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Brotherhood

@ Alphabetti Theatre

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Alphabetti Theatre was born from the need for a fringe venue in Newcastle and the North East and ensures the development of the performing arts in the region is at the heart of their work. As a group of young people living in Newcastle Upon Tyne who are working collaboratively to make new work telling their stories, Vitamin Noir are the perfect company to open Alphabetti’s new season. They are made up of dancers, rappers, artists, photographers, and all-around creatives whose partnership is borne out of a decade-long friendship. Underrepresented in the industry, they have come together to share opportunities and put diverse stories and diverse faces at the forefront of the art.

Kay Greyson (Opolis, Alphabetti Theatre; Ankles, Park Theatre and Northern Stage) is a rapper, performer, and creator. As a rapper Kay has supported the likes of The Game, KRS One, DJ Yella, and Akala. Her 2021 single Over and Over amassed over 60,000 streams and was featured on
Radio 1’s Jack Saunders Future Artists show. She will join the members of Vitamin Noir for this emotionally charged piece. Igor Tavares is a dancer, poet, and visual artist of African and Portuguese heritage. A sense of rhythm imbues all of his creative work and is part of the way he expresses himself through poetry, painting, and drawing, and through dance. Alongside Igor, Blessing Mpofu will contribute personal histories to this affecting piece. Performer and choreographer Marshal Siziba has been using dance to express himself since he was a child and brings this expressive movement to Vitamin Noir.

Brotherhood highlights the unknown struggles of young Black men living in the UK. Originally from Africa and the Caribbean, this all-Black cast also including Abdullah Oshinusi and Hashim Kani will share their origin stories of perseverance through the mediums of dance and music.
With the goal to not let societal pressures change them, they meet every challenge with an infectious joy and mischievous smiles. Holding tight to their roots through racism and prejudice, this tale of family and love is unique and touching. At the heart of what Vitamin Noir does is a love for creating great work that moves their audience.

A spokesperson for Vitamin Noir comments, We were inspired to create this show after being friends for so long and seeing how our stories all intertwine and how we seem to have used the same coping techniques over the years to get through hardships in her life. Drawing on Vitamin
Noir’s expertise as dancers and using Kay Greyson as writer/director we were able to make the piece using just our group of friends which is a magical experience. Brotherhood was originally conceived through an Emerge + See Breakin’ Convention commission with performance at Dance City, March 2022. Development supported by The National Lottery Jubilee Fund.

Age Recommendation 16+

Please note This performance may contain themes and language that some audiences may find upsetting and distressing for more information please contact the theatre.

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