CHECKPOINT: 30 Years of Border Crossings at Hoxton Hall

To commemorate 30 years of intercultural performance, Border Crossings hosts an unmissable extravaganza at London’s Hoxton Hall that offers a look back in time. Rethinking what it means to archive, CHECKPOINT: 30 Years of Border Crossings brings together cultures and generations to create thought-provoking and electric performance pieces. The evening will pay homage to Artistic Director Michael Walling’s foundational concept to create an intercultural theatre company, working with international artists from a huge variety of backgrounds. Thirty years on, CHECKPOINT: 30 Years of Border Crossings will both look back on previous work and forward towards emerging theatres of tomorrow.

A highlight of the evening will be a new short play Bravely Fights the Queen that revisits two central characters from a much-loved performance piece Bravely Fought the Queen, that first debuted in 1996. Written by Mahesh Dattani, this kaleidoscopic play explored a dysfunctional Indian family's dark secrets. Now 30 years later, Dattani and the original cast including Siddiqua Akhtar (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, BBC/Netflix; Tartuffe, Birmingham Rep) and Harvey Virdi (Bend It Like Beckham, Brick Lane, Hollyoaks) will revisit these themes and reignite their roles in a full-circle moment for Border Crossings.

A new play from Brian Woolland will also pull the past into the present as Cultural Exchange is set in 21st century and responds to the previous hit Double Tongue, which followed a tale of sexual obsession, political intrigue and the tumultuous art world. Starring Hungarian film actor Dorka Gryllus playing the protagonist and Andrew French (Winter’s Tale, RSC; Great Expectations, Manchester Royal Exchange; A Very English Scandal, BBC), Cultural Exchange presents a dramatic production that continues 30 years on from Double Tongue!

CHECKPOINT: 30 Years of Border Crossings will also showcase an exuberant array of original performances from students working in response to the Border Crossings archive. Influenced by their theatrical predecessors, this cohort of young talent will present original short plays. Artistic Director Michael Walling will also be contributing his own monologue for Prospero’s daughter in The Death of Prospero, who will be played by Mauritian actor Nisha Dassyne.