SWEETPETER A co-production with Polka Theatre as part of the Young Europe season 2003 Supported by: Arts Council England, Association of London Government, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and The Foyle Foundation Sweetpeter written by: John Retallack with Usifu Jalloh Directed by: John Retallack and Annie Wood Choreography by: Landing Mane Cast: Lee Hart, Liza Hayden, Ewart James Walters, Leroy Liburd, Nina Kristofferson, Sidney Smith Dates: 17 March – 19 June 2003 Sweetpeter was produced by Company of Angels in association with Polka Theatre in Seprember 2003, as part of the Young Europe season. It toured the south of England and played at Polka Theatre. "I wrote Sweetpeter because of a comment I read by Richard Weight in his book, Patriots, that '...in the English character liberalism and racism co-exist...’  I knew something of Sierra Leone and thought that the story of that country embodied that observation.  After all, the English abolished slavery, set up a colony there and called it ‘Freedom’ – and then, a century later, once again enslaved the very people that they had freed.  The play was greatly helped by the speed of its composition and the collaboration with a great story-teller, Usifu Jalloh, who is himself a Sierra Leonian." (John Retallack) Sweetpeter has recently been translated into French by Severine Magois and is being published by Methuen in the anthology Six Ensemble Plays for Young Actors in 2008. The play featured in Theatre Cafe Europe readings in France and Holland in autumn 2007. Usifu Jalloh from Sierra Leone is a professional actor, dancer, percussionist and story-teller. Since 1990 he has worked on numerous educational programmes in Sierra Leone, America and the UK. He has made two short films about refugees, including the award-winning Journeyman (2003). “At no point is Sweetpeter anything other than engaging. The script elucidates complex issues with subtlety and tact, by turns heart-warming, harrowing and periodically hilarious. Best of all is the way the characters linger, utterly believably. It is the kind of play that can change a person’s perspective indefinitely.” Time Out   “Using choreography and song, writer-director Retallack has honed a new style of movement-based theatre that offers insights into the cycle of existence without the aid of naturalism. The visual images that emerge tell a tale of universal significance.” The Stage For a full interview with John Retallack on Sweetpeter, please click here.