BLANKFACE Comes to the Albany Theatre

Youth culture and knife crime - the unspoken truths.

In the week that sees the Knife Angel sculpture arrive in Coventry, the Albany Theatre is proud to be welcoming London's, My Runway Group with their performances of Blankface - a drama that confronts knife crime issues head-on.

Blankface is a powerful and hard-hitting drama that explores the racial and political themes surrounding youth culture and knife crime. These unspoken issues are tackled in a live-action performance through choreographed drama, movement and artistic language in this innovative theatre production.

The show is being brought to the Coventry stage by My Runway Group, founded by Kojo Marfo. Thirty-year-old Ghanaian, Kojo found his passion for the creative arts six years ago whilst studying aerospace engineering at Coventry University. He has curated bespoke productions under the banner of My Runway Show, which merges different elements of creative arts driven by an annual theme that empowers young people. The latest theme is knife crime and the multi-award-winning Youth Influencer and holder of a British Citizen Award is thrilled to be returning to his adopted home city to bring this uncompromising piece to the Coventry stage.

"To be able to bring this performance back to a city I consider as a second home is really important to me. Especially since the city seems to be falling prey to the same knife-crime issues that are beginning to rock places across the UK. I really hope Blankface will help to confront the issues surrounding this in a creative and informative manner."

The drama follows a group of black youths abducted by a xenophobic scientist who aims to control and brainwash them to increasing violence amongst themselves in order to promote the dominance of his race. Written by Maxwell Chartey, Blankface challenges issues that are increasingly headline news in Coventry and cities across the UK as an unspoken epidemic.

My Runway Group aims at providing a platform for youth development and creative growth and have a social impact through youth engagement and instil self-belief in young adults. Kojo explains:

"I believe ideas are the new currency. The things we see today are the ideas of yesterday. Therefore, to create more and do more we need to think more. There is nothing more beautiful than witnessing an idea come into fruition and become socially beneficial. Blankface is one of those ideas..."

The show has the backing of 2-Tone legend Neville Staple and his wife Christine whose grandson was fatally wounded in a knife crime incident in Coventry just a few months ago.

This thought-provoking drama is aimed at all audiences aged 13+ as an invitation to start addressing the issues around knife crime, why it happens and what we can all do to put a stop to it. Tickets are £11.00 adult, £8.00 concessions and can be booked online (albanytheatre.co.uk), via the box office on 02476 99 89 64 or in person at the theatre. For group and school bookings, contact the theatre directly.