White Open Spaces – Podcast Series

WHITE OPEN SPACES: 2006-2016: A PODCAST SERIES

RACISM IN THE COUNTRYSIDE: WHAT’S THE STATE OF PLAY?

CAST INCLUDES JADE ANOUKA AND SUSAN BROWN

SIX CHARACTERS. SIX STORIES. SIX VOICES.

Podcast Series: 5 December – 10 December 2016

Pentabus, the nation’s rural theatre company joins forces with Eclipse Theatre Company, Britain’s principal Black-led national touring company, to produce White Open Spaces: 2006 – 2016. A series of podcasts about race and racism in the countryside. Originally produced as a reaction to Trevor Phillips’ provocation that there was a ‘cultural apartheid’ in the countryside, ten years on this podcast series retells three of the original stories and offers three new perspectives on the state of society today. Post-Brexit and Pre-Trump what is our national identity? What does it mean to belong to a place if that place might not want you to belong to it?

Written by six world-class writers including Lorna French (Winner, Alfred Fagon Award 2016), Leah Chillery and Testament, as part of Eclipse’s Revolution Mix initiative that aims to challenge inequality in theatre, radio and digital media. Performed by a star cast including Jade Anouka (Julius Caesar, Donmar Warehouse), Susan Brown (Angels in America, National Theatre), Alisha Bailey (Raisin in the Sun, Eclipse), Richie Campbell (NW, BBC), Larrington Walker (RSC, ETT) and Testament, the Guinness World Record beatboxing champion.

Sharp, funny and provocative, these six voices tell us the state of the nation today – a must listen experience. Released daily at 5.00pm via the Pentabus and Eclipse websites from 05 December 2016.Podcast Listings
Completely See-Through by Francesca Beard
Performed by Jade Anouka

Black Peter Pan by Leah Chillery 

Performed by Larrington Walker

You Say by Lorna French

Performed by Alisha Bailey

A Question of Courage by Courttia Newland

Performed by Richie Campbell

Joy’s Prayer by Ian Merchant

Performed by Susan Brown

Jerusalem by Testament

Performed by Testament

White Open Spaces: 2006 – 2016 was directed by Elizabeth Freestone and Dawn Walton