slavery

By Jonathan Payne
Directed by Laura Kriefman
Musical Director: Andrea Encinas

In the bi-centenary of the abolition of the slave trade Tara presents the UK premiere of Slavery, a phenominal one act play by Jonathan Payne.

"Tisn't he who has stood and looked on, that can tell you what slavery is - 'tis he who has endured."

The consequences of the slave trade are brought to life through the actual testimonials of American slaves, their music and passion for life. Drawn from interviews with former slaves, this powerful drama combines personal testimony with Negro spirituals to create a remarkable sense of this dark time in history.

"Slavery is the past reaching into the future and reminding the world from where it came. If history is destined to repeat itself, maybe this cycle is due to our ignorance of the past."
Jonathan Payne

Winner of the 2002 John Cauble short play award.

tour dates

Slavery toured throughout Black History Month 2007 to the following venues:


Darlington Arts Centre

The Maltings Arts Theatre, St Albans

Waltham Forest Theatre, London

Council Chamber at Priory House, Mid Beds

The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock

Wandsworth Arts Festival, London

The Broadway Theatre, Barking

Rose Theatre, Ormskirk

Hexagon Theatre, Middlesbrough

Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead

Manea Village Hall, Cambridgeshire

Arkenstall Village Centre, Haddenham

Rhodes Arts Compex, Bishops Stortford

The Drum, Birmingham

Bantock House, Wolverhampton

Clocktower, Croydon

Civic Theatre, Chelmsford

Oakengates Theatre, Telford

Playhouse Theatre, Harlow

Peepul Centre, Leicester

Spilsby Theatre, Lincolnshire


Also toured to schools.