SEEDS Embarks On A UK Tour in 2020

Shortlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award, seeds embarks on a UK tour in 2020. Sensitively written by Mel Pennant, it tells the story of two mothers united in sorrow, unable to escape the tragedy and violence of knife crime. Together, they try to face the hardship of protecting their sons - one in life, and one in death.

On Michael Thomas' birthday, his cake sits in his mother's living room, its candles burning undisturbed. Jackie wants to clear her conscience, while Evelyn's got a big speech to deliver on the 15th anniversary of Michael's fatal stabbing. Are some things better left unsaid?

In our divided Britain, crimes fuelled by racism still happen; according to figures released in October 2019, knife crime offences in England and Wales have reached a record high. Hate crimes have more than doubled over a seven-year period with a spike following the EU referendum; racial hate crimes make up more than three-quarters of offences.

Directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour (Typical, Soho Theatre), seeds looks to tell the, often unexplored, stories of those who fight to keep their children safe from the world in which they grow up. This compelling piece is about motherhood, loss, the lengths that a parent may go to protect their child and what is left after tragedy hits. It brings insidious issues of race and gang mentality to the fore provoking dialogue in the hope they aren't allowed to fester and infect a new generation.

Osei-Kuffour comments, Finding, developing and directing ground-breaking new plays is my passion. I'm interested in how new writing can respond to current events and resonate with audiences, the way they explore the human story behind injustices in the hope of bringing about change, or at least starting a dialogue to kickstart action. I want to bring the people the world doesn't see or care about to the centre of a story where they can be engaged with. I feel that seeds by Mel Pennant is a play very much in line with the work I want to create.

seeds is generously supported by Arts Council England, The Foyle Foundation and The Carne Trust.

Tour Dates

21st - 29th February Leeds Playhouse

Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UP
https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/

@LeedsPlayhouse

3rd - 4th March Live Theatre

Broad Chare, Quayside, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 3DG

https://www.live.org.uk/

@LiveTheatre

6th - 7th March Derby Theatre

15 Theatre Walk, St Peter's Quarter, Derby, DE1 2NF
https://www.derbytheatre.co.uk/

@DerbyTheatre

9th - 10th March Warwick Arts Centre

University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL
https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/

@WarwickArts

17th - 18th March Stephen Joseph Theatre

Westborough, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1JW
https://www.sjt.uk.com/

@theSJT

20th - 21st March Traverse Theatre

10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED