An important new piece of theatre focusing on food poverty is being staged in Coventry next week.
Inspired by and produced with people who have experience of food poverty, ‘Hungry Nation’ combines live music, movement, recordings and performance. It runs from Thursday 28 April to Saturday 30 April at the Albany Theatre with £3 tickets available now for both matinee and evening performances.
This is the second phase of a longer project exploring food poverty and reflecting the lived experiences of people from the city. ‘Hungry Nation’ has been produced by arts organisation Strike A Light and Coventry City of Culture Trust in partnership with Foleshill Community Centre and Feeding Coventry.
Most of the cast have lived experience of food poverty and ‘Hungry Nation’ has been entirely co-created with them to identify the issues directly affecting many people in the city.
‘Hungry Nation’ is part of a wider campaign to raise the profile of food poverty and includes a powerful song called ‘Just A Number’ written by David Wright. (A video of the song can be viewed here in advance of the show: David Wright - Just A Number: https://vimeo.com/699793375/0c1bf5629f
The ‘Hungry Nation’ creative team includes director Jo Newman (formerly Associate Director at Salisbury Playhouse), award-winning writer Caroline Horton, movement director Naomi Said (who has worked with the RSC and National Theatre) and Tom Johnson who has over 30 years’ experience touring his music internationally.
Coventry City of Culture Senior Producer Josie Bamford said: “’Hungry Nation’ is a powerful piece of theatre that truly reflects the lives of people who are facing food poverty right here in Coventry.
“The show features dramatized and real-life accounts (from over 20 audio recordings) of people challenged by food poverty in Coventry. We’ve got under the skin of what it’s like to be in the situation where, in some cases, people are having to make the choice between their children eating rather than doing so themselves.
“Why is it that Coventry now has more foodbanks than fast-food restaurants, and what does it mean for Coventry to have signed up to being a ‘Right to Food’ city? ’Hungry Nation’ opens up the debate about why some people are unable to afford food especially with rising fuel bills, ensuring real voices of the city are heard and expressed. Food poverty is something we all have a responsibility to eliminate, and I’d urge everyone to see this outstanding show to understand more.”
‘Hungry Nation’ is part of the City of Culture’s ‘Reform The Norm’ programme which focuses on shifting public perspectives, developing civic workforces and looking at policy affecting human rights through the arts.
For more information or to book £3 tickets simply visit:
https://coventry2021.co.uk/what-s-on/reform-the-norm-hungry-nation-part-2/