Future Voices

Running since 2017, Future Voices is one of Southwark Playhouse’s major school engagement projects, aiming to inspire young writers.

The latest round of the project began in September 2019, with playwrights Guleraana Mir, Sonia Jalaly and Stewart Melton spending eight months working with students at Sacred Heart Catholic School and Platanos College to develop their skills in writing for the stage.

The plan was for the project to culminate with the students’ having their own short plays performed at Southwark Playhouse.

Then March 2020 happened.

Determined not to let these talented writers down, we decided to adapt the students’ pieces for film, which can be seen below.

Directed by Grace Gibson, twenty actors worked from home, using the ubiquitous Zoom and iPhones, a brand new approach for all of us, and one in which we all learnt a lot! Grace has written a blog post about her experience here.

We present ten short films showcasing a range of themes, styles and subjects, from the pen of ten talented young writers aged 14 – 18.

Films edited by Ben Hewis and Timotej Baca.

Booked Out by Aimee Brown

Directed by Grace Gibson

Francesca Rosa Brown: Jessica Hardwick
Librarian: Eva Fontaine
Boy: Tyler Woodhouse

For Us by Funke Telefusi

Directed by Grace Gibson

Elizabeth: Isabella Pappas
Mother/ Clare: Georgia Goodman
Social Worker: Taj Atwal

Homing Pigeons by Mia Adeboye

Directed by Grace Gibson

Narrator: Ekow Quartey
Female Pigeon 1: Lois Chimimba
Female Pigeon 2: Jessica Clark
A: Colin Ryan
B: Matthew Durkan
C: Ammar Duffus
Hubert: Jude Akuwudike

No One. Is Your Friend by Eden Ehioghae

Directed by Grace Gibson

One: Hannah Rae
Two: Shamail Ali
Three: Amara Okerere

Odd One Out by Creshia Lindo

Directed by Grace Gibson

Emily: Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness
Emily’s Mum: Cat Simmons
Chelsea: Amara Okerere
Sarah: Isabella Pappas
Leticia: Lois Chimimba
Saron: Rachael Banjo

Present: The Shocking Truth by Kieran Anderson

Directed by Grace Gibson

Mum/ Train Announcer: Jessica Hardwick
Doctor: Ekow Quartey
Nurse/ Train Passenger: Jessica Clark
Spero: Amar Duffus
Speranza/ Psychologist: Lois Chimimba