Produced & presented by Something Underground
Knife On The Table
By Jonathan Brown
A new Bruntwood-longlisted play about gangs, love and family, and communities grappling ambition, poverty and identity.
Flint is an excluded teen, a "soldier", dealing on the streets of SW London, but still looking to get back into the good books of childhood sweetheart, Book.
Book is studious, babysits for Flint’s younger sister, and is keen to exit the deprivation of her road. She wants to move to the suburbs and keep clear of Flint - who will bring her chances down.
Bragg's a captain, pressuring Flint to deepen his commitment, drive higher sales, and prove his colours.
Shania's a pregnant teen, a friend to Book, and a member of Bragg’s crew. How Shania was initiated, holds the food, and meets the dealers is nothing compared to some of what she’s witnessed. Now she doesn’t sleep.
Chantal is Flint's mother, she worries about Flint but isn’t about to easily let Flint’s dad back into his life.
Danny is a Childline listener, a former gang member, a convict and the estranged father to Flint. He is on a journey back to his son. But will he find Flint before it's too late?
Carol, outreach and youth worker, and girlfriend to Danny. She hears the worst of people’s stories including the worst excesses of Shania’s baby’s father.
Angel, gangland chief. He’ll initiate all his boys and girls into the tribe, holding them close with disturbing gratification.
Angel’s about to invite Flint around for tea, sales training, and help with a weapons upgrade.
What forces compel Flint, Book, Shania and the others towards ever-repeating tragedy?
This is a race against time to break the cycle.
Top 20% of plays, Verity Bargate Award 2022
“…championed by a number of readers on the reading team, and reached the later stages of the competition, incredibly impressed”
Gillian Greer, Literary Manager
“…powerful, gripping, touching… “
Giulia Menichelli, writer/performer
“…a powerful performance, with wonderful acting.”
Maya Cockburn, artist
“…an outstanding piece of work about gang culture, knife crime, racial divides and moments of childhood shame that you never truly shake off”
Brad Glen, actor
With live music from
Fred Hills
Something Underground
Winner, The International Fringe Encore Series Award 2022
Best New Play Award, New Writing South 2012
Best New Play Award (Shortlist), New Writing South 2013
Bruntwood Prize (Longlisting) 2019
Best Male Performer, Brighton Fringe 2013
Best Female Performer, Brighton Fringe 2014
Best Female Performer (Nom), Brighton Fringe 2013
Best Male Performer (Nom), Brighton Fringe 2007
Amnesty International Award for Outstanding Performance in the category of contribution to Human Rights Awareness (Longlisting) 2014
Shortlist, Brighton Fringe International Touring Award in Association with The Pebble Trust 2022
The Gemini Print Group and Brighton Fringe Design for Print Award (Shortlist) 2021
Shortlist, UnBarred Best Local Artist Award, Brighton Fringe, 2022
Amongst Top 5 Theatre shows, Brighton Source’s Best of Brighton 2022
Supported by Arts Council England.
This project also supported by...
The Ben Kinsella Trust
(providing an immersive site based Knife Crime workshop to our outreach participants at in-kind rates and offer consultancy.)
Penificent
(providing a graphic novel/comic-based Knife Crime & Mental Health workshop to our outreach participants at in-kind rates, and offer consultancy.)
Sunanda Biswas @ Grounded Movement:
Youth Dance Partnership, who’ll co-facilitate our workshops.
And… from these orgs daily dealing with Youth & Gang Culture, Knife Crime and related issues…
ReachOut2All,
The Antoin Akpom Achievement Foundation,
Academy Achievers,
Out of the Shadows,
Music Relief Foundation,
Regenerate
(providing consultation, and support populating our workshops.)
Brighton Youth Offending Team:
Consultants / County Lines issues
South West Dance
(providing subsidised workshopping space)
7:30pm, plus matinees at 2:30pm each Saturday
14+
Strong Language
Mentions of violence, sex, drugs, exploitation.
Mild Depictions of violence, sex.
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