TONES: A HIP-HOP OPERA BY GEREL FALCONER
Location: North West Theatre Arts (270 Lightbowne Rd, Manchester M40 5HQ)
Date: Friday 24th May – Saturday 25th May
Time: 7:30 – 8:30pm
Duration: 1 hrs
Image Credit: Aimee Morley
Tones: A Hip-Hop Opera
Tones combines the gritty underground sounds of Hip-Hop, Grime and Drill with the drama of Opera for a unique theatre experience, looking at identity and where you fit in the world.
A journey through the depths of Black British culture, class and belonging, Jerome, aka The Professor, is locked in a battle with his identity, as goes on a treacherous path to self-discovery, asking the question, ’what happens if you’re not black enough for the ends, but too black for the rest of the world?‘
Artist bio:
Gerel Falconer is an award winning actor, writer and “Rapaturg”. The cross pollination of Gerel’s passion for theatre and roots in underground music scenes has flourished throughout his work with HighRise Theatre.. Honing the skill set of story-telling through bars has earned Gerel the title of Rapaturg and resulted in him being at the forefront of evolving Musical Theatre industry. Gerel’s theatre credits include: UK Drill Project (Barbican) Lil.Miss.Lady (Roundhouse, HighTide) The Concrete Jungle Book (Artsdepot, Edinburgh Fringe) Penny Lane (The Yard) Merryville (CPT, Latitude) Black Power Desk (Brixton House, Old Vic 12) Alice In Wonderland (Brixton House) & Messiah (Stratford Circus, Streatham Space, Chapter Arts- Cardiff, Bernie Grant).
Hailing from Northwest London, representation of the socially disenfranchised is at the forefront of Gerel’s work with Highise, resulting in him being a part of delivery teams working in partnership with venues/organisations including We are Spotlight, Centre Point & Artsdepot, working with young people across London. He studied at E15 Acting school, during which he was the winner of the 2012 Lilian Bayliss Award. Gerel’s work composing and writing the book and lyrics for Brixton House’s production of Alice in Wonderland has earned him a Black British Theatre Award for Book and Lyrics and a Stage Debut Theatre Award nomination. He has recently just completed a triumphant run of his first debut solo show Tones, at the Pleasance Courtyard at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, produced by Wound Up Theatre.
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