14% by Keisha Thompson at Talawa Firsts 2021
Talawa Firsts 2021: Thursday 15th July
The spiralling double narrative in 14% follows two protagonists, Nadia and Tony.
As they attempt to quantify their Britishness, we are drawn into their tense and claustrophobic journey set within the confines of a train carriage.
Who holds the power, and who does the work?
Keisha Thompson
Keisha Thompson is a Manchester based writer, performance artist and producer. She is currently working with commissioners Eclipse Theatre, York Theatre Royal and Pilot Theatre to stage her new play, The Bell Curves, made in development with Box of Tricks. Keisha is also working with Fuel Theatre and Alan Lane (Slung Low) to create new children’s show, Izzy, BOSSS & Fractal. In 2020, she finished touring her award-winning solo show, Man on the Moon.
KeishaShe has supported artists such as Kae Tempest, Hollie McNish, The Last Poets, Saul Williams, and Amiri Baraka and her work has been presented at high profile venues and platforms such as Tate Modern, Blue Dot Festival and the British Council Showcase in Edinburgh.
Keisha is Senior Manager of Children, Young People and Learning at Arts Council England, chair of radical arts funding body, Future’s Venture Foundation, a MOBO x London Theatre Consortium Fellow and a member of Greater Manchester Cultural and Heritage Group, and recipient of The Arts Foundation Theatre Makers Award 2021.
We're delighted to welcome Keisha Thompson to Talawa Firsts 2021. 14% grabbed us instantly. The clever use of a dual, overlapping narrative was really exciting. What was most forceful was the subject, and the deft way its complexities were handled. 14% is an exciting and intelligent play, and we're really looking forward to its livestreamed staged reading at Talawa Firsts 2021.
The 14% Company
Writer: Keisha Thompson
Director: Kwame Asiedu
Cast
Nadia: Alicia Charles
Baby : Khai Shaw
Old Tony : Jay Simpson
Anna : Liza Van Der Smissen
Nik : Nick Veitch
Jacob : Fredrick Zennor
Taxi Driver / Train Steward : Alan SuriStage Managers
Stage Manager: Kevanna Etten
Assistant Stage Manager: Waverley Moran
Producers:
Ifrah Ismail + David Gilbert + Chuchu Nwagu