Only Connect is a creative arts company and crime prevention charity for prisoners, ex-offenders and at-risk youth. His Teeth, written by Ben Musgrave and inspired by the real life experiences of Only Connect member Ralph Ojotu, is being directed by Maggie Norris and runs at the Only Connect Theatre from 13 October until 12 November, with press night on 21 October. Designs are by takis, with projection design by Mic Pool, sound design by Ed Clarke and lighting design by Josh Carr. His Teeth is the eighth production the charity have produced since it was founded in 2006 by Danny & Emma Kruger.
The play is performed by ex-offenders, with convictions ranging from firearms to drugs offences, and at-risk youth; Dymond Allen (Roger), Kareem Dauda (Eric), Junior ‘Mila' Miller (Derek), Harry Rafferty (Neil), Moses Gomes-Santos (Joseph/George/Dealer), Eleanor Wyld (Sarah) alongside London Tonight's Sharon Thomas, who plays the part of a journalist.
Eric Adegeye has always kept moving, and relies on no man. In Lagos he runs smuggling missions in his dirty yellow bus. His restlessness drives him to England, where he is ensnared in a depraved world of forced labour and bad loyalties. When he falls in love with Sarah, can they both break free from the underworld? And then can he stand still long enough to find out who he really is?
Ben Musgrave has taken inspiration from stories of crime and illegal immigration told by Only Connect member Ralph Ojotu. His Teeth was developed through workshops with Only Connect members. Ben noted:
"Ralph's extraordinary life was so full of unexpected pathways, vivid locations and rich themes that it was some weeks before we got past his seventh birthday... I used themes, shapes, motifs from his account as starting points for a fictional play about an immigrant who comes to the country illegally."
Only Connect works with some of the most creative - and challenging - people in the criminal justice system, the ones with natural charisma and big impact: those with the potential to be leaders in society. They are trained to deliver arts-based crime prevention projects with young people at risk, reducing re-offending and cutting youth crime.
Danny Kruger, co-founder of Only Connect with his wife Emma Kruger, is former adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron and author of the famous crime-reduction speech caricatured as ‘hug-a-hoodie'. He left politics to work full time with ex-offenders and young people at risk. Danny says:
"Theatre is often the best way to reach the reality about crime. Our work is based on real life, and it tells the truth - it shows what crime is like from the point of view of the criminals and gives them an opportunity for redemption... the impact is magnified by getting our own ex-offender members into the lead roles in the play. These actors have first hand experience and are able to tap inner resources that other actors cannot touch - bringing a passion and an integrity to their performance that you just don't get anywhere else."
Only Connect has a proven track record. Independent research from New Philanthropy Capital shows that they reduce re-offending by ex-prisoners by over half (less than 30% of members go back to prison, compared to the 60%+ that would otherwise be expected) saving the taxpayer £3 for every £1 the charity spends.
Kareem Dauda, playing the lead role of Eric Adegeye, is an ex-offender and has been a member of Only Connect since 2007. His Teeth is Kareem's third production with the company. Kareem says: 'This role is the most challenging for me yet for several reasons: There is a wider range of emotion for me to tap into, and the play is very intense. Also, I am performing a role that was inspired by one of my friends, and so there is an added element to bringing to life one of his characters. For me, being at OC gives me a chance to grow both professionally as an actor and personally in my life. The reason I like performing with Only Connect is that I get to share my experiences with others and the chance to inspire young people and other ex-offenders to join us and to change their life.'
Maggie Norris is Artistic Director of Only Connect, for whom she has developed and directed seven plays since 2008, including the critically acclaimed production of Any Which Way by David Watson, Family Matters by Bola Agbaji and Christmas Carol/Badman Christmas, by David Watson/Charles Dickens, which had a large scale promenade production inside HMP Wormwood Scrubs. She is currently developing a new musical for Only Connect, The Realness, with music and lyrics by Kath Gotts and book by David Watson, which the company has just workshopped at The Young Vic. Previously, Maggie directed Bad Girls - The Musical at West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Garrick Theatre. Her other directing credits include The Sunshine Boys at West Yorkshire Playhouse, The Bodies, a new adaptation of Therese Raquin by Peter Flannery for Live Theatre, Newcastle and Joséphine at the BAC, Oldham Coliseum Theatre and a national tour. She also produced, with Leslee Udwin, the feature film Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution, starring Catherine Tate and Iain Glen. She has co-written three musicals: Hot Stuff, with Paul Kerryson, Ferry Cross the Mersey and Rock Hard with Guy Picot, all of which have had extensive national tours followed by West End runs.
Ben Musgrave's play Pretend You Have Big Buildings won first prize in the inaugural Bruntwood Playwriting Competition. The play was performed in the main house of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, in July 2007, as part of the Manchester International Festival. His commission for Y Touring, Breathing Country, in association with the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Wellcome Trust, toured the country in 2009-10, and was shortlisted for the Theatre Centre Brian Way award for the Best New Play for Young People. In 2009 he worked with David Watson and Paula Stanic on a new play for Only Connect, Pancras Boys Club, and his play for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Exams are Getting Easier, was performed by the Young REP in April 2010. Musgrave's other writing credits include; Later, The Melancholy Hussar, Love Between Two Shelves and A Tale of Two Cities. Ben is currently working with TheatreScience and Imperial College on a play about HIV in Uganda. He is also under commission to Radio 4, and Y Touring Theatre Company.
