North East arts group Vitamin Noir bring new show to Newcastle
Brotherhood begins at Newcastle's Alphabetti Theatre this week
Last updated 22nd Aug 2022
The latest show to open at Newcastle's Alphabetti is hoping to give a new platform to telling the stories of young black people living in the North East.
Brotherhood launches on Tuesday 23rd August, and has been created by Vitamin Noir - a group of friends, all living in Newcastle, and made up of dancers, rappers, artists, photographers and creatives - determined to make spaces for themselves in the industry, share opportunities and put diverse stories on the stage.
Brotherhood highlights the unknown struggles of Black men living in the UK - and began life as a commission at Newcastle's Dance City, from an Emerge and See Breakin' Convention commission.
It's been written and directed by North East performer Kay Greyson, who tells us the team had to change some parts of the piece to make it fit the theatre;
"We had to think about narrative and think about story, and really refine what we do and take it to the next level.
"The Vitamin Noir guys are so talented at freestyle and have such an ability to just...
"The music comes on and they just start dancing, and it's the most beautiful thing!
"But it was about - for this space - capturing that and making a moment we could repeat, and that's been, I'd say, one of our biggest challenges, but it's been really lovely."
Igor Tavares, from Vitamin Noir, is an artist and one of the performers in the show,
He tells us he hopes young black people who come to see the show will feel connected;
"I want to tell the audience - or the next generation - and give the energy and message that they can go home and say - I saw Igor and Marshall and Kay and I want to be like them - I want to speak to them, dance like them...
"That's the energy I want to give."
And Marshal Siziba - who choreographed the show, tells us what he hopes audiences will take away from it;
"There's lessons behind each story and its your own perception to take it how you want it,
"But really and truly it's about empathizing with us and really being able to take action to say - 'right we're changing the narrative'
"Seeing how they get treated, and saying 'we can change this' and being a little bit nicer to each other."
Brotherhood is on at Alphabetti Theatre from the 23rd of August to the 10th of September. There will be a captioned performance on the 31st August, an audio described performance on the 7th September, as well as relaxed performances each Saturday matinee.
You can find out more about Brotherhood and Vitamin Noir, and how to get tickets, from the Alphabetti website.