Urielle Klein-Mekongo's YVETTE Comes to the Southbank Centre's WOW Festival

Based on her own true story, Urielle Klein-Mekongo's debut show delves into the trials of a young Black girl growing up, from Hello Kitty knickers to 'lightys' to the terrible secret of her stolen childhood. Using original music, spoken word and a loop station, this one woman show presents a story of teenage angst and survival. Following a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017, the show is set to open at the Southbank Centre's WOW Festival before touring nationally and returning to London be presented at five leading venues across the city in an innovative new London touring model.

Evie is thirteen and lives in Neasden with her Mum. She wants to tell us about something - her crush on Lewis, trying to be a woman, friends, virginity, lightys, garage remixes... and an 'Uncle' who lurks in the corners of her story. She wants to tell us something, but first she must face it for herself. Through music, rhyme and witty character observations Urielle Klein-Mekongo invites the audience into a snapshot of a young girl's life, growing up in a single parent home in North London, the trials and tribulations of being a teenager and the dark figure that infiltrates her life.

Urielle said, "This project tells a coming of age story, that asks questions about what it means to be a Black girl from a single parent household. It's particularly important to me because it's a story based on challenges I faced growing up with major daddy issues and trying to rise from of ashes of sexual abuse. It took me a while to come face to face with it, like many other victims, but I believe that this show could encourage more people to speak up."

Urielle Klein-Mekongo is a writer, theatre maker, singer/songwriter and performer. Since Graduating from East 15 Acting School, Urielle has written for Young Hearts Company and Jude Law performed her work as part of the Lyric Gala. Urielle has also been working with the Soho Writer's group and BBC Writers London Voices. Urielle's one woman show, Yvette, which she performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017 received 5 star reviews and won the Young Harts Writing Fest Audience Favourite, the Kings Head Theatre Stella Wilkie Award and The East15 Pulse Award 2017. Other theatre credits include: The Croydon Avengers (Southbank Centre).

Director Gbolahan Obisesan recently held the role of Genesis Fellow/Associate Director at the Young Vic Theatre. In 2018, Gbolahan's adaptation of the Booker Prize-nominated novel The Fisherman will premiere at HOME, Manchester (New Perspectives Theatre). Previous directing credits include 2017 Olivier nominated Cuttin it (Young Vic, Birmingham Rep, Sheffield Crucible, Royal Court, Yard Theatre) Off The Page, a short film for the Royal Court/Guardian's microplays season, We are Proud to Present...(Bush Theatre), and The Web (Young Vic).

Director (previous version) Rebecca Atkinson Lord trained at RADA and with the Royal Opera House and the Young Vic. Her work has taken her from major international companies like Shakespeare's Globe, Scottish Opera and the Royal Opera House, to intimate found spaces in London and beyond. She is Founding Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Arch 468 and from 2010-2016 was Director of Theatre at Ovalhouse in London.

Director (original production) Meriel Hinsching is an emerging theatre-maker in her graduating year at East 15 Acting School (BA Acting and Contemporary Theatre). She works as an actress on both stage and television and co-formed two theatre companies of her own, RedDeer Theatre and DeadLeaf Theatre. Her debut play "Attic", which she wrote and co-produced, is currently on at The King's Head Theatre London until July 2nd. Meriel also works a director; most recently having directed the original production of Yvette at Debut Festival at East 15 Acting School.

China Plate is an independent theatre studio that works with artists, venues, festivals and funders to challenge the way performance is made, who it's made by and who gets to experience it. Launched by Ed Collier and Paul Warwick in 2006, the company is currently collaborating with Caroline Horton, Chris Thorpe / Rachel Chavkin, Contender Charlie, Dan Jones, Sarah Punshon, Rachel Bagshaw, Urielle Klein-Mekongo, Inspector Sands, Joan Clevillé, David Edgar, Katie Lyons / Ella Grace and Ben Wright. China Plate are Associate Producers at Warwick Arts Centre where they develop and commission new work, Artistic Associates at the New Wolsey Theatre where they are Directors of PULSE Festival, Programmers of New Directions (the NRTF showcase) and Programme Consultants for Hull City of Culture 2017 (Back to Ours Festival). They are producers of innovative development programmes including The Darkroom, The Optimists (producer training), The First Bite and Bite Size Festivals and the NRTF Rural Touring Dance Initiative.

www.chinaplatetheatre.com/yvette

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