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Feelgood Theatre Productions announce the return of Slave: A Question of Freedom for a national tour in 2024.

This play bursts the myths of modern slavery and tells a little girl's story of hope and courage in the face of adversity.  

Starting on the 9 October running until the 9 November, the production is showing at The Lowry Salford, Bristol Tobacco Factory, Shakespeare North Playhouse and Riverside Studios London.

Adapted from the autobiography of Mende Nazer, a member of the Nuba community originally from Sudan, and directed by Caroline Clegg, Slave won Best New Play Award (Manchester Evening News), the first Anti-Slavery Human Trafficking Award (presented at 10 Downing Street) and North West Review Best Director, Best Production and Best Actor Award in 2011.

Slave: A Question of Freedom, told with a remarkable 8 person cast, shines a light on the inhumanity of modern slavery and trafficking that takes place in towns and cities around the world today. 

It is told in the voice of the writer Mende Nazer who eventually gained her freedom and is now a nurse.

Caroline Clegg, the artistic director of Feelgood Theatre said:

“In reviving and re-imagining Slave we hope to once again share the beauty of the Nuba culture and most importantly, raise awareness of the global crime of modern slavery and current conflict. Mende has asked me to use her voice to help others and my trip with her to the Nuba Mountains only served to redouble my efforts to do just that. This is more than just a play to those of us working on the production.”

The founder of the Human Trafficking Foundation and former MP, Anthony Steen said:

“At a time when myths and misconceptions about human trafficking and modern slavery persist, it is vital to raise awareness of the realities of these dreadful crimes. Theatre productions are able to do just that by engaging an audience, many of whom would not have otherwise been aware of the extent of this issue in Britain and encouraging them to take action. We would like to congratulate Caroline Clegg and Feelgood Theatre in continuing their invaluable production, especially considering how greatly awareness of modern slavery still is 12 years after this play received its initial award.”

Mende Nazer, the original writer of the book Slave, said:

“My experience and my story is a personal story, but it touches so many people including our children, because I was a child when I was enslaved. I think my story will help other people who are still going through a similar situation and even worse with modern slavery. My story will raise awareness and alert so many people who still don't know what's going on in Sudan. I think it's about helping other people to see such critical situation and help those enduring that difficult time in their life.”​​​

“The play's integrity and timeliness staged by Feelgood had the audience rapt.  Like Mende, we can and should make a difference by standing up and being counted."

***** MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS:  Best New Play

 

Winner of:

The first Anti-Slavery Award (Human Trafficking Foundation)

Best New Play - Pete Postlethwaite Manchester Evening News Award

Arts Review Award for Best Director, Best Actress and Best New Play

Performed in the House of Lords 2011

Meet the Cast & Team:

Mende                                                  Yolanda Ovide

Ba (Mende's father)                               Chris Jack

Kheko (Mende's friend)                          Ebony Feare

Damien Lewis (Journalist)                     Joseph Jordan

Babo (Mende's brother)                         Oluwalonimi Owoyemi 'Nimi'

Umi (Mende's Mum)                              Teddy Oyediran

Kujur (wise villager man)                       Mohand Abdalrahem

Rahab (Mende's master in Khartoum)    Sara Faraj​

Writer: Kevin Fegan, co-adapted by Kevin Fegan and Caroline Clegg from the autobiography Slave (Virago) by Mende Nazer and Damien Lewis. 

Director: Caroline Clegg

Creative Team:

Designer: (2024) Lara Booth based on the 2010 original design by Nigel Hook

Composer:  Carol Donaldson, MD: Dan Willis

Fight Director: Kevin McCurdy

Intimacy co-ordinator: Tolu Oshodi

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Production Consultants:

Mohamed Bahari, Gaafar Ali & Mariam Shaw (Sudanese / Nuba culture & current affairs, accent & costume)

A selection of online media from the 2010 and 2011 productions:

Feelgood Theatre interview with Mende Nazer, 2013

Artistic Director Caroline Clegg, interviewed by Riverside Studios 2011

Slave: A Question of Freedom, press launch at The Lowry 2010

Mende returns to her village with Baroness Cox, 2017

Slideshow of images from Mende's 2017 trip home.

Eine Berichterstattung von SWR4 über MENDE NAZER, ihre Geschichte und die Stiftung.

Thanks to Sponsors & Funders
Arts Council England, the Granada Foundation and The Stage Door Foundation.

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