Ola Ince Directs POET IN DA CORNER By Debris Stevenson

In the semi-autobiographical Poet in da Corner, young poet, lyricist, and dancer Debris Stevenson explores how grime helped shape her youth.

Stevenson has performed her unique work everywhere from BBC Radio 3's The Verb to London's Roundhouse. Thirteen years after encountering the early days of London's grime scene, Stevenson uses music, movement, lyrics and poetry to recall how it gave her permission to redefine herself. Poet in da Corner is part of Represent, a series of artworks commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK's arts programme for the First World War centenary, and supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation

In a strict Mormon household somewhere in the seam between East London and Essex, a girl is given Dizzee Rascal's ground-breaking grime album Boy in da Corner by her best friend SS Vyper.

Precisely 57 minutes and 21 seconds later, her life begins to change - from feeling muted by dyslexia to spitting the power of her words; from being conflicted about her sexuality to finding the freedom to explore; from feeling alone to being given the greatest gift by her closest friend.

A coming of age story inspired by Dizzee Rascal's seminal album.

Directed by Ola Ince, Poet in da Corner will also feature writer and performer Jammz, with music and composition from Michael 'Mikey J' Asante.

The production runs Friday 21 September 2018 - Saturday 6 October 2018 with press in from 7.30pm Tuesday 25 September 2018.

Poet in da Corner has been co-commissioned by The Royal Court Theatre and 14-18 NOW, in association with Nottingham Playhouse and Leicester Curve and is part of Represent, a series of artworks inspired by the Representation of the People Act 1918. While the act gave the vote only to women over 30, Represent invites three young female artists to explore democracy, equality and inclusion in contemporary Britain. Find out more about Represent and the artists here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT1C_8w3ulA&feature=youtu.be

Photo by Benji Reid