Film on the process of making the play: CLICK HERE



Production Shots: Mark Douet (images 1-17)
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Rehearsal Shots: Joe Twigg (images 18-29)
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Offstage Theatre with Paul Jellis and The Yard Theatre presents...

RE:HOME
- It’s home isn’t it? It’s where it started.

Credits:
Created by Offstage Theatre
Director Cressida Brown
Producer Paul Jellis
Designer Georgia Lowe

Mayor of Waltham Forest's thoughts on Re:Home:

Mayor of Waltham Forest's thoughts on Re:Home

The play wasn’t just based on a true story – it was literally a record of life on the Beaumont estate seen through the eyes of and told by its residents. I enjoyed the performances but, at the same time, it was a deeply saddening tale.

I was very moved by the play and its thought-provoking and emotional performances. For me, the play was about giving a voice to the thousands of people who lived in those tower blocks. It emphasised that although crime and poverty existed in the area – there was also a strong sense of community and energy and hope for a better tomorrow. The young people living in the Beaumont tower blocks had aspirations, hopes and dreams just like any other young person but over time they came to understand that they had to overcome great adversity before they could start to realise those aspirations. Like the adversity of being labelled a gang member and having a target on your back just because you happened to live on Beaumont. Over time, they became Beaumont. This was illustrated by the point in the play where a young person said that even after the tower blocks came down, young people were drawn to the area as if they couldn’t quite understand who they were and how to live without Beaumont.

Cllr. Saima Mahmud

Mayor of the London Borough of Waltham Forest


'Resident Parul Motin's review' ★★★★★

'HOME' Offstage Theatre

Award Winner of the Kevin Spacey Foundation Cressida Brown truly shined on the Press Night of Offstage Theatre Production ‘HOME’

Me and my best friend went up to the Yard Theatre in London, Hackney on the 12th of Feb to watch ‘HOME’ the story focuses on lives of the youth and local residents who lived in the towers before they were demolished, dispersing its community and leaving it with much nostalgia. It uncovers the effects of austerity, regeneration, and the Olympics on the Beaumont Estate in Leyton, East London; and is sequel to the first play Offstage ever created, Home 10 years ago!

The show was massively appreciated; I certainly saw shock in the audience’s faces. The play was not predictable at all, the characters were well voiced, and each of the actors/actresses was outstanding.

The play depicted the struggles and lives of young boys in the estate, whilst trying to live their innocence. I think it was bravely created as the idea of gang culture, youth and Beaumont alone is a very sensitive topic, but the director did a phenomenal job by incorporating humor and compassion with a very realistic dialogue between each character.

It was a memorable performance and as teacher I strongly believe that young people in schools and the local area of Waltham Forest should see this: for the power of its story, the connections that young people are able to make to their own lives and as an opportunity to experience live theatre.

 


Poster exhibition with George Mitchell School - a part of our community engagement work.



Acclaim for RE:HOME


Re:Home nominated for two Offies: Best Production, Best Ensemble

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Excellent review from British Theatre Guide I
I ★★★★★ LondonTheatre1 I
I Dr Catherine Brown's brilliant review! I
I Exeunt Magazine I

'Winner of the Kevin Spacey Foundation Award'
I www.kevinspaceyfoundation.org I

RE:HOME

It’s home isn’t it? It’s where it started.

Ten years ago residents of the Beaumont Estate Towers in Leyton looked on as their homes were dismantled brick by brick.

Re:Home sequels Cressida Brown’s 2006 production, Home, made and performed before people were moved out of the towers.

In 2016, Cressida revisits the Beaumont Estate to make a show about what our homes mean to us today.

Using testimonies collected from former and current residents of the estate, Re:Home documents fraying relationships in the changing landscape of East London.

Winner of the Kevin Spacey Foundation Artists of Choice – UK Theatre Award, Re:Home is a show brimming with urgency and compassion, giving a voice to a community that no longer exists.



Acclaim for Home:

★★★★★ “Offstage pulled off a coup de theatre, creating a piece at once human, gripping, touching…the writing, direction and acting were impeccably sensitive and nuanced” – WhatOnStage 

★★★★ “An infectiously defiant spirit…linguistically versatile and politically charged” – Time Out 


Please click link below to see Channel 4 News footage:

I Channel 4 News I

Thank you to our supporters, without whom our work wouldn’t be possible.

Re:Home is generously supported by Kevin Spacey Foundation, L&Q, Arts Council England, Royal Victoria Hall Foundation, Unity Theatre Trust and Waltham Forest Council.

RE:Home’s kickstarter campaign has been generously supported with free donations from Oberon, Bloomsbury, Duncan Macmillan, Sir Patrick Stewart, Caryl Churchill, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Nick Payne, Jancis Robinson and Ruth Roger’s River Café.