Academy Life

Year 12 drama students, Dr Wharton, and Mr Hendle headed off to Brixton House arts venue on Wednesday of this week to see a one man show ‘Everything I own’, by local playwright Daniel Ward. We met the actor, Tony Marshall, afterwards, who was lovely to us all! The play was a thought-provoking show about loss, family, music, race, culture, and uprising. It was an intimate venue, and we were so close to the stage it was as if the character, Erroll, had invited us into his home to tell us his story. It was an immersive experience from the beginning as the actor was on the stage jamming, talking to the audience and dancing around the stage before the action even officially started! The play is set during Covid, just after his dad’s death. Whilst trying to come to terms with this he leads us on a journey through life as a black man in Britain.

He describes his childhood in which he struggled to understand why he was treated differently, followed by a terrifying and lifethreatening racist attack in his youth which had a profound impact on him. Issues of family are raised as he navigates a difficult relationship with his son who is actively involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, and he reveals his own dad’s association with the Brixton riots back in 1981. Erroll is tired of it all though as things do not seem to have changed for the better and he asks if they ever will? Will there ever be true revolution or just more repetition? The whole play was thought -provoking and moving but also very funny too and the music was great – it felt like a party at times. It was good to see things from the perspective of an older generation and was inspirational for us to watch. We would really recommend it!

 

By Cobby A & Jason S, Year 12