BAD BLOOD BLUES
Bad Blood Blues is an intense roller costa of a play, that leads us through a streamlined ethical, sexual and financial maze of questions. Paul Sirett journeys us with his fantastic writing by putting two strong characters centre stage.
Are African’s being exploited as ‘guinea pigs’ to test new drugs for multi-national pharmaceutical companies? Why is HIV/AIDS treatment too expensive for countries where the virus is most rife? Is it okay to sacrifice lives to protect the integrity of medical studies?
Writer | Paul Sirett
Director | John Rwothomack
Developed at Theatre Deli Sheffield
As an artist I believe I have the responsibility to represent the part of me that exists in society. Being black African, I don’t feel we are well represented in theatre. The subject matter in this play is one that most black Africans will be affected with somehow. It is also important for me to try and embark change on that that is in our society that we disagree with, I hope to do so by simply shading a light on this matter and simply asking; is it okay?
As a director, I aim to bring African stories, culture, and history to the canvas of theatre. This might include creating new pieces about and with artists from the continent, staging plays that already exist, or adapting classics to an African context. I truly believe the African - Subsaharan African - culture is not present enough in the UK’s theatre scene. As a result, there’s a lower rate of participation both in audience members and practitioners from this sector of the community.
I hope that the rich theatrical scene we have in most Subsaharan African countries can be emulated in my productions, and in turn - whilst representing - give families a reason to visit the theatre. and for those that might be interested in a career, give them the audacity to try.
For me, theatre has to be more than entertainment. There has to be a reason behind staging anything. It also has to educate, question the narrative and change attitudes. Challenging, I know, but we have to at the very least, try.
Having a blues musician score the play is a unique device rarely seen in theatre. In this case, he is from around the early 1900s, when black people in America were still living in slave-like conditions, and he is almost an emblem for exploitation.
I was very excited to work with talented musician Rob Green to act as this spiritual guide for the audience, setting the tone with a slightly modern twist of jazz and blues. I just love the sound of jazz and blues mixed together and for me it gives a heavier gravitas to the play.
Photography by Smart Banda
FAR GONE TRAILER
