News

The cast has been announced for Dexter Flanders’ unmissable debut play FOXES, coming to Seven Dials Playhouse for a limited season this summer following critically acclaimed runs at Theatre503 and Theatre Peckham. Lauded for its incredibly authentic performances and exceptional writing, FOXES tells a deeply moving and complex story of family, community and sexual identity, tackling the Black gay experience with tenderness and beautiful depth.

The production will be accompanied by an exciting Associated Programme encompassing a number of professional development sessions. The programme is presented in partnership with Mind in Haringey and Afridiziak and includes movement and martial arts workshops and a poetry session with Poetic Unity. Highlights comprise multi-award-winning playwright Roy Williams in conversation with Dexter Flanders and a writing workshop with poet, playwright, performer, Inua Ellams and a scratch night inspired by FOXES on the theme of ‘Animal Instincts’.

Returning to their highly praised roles are Michael Fatogun (Sweet Like Chocolate Boy, Tobacco Factory Theatre), Anyebe Godwin (Little Baby Jesus, Orange Tree Theatre), Doreene Blackstock (Sex Education, Netflix; Equus, Trafalgar Studios) and Tosin Alabi (Queens Of Sheba, UK National Tour). Nemide May (Albatross, Represent Theatre; Silent Witness; Doctors) is newly-cast in the role of Meera who joins under the direction of James Hillier (Sunnymead Court, The Actors Centre/ Arcola; Not Talking, Arcola).  

The production will also feature movement direction by Gerrard Martin (…cake, Theatre Peckham; GHBoy, Charing Cross Theatre) and intimacy direction by Robbie Taylor Hunt (Everything After, Q Theatre Auckland). Additional creatives include design work by Erin Guan (Tokyo Rose, Edinburgh Fringe), lighting and projection design by award-winning Will Monks (Ali & Dahlia, Pleasance; Trojan Horse, Edinburgh Fringe) and sound by Josh Anio Grigg (Faith, Hope & Charity, National Theatre; Crucible, Yard Theatre).  

Foxes is presented by Defibrillator and Seven Dials Playhouse. Book tickets here.

★ ★ ★ ★  Shattering tale of faith and family (The Guardian)  

★ ★ ★ ★  Like a love letter to Black London, FOXES epitomised Black British-ness (Afridiziak)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★  A ground-breaking theatrical triumph (Broadway Baby).  

Associated Programme

‍

Director/Writer Development Programme

An opportunity for up-and-coming writers and directors to develop a 10-15 minute scratch piece in response to FOXES to be performed as part of Defib Write Night at Seven Dials Playhouse on the 29th May. Each piece can have a max of 3 actors, the company will be provided by partners Theatre Peckham.

5 writers and 5 directors will be paired together by the Defibrillator team.

Participants will have an opportunity to watch FOXES and an accompanying exclusive Q&A with FOXES creatives on Friday 6th May and will be encouraged to consider the themes, characters, style, structure of the play and how they might write a short play in response.  

The programme will start on Thursday 12th May with an introductory session and a workshop with Dexter Flanders and James Hillier on their experiences of collaborating and creating new writing.

Participants on this course will also gain entry to all ‘In Conversation With…’ Q&A’s & writing workshop with Inua Ellams.

Dates               Friday 6th – Sunday 29th May 2022

Times               Various

Price                £250

Q&A with Jennifer Thomas and Mildred Yuan from United Agents

Jennifer represents screenwriters, playwrights, directors and as part of the Book to Screen department is responsible for selling film & television rights in our books.

Mildred represents world-class performers and creatives. Her clients include Olivier Award-winners, National Television Award winners and household names.  She helps clients to find their superpower and guides them to take control of their careers.

Date                 Tuesday 17th May 2022

Times               4:30pm – not confirmed yet but shall we just say 5.30pm at this stage

Price                £5

Writing Workshop

Poet, playwright, performer and Fringe First winner Inua Ellams shares insights from his award-winning works in a writing workshop.

Date                 Thursday 19th May 2022

Time                2pm – 3.30pm

Tickets             £20 | £15 Concession

Art Alkhemy Sip & Paint Session

Painting session with a twist. Unleash your creativity - cocktail in one hand, paintbrush in the other, Hip Hop + R&B in the loudspeakers. Art x Music x Self Expression. Sip ‘N Stroke feeds your creativity while providing an atmosphere for you to be surrounded by like-minded young professionals, as you listen to the music you love, sip your favourite drinks, and paint your imagination to life on canvas.

Date                 Friday 20th May 2022

Times               9.45PM

Price                £25

Martial Arts / Stage Combat hosted by The Academy of Heroes

Join premium trainers from The Academy of Heroes who specialise in Martial Arts and Stage Combat for a one-off workshop.

Date                 Saturday 21st May 2022

Time                12:30pm – 1:30pm

Price                £15

Poetic Unity: Animal Instincts

This poetry slam session is presented with Poetic Unity, a Brixton based charity that provides support and services for young people across the UK who use poetry as a tool to support young people's mental health, education, personal development, physical health, and community cohesion. Artists from Poetic Unity will perform work based on the theme of ‘Animal Instincts’

Date                 Sunday 22nd May 2022

Time                5:30pm – 7:45pm

Price                £5

In Conversation With… Roy Williams and Dexter Flanders

Award-winning playwright Roy Williams joins Dexter Flanders, the writer of FOXES for a special ‘In Conversation With…’ event.

Date                 Wednesday 25th May 2022

Time                9.30pm

Tickets             £7 | £5 Concession

More In Conversation With… events announced soon!

Black Heritage Pub Quiz

Bring some friends and grab a drink at Seven Dials Playhouse for a one-off Pub Quiz focusing on Black pop culture and history.

Date                 Wednesday 27th May 2022

Time                9.30pm – 11pm

Tickets             £5

Mista Strange and Strangers Party

A night of performances that will spotlight and up coming queer rappers in the industry. Performances from Mista Strange and open act performers to be announced. There will be a DJ after the performances and Rum Bar flowing all evening. Date                    

Date                 Saturday 28th May

Times               9:30pm – 11pm

Price                Free for FOXES ticket holders | £10 for non-ticket holders  

Movement with Daniel Bailey

Join a movement workshop with Urdang Academy trained Daniel Bailey who is currently dance captain at Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical.

Date                 Saturday 28th May 2022

Times               12:30pm – 1:30pm

Price                £6

Defib Write Night

This is an opportunity to see the work created by the artist participants of our Writer/Director Development Programme. Having collaborated with the Defibrillator team, the work will be presented in a series of scratch performances at Seven Dials Playhouse, performed by Theatre Peckham's rep company.

Date                 Sunday 29th May 2022

Times               4pm and 7pm

Price                £12 | £8 Concession

Pan Afrikan Drumming Class

In Afrikan culture, drums are seen as connectors to the ancestors. Broken drums are therefore symbolic of a broken connection. In repairing drums we are physically repairing our relationship with those who came before us and to whom we owe our existence. This is at the heart of Ukombozii Ancestral Drums. Ukombozii means liberation in the Swahili language and incorporates our desire to heal our Afrikan selves. Ancestral expresses our desire to build healthy respect for our ancestors and Drums are the medium through which we will do both.

Date                 Saturday 4th June 2022

Times               12:30pm – 1:30pm

Price                £10

Many more events to be added, including free workshops with Mind in Haringey and a Black Queer Playground.