I can't breathe  
I can't breathe

A collection of poems, monologues and plays celebrating black voices and examining what it means to be "black"

Curated by Landé Belo and Directed by Landé Belo and Lyla Smith-Abass

Friday 2nd July, 2021
at the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington

and

Saturday 17th July, 2021
at the Arcola Outside, Dalston

Part of the Love [and Survival] in a Time of Covid festival



Still I Breathe by Emmanuel Ikuoye (courtesy of Apojaritos Magazine and Edward Vaurre), performed by Simon Adejumo
Directed by Landé Belo


I See by Moses Emehinola (courtesy of Pepney Gallery), performed by Nora Mbagathi
Directed by Lyla Smith-Abass
Sankofa written and performed by Nicole Acquah
Directed by Landé Belo
Conscientious Conversations by Tyan Jones
Cast : Jane - Lucy Moss (July 2nd), Charlotte Payne (July 16th), Jada - Sienna Forrester
Directed by Lyla Smith-Abass
I'm Human by Moses Emehinola (courtesy of Pepney Gallery), performed by Axel Kengne
Directed by Landé Belo
The Voice of The Unheard written and performed by Vanessa Owusu
Directed by Lyla Smith-Abass
The Lynching of George Floyd written and directed by Lyla Smith-Abass, performed by Nora Mbagathi
Act Free by Idris Goodwin
Cast : 1 – Isaiah Bobb-Semple, 2 – Simon Adejumo, 3 – Axel Kengne
Directed by Landé Belo

Production Team
Event co-ordinator : Simona Hughes
Set Design : Peter Foster, Jude Chalk
Lighting Design : Stephen Ley
Stage Managers : Roanne Insley, Jacqui Dickson
Lighting Operator : Samuel Littley
Sound and Projection (July 2nd) : Kaushal Ginige
Sound (July 16th) : Samuel Littley

For Love [and Survival] in a Time of Covid
Artistic Directors : Ruth Sullivan, Angharad Ormond, Simona Hughes



Nicole Acquah
Nicole Acquah is a multi-disciplinary storyteller, playwright, dramaturg and a performer/devisor as well as a creative writing lecturer at City Lit College & University. Her semi-autobiographical show For a Black Girl had successful runs at VAULT Festival and Camden People’s Theatre, and was later commissioned by The Curve, Slough. In 2019, she was seed commissioned by Nouveau Riche Theatre Company, to write a new show called Caste-ing which was developed by and performed at the Barbican. She produces her own work at theatre company Acquah&Co, focusing upon championing and celebrating Black British voices. This is her first production with the Tower Theatre.
Simon Adejumo
Simon Adejumo is looking forward to participating in I can't breathe, which will be his first Tower production.
Isiah Bobb-Semple
Isaiah Bobb-Semple appeared in the 2019 Tower production of Fix Up and the 2020 production of Sweat. He has been gaining experience in multiple short films and also recently made his TV debut, appearing in an episode of Holby City. Isaiah also continues looking to perfect his craft whilst training with The Unseen Drama School.
Axel Kengne
Axel Kengne is currently finishing his first year of his BA Acting course at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Joining the Tower Theatre in 2020, he has participated in several virtual Tower productions since. He also tutors in drama school entrance, has his own acting website and recently started professional voiceover work. This will be his first live performance with the Tower.
Nora Mbagathi
Nora Mbagathi grew up between Nairobi and Berlin and was educated in Cairo and Washington, DC. She now works as a human rights lawyer in London. Nora has enjoyed theatre throughout her life and has acted in different productions in all the cities she's lived in.
Vanessa Owusu
Vanessa Owusu has passionately studied drama and theatre throughout her academic life, graduating with a BA Hons in Drama and Theatre. Winner of the Ashley Walter's Monologue Jam, she is excited to be participating in I can’t breathe and performing The Voice of The Unheard which she wrote.
Lucy Moss
Lucy Moss is a playwright and actor. She has most recently been working on the Tower Theatre's Five Women, which is currently undergoing editing before release as a radio play. She played Mother in Virtual Tower's award-winning zoom play adaptation of Metamorphosis. She co-wrote the Tower's adaptation of The Canterbury Tales and has appeared in a variety of other shows, including two different productions of The Seagull in 2018, where she played Irina each time.
Charlotte Payne
Charlotte Payne is a Tower Theatre newcomer. Prior to the Tower, her recent acting credits include Banquo (Macbeth), Violet (One Day When We Were Young) and Adele (Shakers). She is thrilled to be cast in this role and to be given the opportunity to work on a new and exciting short play with such a talented cast and crew.
Sienna Forrester
Sienna Forrester is looking forward to participating in I can't breathe, which will be her first Tower production.
Lande Belo
Landé Belo has been involved with the Tower Theatre since 2016. Her acting credits include Francine/Lena in Clybourne Park; multiple characters in Doctor Faustus; Prudence in The House of Bernarda Alba; Pope Joan/Louise in Top Girls; Jellaby in Arcadia and Cynthia in Sweat. Her directing credits include Fix Up (2019) and Mules (November 2021). She also worked as Assistant Director on To Kill A Mocking Bird and Sweat and was previously a member of the Tower Theatre Artistic Team. During lockdown, she co-produced the Tower Theatre Podcast and directed and acted in various plays on Virtual Tower. She is an advocate of socially engaged and inclusive programming and is particularly passionate about promoting black, female voices in theatre.
Lyla Smith-Abass
Lyla Smith-Abass is an actor, playwright and counsellor who has been involved with the Tower Theatre since 2019. She trained at City Lit, London. Her acting credits include Maude in The Phantom; various characters in The Shipment; Carmem in Br’ier Cotton Stop and Search; Lead Chorus in Agamemnon; Miss Cooper in Separate Tables and Valentina (Valentine) in Twelfth Night. During lockdown she debuted as a director during the Tower Theatre’s Virtual Tower Season co-directing the play The Assembly Women. She recently launched a therapeutic theatre company “Lyla’s Place” which promotes new black playwrights. She is a passionate theatre activist using theatre as a form of therapy and a way to inspire action toward justice and change.