producer

“There was a bit of scuffle, and I’m sorry to say, he passed away.”

You didn’t pass anywhere.
Your throat was constricted,
your face held down
hands cuffed behind your back
bones breaking in your neck
eyes rolling up in your head
You didn’t pass away, you didn’t die, you weren’t killed
unlawfully.
You were murdered.

When a young black man, Brian, dies in police custody, it sends shock waves across the community. Reeling from his death, Brian’s family struggle to make sense of their loss, whilst pursuing a lengthy court battle to find justice.

Inspired by creator Urban Wolf’s own experiences with the police, this stark and timely new play explores how young black men are slipping through the cracks in society. How do you fight for justice in a system where nobody is on your side?

Ovalhouse and Art Machine in collaboration with Faith Drama Productions present Custody.

Custody had a sold-out 10-day run at Ovalhouse in March 2017, followed by a week-long community tour. This included performances for Tottenham-based branch of A Band of Brothers, students and staff at Queen Mary’s University in East London, a private showing for service users and staff at the Brent branch of national charity Addaction, and a final performance at Poplar Union, a community arts space in East London.

Custody was commissioned by Ovalhouse and supported by Arts Council England, The Peggy Ramsay Foundation, Unity Theatre Trust, Transform Newham and The Edge Fund.

PRESS
★★★★★ “Unmissable” – Everything Theatre
★★★★★ “electric and affecting” – Reviews Hub
★★★★★ “storytelling at its best” – Theatre Weekly
★★★★★ “everything you want” – Get The Chance
★★★★★ “strikingly designed” – Theatre Bubble
★★★★★ “AMAZING” – The London Economic
★★★★ “Cleverly and skilfully told” – Rev Stan
★★★ “impassioned” – The Stage
Evening Standard Feature
The Independent Feature
iNews Feature
What’s On Stage Feature
The British Blacklist Feature

Watch audience responses here.

Watch a post-show discussion with the cast, team and special guest Marcia Rigg, whose brother died in police custody here.

Watch a post-show discussion hosted by Sammarah Mahmoud of gal-dem here, and featuring creator Urbain Hayo, and writers and activists Zahra Dalilah and Kuchenga Shenjé.

CAST
Sister: Kiké Brimah
Mother: Karlina Grace-Paseda
Lover: Sacharissa Claxton
Brother: Urban Wolf

CREATIVE TEAM
Creator: Urbain Hayo
Writer: Tom Wainwright
Director: Gbemisola Ikumelo
Producer: Hannah Tookey
Designer: Phil Newman
Movement Director: Cindy Claes
Lighting Designer: John Castle
Composer: Dan Bilbrough aka Sekrit
Dramaturg: John Gordon
Assistant Director: Eddie Howell
Production Manager & Sound Designer: Michael Francis
Production Assistant: Joy Kisuka
Volunteer ASMs: Geraldine Donaldson & Kaity Cornellier
Filmmaker: Shabazz Graham

Photography by Lidia Crisafulli.