Theatre / debut show
Bristol Old Vic’s Weston Studio hosts debut play from Somebody Jones
Currently mid-way through an Edinburgh Fringe run in the courtyard at Summerhall – at the Paines Plough pop-up venue, the Roundabout – Somebody Jones’ debut play will be coming to Bristol Old Vic on September 17 for five nights.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Jones is now living and working in London, and is the current Paines Plough Playwright Fellow.
In her own words, her work “celebrates and champions Black culture in all of its complexity”.
How I Learned to Swim explores “what lies beneath the surface of Black people’s relationship to water”. It tells the story of Jamie, who is 30 years old, and embarrassed at her inability to swim.
But motivated to overcome her fear, as well as a need to redress the hurt and pain within her family, she decides to face the ocean head on.
Somebody Jones – photo: Common Thread Images
Aided by “a chipper swim instructor, a shady spiritual guide and one cathartic crab sandwich” Jamie must confront her guilt, shame and regret on a journey towards healing.
In developing the play, which originated as a 10 minute piece with two characters, Jones wanted “a lot of humour, joy, and magic” imbued within the narrative.
“I write plays that celebrate Black culture because as a Black playwright, it’s important to me,” she reflects.
“It’s also just a lot of fun to work with other Black creatives. I also hope to put more Black characters at the forefront of genres like horror, magical realism, and fantasy.”
How I Learned to Swim is at The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic on September 17-21 at 8pm, with an additional 3pm matinee show on Saturday. Tickets are available at www.bristololdvic.org.uk.
Main photo: Bradley Martin
Read next:
- Bristol Old Vic hosts ‘Some Demon’ from Papatango Award-winning debut playwright Laura Waldren
- ‘Dear Young Monster’: the debut show from Bristol trans writer and actor Pete Machale
- Review: The Red Lion, The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic – ‘A delicately constructed web of views, motives, relationships and secrets’
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