Krunch

Spring tour
2 - 17 March 2011

About the Production

A refreshingly creative, entertaining and thought-provoking expression of young Black British identity.

Overview
Cast
Creatives
Downloads

Who are you? Where are you from?

From the colour of your skin to the size of your chin, nose, hair and even the clothes you wear.

What makes me, me? And what makes you, you?

Injected with wit and insight and bursting with energy, the 9 strong cast of Krunch reflects on what it means today to be young, Black and British.

Flying through topics from Facebook to freedom, surveillance, politics and X Factor, their lyrics are thought-provoking and creative.

When you mix the poetry with krumping and a live set by DMC Supremacy champion DJ Matman, the results are fresh and explosive.

Watch temperatures rise as voices find expression, energy collides, boundaries are pushed and a new style of theatre is formed.

Shaun Blackstock
Sapphire Joy
Emmanuel Koduah
Anthony Lowe
Reuben Massiah
Shanika Warren-Markland
Stephanie Yamson
Maria Yarjah
DJ Matman

Music DJ Matman
Designer Susannah Henry
Lighting Designer Ian Saunders
Additional writing Lakesha Cammock, Michaela-Moses Boakye-Collinson

Krunch was originally written and devised by the participants of Talawa Young People's Theatre (TYPT:09). It was first performed at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre, 2009. Director Amani Naphtali, Movement Kymberlee Jay, Film-maker Collin Hills, Designer Rajha Shakiry.

Reviews

"This is a talented young cast, who seem to have enjoyed being part of this innovative and inspiring project. The facilitation and direction of the piece have clearly been highly skilled and those involved need to be congratulated. The inspired incorporation of turntablist DJ Matman as the central visual image onstage, and source of the excellent soundtrack, gives the production a delightfully funky edge."
Cue, South Africa

"Multiracial relationships, black male hoodies, authority, Africa, Facebook, MTV, BET, Pop Idol, black women, reality TV and neo black child, are some of the topics tackled in Krunch, sometimes in a light hearted, comical, serious or touching manner. Whatever, the style, it was always thought-provoking."
Afridiziak Read the full review ›

"Krunch makes a bold, admirable attempt to articulate what it means to be a young black person in Britain today with competing identities and inherited memories. It's no small feat that it's carried off so well."
Morning Star Read the full review ›