“Pattern Up” is a new play devised and based on lives of community activists Ken Hinds and June Tuitt. It connects with historic vibrations impacting on young African Caribbean men and women, exploring themes of family, violence, race and personal redemption.



We want to engage audiences in talking about how they can reduce youth conflict in their area. The whole project promotes Haringey Communities Against Violence HCAV, which Ken and June co-founded.
 
We engaged with young people and local community members, to inform the development of the play that will bring impact and meaning to the issues and wounds felt in African Caribbean communities. We hope it will inspire young people to make positive life choices, supported by community elders.

When first performed 2018-19, the play demonstrated the power of theatre as a medium for expressing difficult themes about intergenerational trauma, family break up, youth violence, in a way that engaged audiences of all ages notably the African Caribbean communities in North East London and Leicester.

‘I can relate to that’ was a common feedback after the shows and the shows raised awareness for the work of HCAV. Feedback and requests to take the play into schools and other cities suggests that it was experienced as a powerful vehicle for bringing the issues to people in away that can be related to by the audience: ‘Family – Violence – Redemption’.
 
The play highlights the trauma in this community and people in the audience seem to relate to this.

The cast improvised around these themes in developing the performance and it was vital for there to be a safe space for these to develop.

The performances will be followed by an audience discussion with the cast about what local steps community members can take to support their young people.