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Elaine Michener Projects presents SWEET TOOTH – R&D

In her latest Research and Development project, vocal artist Elaine Mitchener casts a unique look upon the history of the sugar trade. “My ancestry includes enslaved Africans, sold by Africans to British traders to make Britain ‘great’ through the slave trade of sugar on plantations in the Caribbean and Brazil.”

SWEET TOOTH is a deeply personal project not only about Black history but an important chapter of British history and the pivotal role Black people have played in it.

This work in progress is the result of an intensive research period involving 4 performers, an historical consultant and a movement director. Sweet Tooth is part of an ambitious project that will develop over the next few years, using different mediums to look upon the many aspects of Britain’s Atlantic legacies: music ensemble, installation, solo work, film etc.

Concept, Direction & Music: Elaine Mitchener
Movement Direction: Dam Van Huynh
Historical Consultant: Christer Petley
Devised and performed by: Elaine Mitchener, Sylvia Hallett, Mark Sanders, Jason Yarde

R&D sharings:
29 June 2016 – Turner Sims, Southampton
11 August 2016 – Snape Maltings, following Aldeburgh Music residency
22 October 2016 – St George’s Bloomsbury, part of Bloomsbury Festival

The first stage of development for SWEET TOOTH has been supported with public funding from Arts Council England.

Research supported by Aldeburgh Music, University of Southampton, St George’s Bloomsbury, Centre 151. With further support from Harewood House Trust, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Bluecoat Liverpool.

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