THE RIOTS Moves To Bernie Grant Arts Centre

After acritically acclaimed sell out run at the Tricycle Theatre, The Riots is moving from Kilburn, to Tottenham, where it will run at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre for ten days only, from 4 – 14 January 2012.

The government originally refused a Public Inquiry into the riots, so the Tricycle mounted its own. Directed by Nicolas Kent, and written by Gillian Slovo, from spoken evidence, The Riots prompted a wave of fresh debate from the editor of the Spectator, to community leaders such as Stafford Scott. The production has design by Polly Sullivan, lighting by Jack Knowles, sound by Sarah Weltman and costumes by Anna Bliss Scully.

John Baraldi, Chief Executive, Bernie Grant Arts Centre said "We are so overwhelmingly pleased that this important theatrical event is coming to Tottenham from the Tricycle Theatre. For us, it is not only an important piece of theatre, but it also contributes to the process of a community trying to make sense of a huge tragedy which deeply wounded and confused it. We feel that Tottenham is theideal location for such an important piece of theatre, which examines events that rocked not only Tottenham but England as a whole. This amazing new arts centre, named after Britain's first black MP, is only a few hundred yards from where the troubles began, and it is therefore appropriate that Tottenham itself has the opportunity to contribute to the healing process which must now take place. We estimate that over 4000 people will be able to see the productionhere – not only people from Tottenham but also people from all over London and the South East who need to see what an amazing place Tottenham really is."

Michele Austin, Sarah Ball, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Grant Burgin, Christopher Fox, Rupert Holliday Evans, Clementine Marlowe-Hunt, Okezie Morro, Cyril Nri, Tom Padley, Alan Parnaby,Selva Rasalingam, Steve Toussaint and Tim Woodward comprise the cast for The Riots. Eachactor will portray a number of different individuals, caught up in, or affected by the August riots.

From tweets by taxi drivers, to moment-by-moment accounts by riot police, it will build a real-time picture of the riots as they unfolded. And then, from interviews with politicians, police, teachers, lawyers, community leaders, as well as victims and on-lookers, it will analyse what happened, why it happened, and what we should do towards making a better future for ourselves and our city.

DON OMOPE – PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

Don Omope was one of the first photographers to arrive at the scene of the Tottenham Riots in London. Don's documentary essay of the riots has been celebrated by critics as historical reportage and was subsequently bought by the BBC for their archives. This exhibition and Don's comments are a unique and powerful visual essay of the pain of a community

THE GREAT BOOK OF TOTTENHAM PROJECT

The Great Book of Tottenham Project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, saw dozens of previously unemployed young people trained in photography and the collection of oral histories. The result is one of London's largest ever photographic exhibitions and a unique portrait of a community. After the events of August 2011, the Great Book of Tottenham 'The Next Chapter' was launched, and recorded the views, hopes, fears and thoughts of Tottenham people in response to the riots.

THE BERNIE GRANT ARTS CENTRE

The Bernie Grant Arts Centre has been open for only 4 years, and was a £15 million investment in creating a cultural hub for what has been called Europe's most ethnically diverse postcodes. It is named in Honour of Bernie Grant MP, one of Britain's first Black MPs – who was instrumental in calming the Tottenham community following the riots of 1985 at Broadwater Farm. The centre was designed by David Adjaye – one of the world's leading black architects.

Address Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Town Hall Approach Road, Tottenham, London, N15 4RX
Phone 0208 365 5450
In person 9am – 6pm (Monday – Friday)
On Saturdays on days with scheduled performances
Online www.berniegrantcentre.co.uk

THE RIOTS – 4 – 14 January

PERFORMANCES Wednesday 4 January at 8pm
Thursday5 January at 2pm and 8pm
Friday 6 January at 2pm and 8pm
Saturday 7 January at 4pm and 8pm
Monday 9 January at 8pm
Tuesday 10 January at 8pm
Wednesday 11 January at 2pm and 8pm
Thursday 12 January at 8pm
Friday 13 January at 8pm
Saturday 14 January at 4pm
Saturday 14 January at 8pm