Birmingham rep commissions play about Lozells riots

Mar 28 2008 By Poppy Brady

THE Lozells riots of 2005 have inspired a new play by six women which is being commissioned by one of Birmingham's leading theatres.

These Four Streets, which will be staged at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre next year, is based on research and interviews that the six playwrights have carried out in Lozells.

Although not intended as a verbatim play, it is inspired by the views and concerns of Birmingham people who were involved or affected by the disturbances.

Rachel Kavanagh, artistic director of the Rep, said: "We decided to commission six diverse female writers to create a play that is inspired by the events in Lozells during October 2005.

"We don't intend the play to be a verbatim account of what happened or to examine who was to blame, but as an exploration of the issues underpinning the disturbances from a female perspective that was perhaps lost at the time.

"This is something that theatre can do brilliantly. As Birmingham's producing theatre, it is the Rep's job to explore local, regional and national issues through our commissioning and programming."

Ms Kavanagh added: "We live in a diverse city and theatre should reflect that in terms of subjects and writing and acting, as well as audiences."

The riots were triggered by unsubstantiated rumours of the rape of two black girls by a gang of Asian men.

Long-simmering tensions between the two communities came to a head with a weekend of rioting, resulting in one death and badly damaged community relations.

The six commissioned playwrights are Naylah Ahmed, Sonali Bhattacharyya, Jennifer Farmer, Amber Lone, Lorna French and Cheryl Akila Payne.