BLESSED, TRYNA SHAKE THIS CURSE

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Simon Manyonda

PRESENTS

BLESSED, TRYNA SHAKE THIS CURSE

24 Feb 2024

25 Feb 2024

The Spacement at The Glitch

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BLESSED, TRYNA SHAKE THIS CURSE

BLESSED tells the story of ‘The Kid’, a nerdy black teen, dreaming of being an actor in the suburbs of 2000s Croydon. The Kid has to swerve the pitfalls of growing up in white culture whilst navigating the ways his ‘Huxtable life’ sets him apart. He lives vicariously through the TV screen, casting himself as Dawson and hoping to win the heart of his very own Joey Potter. When his fantasy life comes into conflict with a boy at school, his mirror image on a very different path, The Kid’s world is shocked into stark reality. The show takes the form of a theatrical mixtape performed live by actor/creator Simon Manyonda and accompanied by his band, musician Owain Kelly. With an original score inspired by garage, jungle, and naughties pop, it’s a heartfelt and uplifting show about feeling out of step with your peers, navigating the responsibilities of privilege and learning the lessons of humility.

PERFORMANCES

15:00

Saturday 24 February 2024

The Spacement at The Glitch

Sunday 25 February 2024

15:30

The Spacement at The Glitch

ADDITIONAL INFO

Access features:

No Step-free Access

Age guidance:

15+

Running time:

45 minutes

Festival strand:

Theatre & Performance

Funny, Offbeat, Poignant, Feel Good

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Simon Manyonda

Simon’s recent work includes Rye Lane for Searchlight Pictures and Northern Comfort for Netflix. His extensive theatre work includes Word Play for the Royal Court; The Clinic for The Almeida and Barbershop Chronicles for the NT. Simon performed in Testament by Tristan Bernays at Vault Festival 2017. Blessed, Tryna Shake This Curse is his debut solo work.

Owain's electronic outfit NO CEREMONY/// toured worldwide supporting Foals, Pixies and Crystal Fighters and won LA Times' Best Newcomer award at SXSW 2012. He comped the original score for award-winning Cuban psychological horror feature '¿Eres Tú, Papá?' ('Is That You?'). He has composed scores for films funded by BAFTA, BFI, Arts Council, Sky Arts and BBC New Creatives. His latest projects, feature film 'Year On Ice' and short 'Vestige', are both due for release later this year.

Jessica’s new play Thread, was developed on Sheffield Theatre’s Bank Cohort and long listed for the 2023 Women’s Prize; she is on commission to Layered Reality developing VR immersive show Skychaser. She was commissioned by Southwark Playhouse to adapt sellout hit Kiki’s Delivery Service and her solo show Work Bitch won Show of the Week at Vault Festival 2019.

PRESS & REVIEWS

Praise for previous work

Screenrant: 'Helping to put the comedy into Rye Lane's romantic comedy, character actor Simon Manyonda gives an appropriately theatrical performance as the pretentious artist Nathan.' (Rye Lane, Searchlight Pictures)

Evening Standard: ★★★★ 'I particularly liked Simon Manyonda’s effortless portrayal of a series of awkward nerds.' (Word Play, Royal Court Theatre)

Time Out: ★★★★ 'A blackly comic, ineffably horrible spectacle.' (Far Away, Donmar Warehouse)

CAST & CREATIVE CREDITS:

Performer/Creator: Simon Manyonda
Music: Simon Manyonda & Owain Kelly
Audio Production: Owain Kelly
Dramaturgy & Direction: Jessica Siân

With thanks to Katie Hurley; Anna Arthur; Ursula Martinez; Croydonites; The Front Room and Patterson Joseph.

A Pinch of VAULT is a festival of brand new and work-in-progress performance. Shows will be at varying stages of development, including rehearsed readings with script in hand, first time on its feet or semi-staged.