Black Sound, Song and Soma. Deeping It: A Live Experience

This show is 2 hours long including an interval.

Black Sound, Song and Soma. Deeping It: A Live Experience

In this specially commissioned production, writer and producer Adèle Oliver takes the soul of her book, ‘Deeping It: Colonialism, Culture and Criminalisation of UK Drill’ to the stage, tracing the current and historical suppression and censorship of Black art over centuries, continents, languages, and genres from spirituals to dub; funk to grime; cyphers to ladainhas. Over two hours, expect to be immersed in oral, somatic, and visual histories of Black artistic resistance through live music, spoken word poetry, and capoeira from some of Birmingham’s most talented storytellers.

Adèle Oliver is a writer, music producer and scholar from Birmingham. In 2023, she published her first book, 'Deeping It: Colonialism, Culture and Criminalisation of UK Drill', which demystifies drill and its apparent link to knife crime and gang violence, placing it in the contexts of crime, policy, art, consumerism, and colonialism. As a Black Brit of Jamaican descent, personal interest drives Adèle’s intellectual commitment to unravelling Black histories and amplifying side-lined voices. Adèle is a founding member of Art Not Evidence, a trailblazing campaign advocating for the decriminalisation of rap music in UK courts.

Casey Bailey is an award winning writer, performer and educator, born and raised in Nechells, Birmingham, UK. Casey was the Birmingham Poet Laureate 2020 - 2022. Casey’s second full poetry collection Please Do Not Touch was published by Burning Eye in 2021. Casey’s debut play, GrimeBoy, had a sold out run at the Birmingham Rep in April, 2022. He was commissioned by the BBC to write ‘The Ballad of The Peaky Blinders’ in 2019. In 2020 the poem was internationally recognised, winning a Webby Award. In 2022 Casey won a Royal Television Society award for a film for his poem “Dear Brum”. Casey has performed his poetry nationally, and internationally. Casey was named as one of the Alfred Fagon Awards’ Black Champions of Theatre in 2021. He is a Fellow of the University of Worcester and in 2021 was awarded an honorary doctorate in Education by Newman University.

Ryan Dre Sinclair is a spoken word poet and self-published author from Birmingham. He has been performing consistently since 2019 and has experience delivering spoken word workshops in local primary schools in the Birmingham/West Midlands region. He has worked with organisations such We Don't Settle, The Arts Council, Centrica, Greene King,  The National Trust and BBC Words First. He is a former mentee of Roger Robinson and has been headlined by the likes of Verve Poetry. He has also performed in locations such as Birmingham Town Hall, Boxpark Wembley, Atlanta’s Apache Café and Birmingham 2022 Festival. Ryan runs a spoken word night in Birmingham named ‘Empower Poetry’ and recently released his first spoken word EP named 'Writing the Wrongs'.

Nicoy Downes is an artist based in the UK. His creative journey began in school during GCSEs, where he discovered a deep passion for painting, especially with watercolours. The interplay of textures and colour depth fascinated him. Over time, he expanded his skills to include acrylic and oil paints, broadening the spectrum of his artistic skills. Drawing inspiration from everyday life and personal encounters, his art aims to narrate a story and he aspires not only to share his own story but to inspire viewers to create their own from their personal interpretations.

Alexis Brown has been singing since the age of three years old where she made her start in the Church. Her first solo was a Sunday evening service where she asked to sing a song unknown by her parents who realised she was singing when they saw her on stage, this has been an ongoing joke in their family since then. She has since performed at many events such as concerts, weddings and even been a part of choirs. Alexis hopes to put out her own music this year and has great musical aspirations for the future. Alexis is really passionate about music and hopes that she can bring joy to others through her singing.

Blair Alagoa is a self taught musician and producer, starting on the guitar before adding the piano and flute to their arsenal . Their taste in music is heavily influenced by jazz infused hip hop, R&B, fusion and neo-soul, finding just as much enjoyment in a 9th Wonder sample flip as they do in studying the music theory of a Cory Henry Solo. Alongside music, they're a regular at their local skatepark and a photographer and videographer, scratching their creative itch through visual, audio and physical expression.

Brazilian Cultural Centre CDOB was founded by Contramestre Joyce and Contramestre Mascote, who have been doing Capoeira for more than 20 years, and have been promoting this African-Brazilian art for more than 15 years here in Birmingham. Founded in 2008, their first Capoeira, dance and music studio was established in 2014. In December 2021 they moved to the centre of the Jewellery Quarter with a brand new cultural centre and the addition of a Brazilian street food cafe. CDOB believe everyone should have a special space to exercise, express, and energise themselves. They are dedicated to the promotion of their multifaceted, multicultural African-Brazilian fusion of movement, music, and martial art that they love, called Capoeira. Hollywood films, music videos and commercials have all featured Capoeiristas and their music and movements. Professional dancers, musicians, athletes and academics have all studied, trained and benefited from their art alongside their global community of general practitioners.