13 – 17 June Read our review 14 June
FAMILY TREE is a powerful and poetic drama exploring race, inequality, health, the environment and the incredible legacy of one of the most influential Black women of modern times, Henrietta Lacks, whose influence on modern-day medicine still reverberates today.
Henrietta Lacks is one of the most remarkable people in medical history. Her cells form the basis of the most important medical research and breakthroughs happening today, from cancer to HIV to COVID.
But Henrietta never knew any of this. Her cells were taken without her or her family’s knowledge or permission.
Henrietta was a Black woman: she is not the only one whose body has been exploited by the medical establishment.
Denied her place in history, now is the time for Henrietta’s incredible legacy to undergo a transformation… to blossom and grow into something new and wonderful.
This brand-new nationwide touring production is brought to you by playwright Mojisola Adebayo (Alfred Fagon Award winner for Family Tree) and director Matthew Xia (The Wiz, Shebeen).
Family Tree won the 2021 Alfred Fagon Award, the leading Black British Playwrighting prize, for best new play. Director Matthew Xia, says: “Mojisola Adebayo is an exceptional writer and I’m excited that her award-winning play will be seen by audiences far and wide. There’s a beauty in her work that responds so well to the present moment whilst also holding historical malpractice to account. It’s fearless, brutally honest, at turns hilarious, and ultimately transformative.
Mojisola Adebayo adds: “‘When I met Matthew Xia, Henrietta Lacks came into our minds at exactly the same time. Xia is magic but Lacks is more, she’s immortal and her body has touched every life on the planet – yours, mine… So why have so few people heard of her? Let alone Lucy, Betsey, Anarcha and more… The play paints a family tree of Black women whose cells, blood and waters have birthed, raised and changed the world. Matthew said to me: “I want the audience to leave the theatre looking up”. I went away and wrote a play on a promise. Come see it.”
CAST
Aminita Francis Henrietta Lacks
Mofetoluwa Akande Ain, Anarcha, Oshun (multi-rolling parts)
Keziah Joseph Bibi and Betsy (multi-rolling parts)
Aimée Powell Lyn and Lucy (multi-rolling parts)
Alistair Hall Smoking Man
CREATIVE TEAM:
Playwright: Mojisola Adebayo Director: Matthew Xia Set and Costume Designer: Simon Kenny
Costume Supervisor Maybelle Laye Lighting Designer: Simisola Majekodunmi Sound Designer: Francesca Amewudah-Rivers
Movement Director: Diane Alison Mitchell Drama Therapist: Wabriya King Associate Producer: Melina Barnett
Associate Director: Amelia Thornber
Age 14+
Running time 90 mins no interval
For all ticket and booking enquiries please contact the Box Office on 0117 902 0344 or email tickets@tobaccofactorytheatres.com
To find out our Box Office opening hours, see How To Book.
Photo credit: Helen Murray
