PRESS RELEASE: SW/Jonzi D presents Lyrikal Fearta, two programmes of works in the Lilian Baylis Studio this October

[Jan McNulty]

A Sadler’s Wells Production

Jonzi D – Lyrikal Fearta

Lyrikal Fearta – Redux

Thursday 18 - Saturday 20 October 2012

 

The Letter and other works

World Premiere

Thursday 25 - Saturday 27 October 2012

 

Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells

Performances at 8pm

Tickets: £15

Ticket office: 0844 412 4300 www.sadlerswells.com

 

Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Jonzi D returns to his creative roots to perform two programmes of work made up of past productions and new creations in the Lilian Baylis Studio from the 18 - 20 and 25 - 27 October 2012. Working with a small creative team, both programmes present Jonzi’s response to the world today through spoken word, poetry and rap.

 

For many years Jonzi D has been known as the face leading the international festival of hip hop dance, Breakin’ Convention. Jonzi is now launching out on his own again, returning to the stage after ten years as a creator of sharp, relevant and poetic dance theatre.

 

Lyrikal Fearta - Redux (18 - 20 October 2012) features some of Jonzi D’s best known work, including; Guilty a physical theatre duet, set within a police interrogation room; Shoota, which sees Jonzi examine different attitudes towards firearms; Safe a piece that explores loss of control and self-censorship; Classroom, a spoken word/rap piece; Cracked Mirror, about black on black violence and The Fast Lane, an ensemble hip hop dance piece.

 

Lyrikal Fearta - Redux also includes two of Jonzi’s most celebrated works, Aeroplane Man, the true story of a young black man’s global quest to find his spiritual homeland and Silence da Bitchin’, a rap battle illustrated, line by line, by two dancers. Both Silence da Bitchin’ and Aeroplane Man were screened on Channel 4 in 1997 and 2003.

 

The Letter and other works (25 - 27 October 2012) includes the world premiere of a new work commissioned by Sadler’s Wells, which represents Jonzi's ‘choreopoetic’ response to being offered an MBE, and refusing it.

 

Jonzi D has been at the forefront of British hip hop culture, rapping and b-boying since the early 1980’s. He is an Associate Artist at Sadler’s Wells and is committed to the development of hip hop theatre. Jonzi devised and directed TAG… just writing in name in 2006, IVAN in 2006 and Markus the Sadist a rap theatre piece, in 2009. He is also Artistic Director and host of Sadler’s Wells’ annual international festival of hip hop dance theatre, Breakin’ Convention, which is now in its ninth year.

 

Age Guidance: 16+ (contains strong language and content some audiences may find disturbing)

 

Free post-show talks for ticket holders: Friday 19 & Friday 26 October 2012

 

 

 

Notes to Editors:

 

About Jonzi D

 

Jonzi has been actively involved in British hip hop culture, rapping and b-boying since the early 1980’s. Since graduating from the London Contemporary Dance School. Jonzi has been committed to the development of hip hop theatre. He was an Associate Artist at The Place Theatre and has performed and created dance theatre pieces worldwide.

 

Jonzi D is a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist; he devised and directed TAG… just writing in name in 2006, IVAN in 2006 and Markus the Sadist, a rap theatre piece in 2009. All pieces toured the UK to critical acclaim. Jonzi is also Artistic Director and host of the acclaimed international festival of hip hop dance theatre, Breakin’ Convention, which is now in its ninth year.

 

As an MC and poet, Jonzi has worked with The Roots, Steve Williamson, Mannafest, Lenny Henry and toured with Gangstarr. He appeared in HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, Channel 4’s Faking It and his pieces Silence da Bitchin’ and Aeroplane Man were screened on Channel 4. In 2007, Jonzi was listed as one of the top 10 positive black musical role models by MOBO.