Earlsfield Theatre's new play about love, duty and death in WWI

Described as an intoxicating cocktail of love, duty, death and dominoes, Chigger Foot Boys plays at the Tara Theatre from February 22nd to March 11th.

Patricia Cumper, renowned playwright and former Artistic Director of Talawa Theatre, draws inspiration from personal and historical stories in her latest play, set in a rum bar by the docks in Kingston Jamaica in 1914. The story is based on true events in the lives of Jamaicans who fought in WWI.

Oblivious to the impact that the distant war in Europe will have on them, their island and the future of the British Empire, four young men are playing a game of dominos whilst trapped by a thunderstorm. Amongst them is a young Norman Manley, future statesman and National Hero of Jamaica. In a series of flash forwards, Chigger Foot Boys delves into the fate that awaits them and many other Jamaicans who volunteered and fought on the fronts of World War One.

Director Irina Brown is former Artistic Director of the Tron Theatre, Glasgow. She has directed many theatre and opera productions, including work at the National Theatre, the Royal Opera House, the West End and the Royal Albert Hall.

The cast includes John Leader who is currently performing in the National Theatre’s critically acclaimed Peter Pan and has previously toured with War Horse, and Suzette Llewellyn, who was one of the founding members of innovative theatre troupe BiBi Crew, dedicated to producing new writing from an African-Caribbean perspective.

They are joined by TV and theatre veteran Stanley J Browne, Jamaican born emerging actor Jonathan Chambers, actor and director Matthew Truesmith, and Ike Bennett, who makes his professional debut before graduating this year from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Jamaican born director Patricia Cumper was Artistic Director of black-led touring company Talawa Theatre (2006-2012), and was awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to the arts.

Tara Arts is established as one of the UK’s foremost creators of cross-cultural theatre. Its work, which consists of both new writing and reimagined classics, seeks to make imaginative connections across communities to help foster a global sensibility. The company was founded in 1977 by Artistic Director Jatinder Verma, along with Sunil Saggar, Ovais Kadri, Praveen Bahl and Vijay Shaunak.

Tara Theatre opened in September 2016, and has been awarded Project Design of the Year at the London Construction Awards as well as being nominated for both Theatre Building of the Year and Sustainability in The Stage awards 2017.

Running Time: 120 minutes | Suitable for ages 14+

January 31, 2017