographs, about the struggle for the independence of India from the British, a movement of which Sunil Janah was himself a part of. He captures the political activity seen against the backdop of the people of India, the economy and history of the continent. To do this pictorally, he was able to draw on the rare collection of negatives which he had taken over the course of 35 years from 1943 onwards.
You can also see Jamaica’s most famous poet and musician; An Audience with <)b>Mutabaruka on Sat 8 Sep. This event will give audiences the opportunity to hear about his prolific career and extraordinary life covering topics such as film, work and religion. Audience members will be able to take part in the question and answer session and be treated to a rare, live performance.
Krik Krak productions will mark the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade with a powerful new production, ‘Nobody Knows’, written by Mervyn Weir on Tue 25 – Sat 29 Sep. This ground-breaking theatre piece fuses drama, dance, music and images to tell the story of slavery through the eyes of ‘Equiano’, a former slave who wrote his best-selling autobiography in 1789. The production coincides with the opening of a brand new exhibition at Birmingham Museum on the life of Equiano in Sep 2007.
Outside of the Routes To Freedom events, other gems include:
The Brothers comes to Birmingham following its huge success in London, this star-studded comedy opens at The Drum on Wed 17 – Sat 20 Oct. This sharp and hilarious play is written by Angie Le Mar which follows the story of three best friends who have to test just how tight their friendship is when they are faced with betrayal and deceit. Chucky Venice (FOOTBALLER’S WIVE’S), Richard Blackwood (veteran MTV host, comedian, Choice FM London) and actor Jason Barrett reunite for The Brothers production in Birmingham.
“The Drum’s autumn season 2007 is sure to be a whirlwind of magnificent entertainment, there is something to please even the most discerning of theatre goers, art lovers and comedy connoisseurs, of which ‘The Brothers’ will be the greatest piece of comedy-theatre yet, with a sexy star cast”.
As part of the well established ‘All That Jazz’ brand The Drum have the All American soul music master Eric Roberson playing live for one night only on Sat 6 Oct, with beautiful songs from his acclaimed 2007 album ‘LEFT’. He is no stranger to the UK, having performed at London’s Jazz Café over the past few years to his adoring fans. His new album is without doubt one of his strongest collections of songs to date, including ‘I Luv U 2 Much’, a duet with Atlanta vocalist Algebra Blessett, and ‘Been In Love’, featuring Phonte from Little Brother.
The Black International
Anurekha Ghosh & Company’s new production NOOR (meaning light) is surely one of the jewels in their Dance programme – Fri 23 Nov. Expressed through powerful Qawwali songs (Sacred vocal music, originating in Pakistan and India), with mystical poetry set to the dazzling rhythms of Kathak dance.
You can find more up to the minute details on The Drum website.
Tickets are on sale now, call our Customer Services Team on : 0121 333 2444 or book online at www.the-drum.org.uk.
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